IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 848 

Encouraging the connecting of members of the Armed Forces in the United 

States to support structures necessary to transition from the battlefield. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 6, 2023 

Mr. VAN ORDEN (for himself, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. HUDSON, and Mr. LEVIN) 

submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each 

case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of 

the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Encouraging the connecting of members of the Armed Forces 

in the United States to support structures necessary 

to transition from the battlefield. 

Whereas the number of suicides of members of the Armed 

Forces serving on active duty increased to 377 in 2020, 

an increase from 348 in 2019; 

Whereas the suicide rate for veterans has steadily increased 

since 2006, with 6,261 veterans taking their own lives in 

2019; 

Whereas, after adjusting for sex and age, the rate of veteran 

suicide in 2018 was 27.5 per 100,000 individuals, higher 


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•HRES 848 IH 

than the rate among all United States adults, which was 

18.3 per 100,000 individuals; 

Whereas more veterans have died by suicide in the last 10 

years than members of the Armed Forces who died from 

combat in Vietnam; 

Whereas many of the veterans who take their own lives have 

had no contact with the Department of Veterans Affairs; 

Whereas the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic can lead to increased isolation and disconnection, 

further exacerbating mental and physical ailments such 

as post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury; 

Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note 

that law enforcement officers and firefighters are more 

likely to die by suicide than in the line of duty, and emergency medical services providers are 1.39 times more 

likely to die by suicide than members of the general public; 

Whereas invisible wounds linked to an underlying and 

undiagnosed traumatic brain injury can mirror many 

mental health conditions, a problem that can be addressed through appropriate medical treatment; and 

Whereas additional research is needed to highlight the connection between traumatic brain injury as a root cause of 

invisible wounds and suicide by members of the Armed 

Forces and veterans: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) encourages all individuals in the United 

3 States, especially members of the Armed Forces 

4 serving on active duty and veterans, to call a warVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:05 Nov 07, 2023 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR848.IH HR848

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•HRES 848 IH 

1 rior, have an honest conversation, and connect them 

2 with support, understanding that making a warrior 

3 call could save a life; and 

4 (2) implores all individuals in the United States 

5 to commit themselves to engaging with members of 

6 the Armed Forces and veterans to promote solutions 

7 and treatment for the invisible scars that members 

8 of the Armed Forces carry. 

Æ 


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