III 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 761 

Expressing support for the designation of the month of June 2024 as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month’’ and June 27, 2024, 

as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 10, 2024 

Mr. SULLIVAN (for himself, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. CRAMER, Ms. ROSEN, Mr. 

HOEVEN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. HICKENLOOPER, Mr. 

VANCE, Mr. KAINE, Mr. RICKETTS, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. 

BLUMENTHAL, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. KELLY, Ms. COLLINS, and Mr. 

PADILLA) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 

agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of the month of June 

2024 as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness 

Month’’ and June 27, 2024, as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces, 

who proudly serve the United States, risk their lives to 

protect the freedom, health, and welfare of the people of 

the United States, and deserve the investment of every 

possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, 

and emotional well-being; 

Whereas nearly 2,800,000 members of the Armed Forces 

have deployed overseas since the events of September 11, 


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•SRES 761 ATS 

2001, and have served in places such as Afghanistan and 

Iraq; 

Whereas the current generation of men and women in the 

Armed Forces has sustained a high rate of operational 

deployments, with many members of the Armed Forces 

serving overseas multiple times, placing those members at 

high risk of enduring traumatic combat stress; 

Whereas, when left untreated, exposure to traumatic combat 

stress can lead to severe and chronic post-traumatic 

stress responses, commonly referred to as post-traumatic 

stress disorder (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘PTSD’’) 

or post-traumatic stress injury; 

Whereas many men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans who served before September 11, 2001, live with 

mental health needs from post-traumatic stress and remain at risk; 

Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports that approximately— 

(1) 11 to 20 percent of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom 

have PTSD in a given year; 

(2) 12 percent of veterans who served in the Persian 

Gulf war have PTSD in a given year; and 

(3) 30 percent of veterans who served in the Vietnam era have had PTSD in their lifetimes; 

Whereas the diagnosis known as PTSD was initially formulated in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association to 

describe and categorize the symptoms and behavioral 

complications of severe traumatic stress; 

Whereas the symptoms and behavioral complications of severe 

traumatic stress have historically been unjustly portrayed 


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•SRES 761 ATS 

in the media, stigmatizing individuals living with post 

traumatic stress; 

Whereas electro-magnetic imaging has shown that severe 

traumatic stress causes physical changes in the brain; 

Whereas many post-traumatic stress responses remain unreported, undiagnosed, and untreated due to— 

(1) a lack of awareness about post-traumatic stress 

and the persistent stigma associated with mental health 

conditions; and 

(2) a lack of access to mental health treatment; 

Whereas, without timely redress, traumatic stress responses 

can worsen over time and lead to severe consequences, including self-harm; 

Whereas exposure to trauma during service in the Armed 

Forces can lead to post-traumatic stress; 

Whereas post-traumatic stress significantly increases the risk 

of anxiety, depression, homelessness, substance abuse, 

and suicide, especially if left untreated; 

Whereas public perceptions of post-traumatic stress have created challenges for veterans seeking employment; 

Whereas the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and veterans service organizations, as well 

as the larger medical community, both private and public, 

have made significant advances in the identification, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of post-traumatic stress 

and the symptoms of post-traumatic stress, but many 

challenges remain; 

Whereas increased understanding of post-traumatic stress 

can help to eliminate the stigma attached to the mental 

health issues of post-traumatic stress; 


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•SRES 761 ATS 

Whereas additional efforts are needed to find further ways to 

eliminate the stigma associated with post-traumatic 

stress, including the recognition that post-traumatic 

stress is often a reparable injury, and examination of how 

post-traumatic stress is portrayed by the media; 

Whereas timely and appropriate treatment of post-traumatic 

stress responses can diminish complications and prevent 

suicides; and 

Whereas the designation of a National Post-Traumatic Stress 

Awareness Month and a National Post-Traumatic Stress 

Awareness Day raises public awareness about issues related to post-traumatic stress, reduces the associated 

stigma, and helps ensure that those individuals suffering 

from the invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates— 

3 (A) June 2024 as ‘‘National Post-Trau4 matic Stress Awareness Month’’; and 

5 (B) June 27, 2024, as ‘‘National Post6 Traumatic Stress Awareness Day’’; 

7 (2) supports the efforts of the Secretary of Vet8 erans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense, as well 

9 as the entire medical community, to educate mem10 bers of the Armed Forces, veterans, the families of 

11 members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and the 

12 public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of 

13 post-traumatic stress; 


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•SRES 761 ATS 

1 (3) supports efforts by the Secretary of Vet2 erans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense to foster 

3 cultural change around the issue of post-traumatic 

4 stress, understanding that personal interactions can 

5 save lives and advance treatment; 

6 (4) encourages the leadership of the Armed 

7 Forces to support appropriate treatment of men and 

8 women of the Armed Forces who suffer from post9 traumatic stress; and 

10 (5) recognizes the impact of post-traumatic 

11 stress on the spouses and families of members of the 

12 Armed Forces and veterans. 

Æ 


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