IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1229 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President 

should overturn the policy that prohibits sending a presidential letter 

of condolence to the family of a member of the Armed Forces who 

has died by suicide. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 25, 2010 

Mr. BURTON of Indiana (for himself, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. KENNEDY, Ms. 

BERKLEY, Mr. HINCHEY, Ms. RICHARDSON, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. 

INGLIS, Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Ms. KILROY, Mr. LOEBSACK, Mr. TONKO, Mr. WOLF, Mr. PENCE, Ms. MOORE

of Wisconsin, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. WAXMAN, 

Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. OLVER, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Ms. 

SHEA-PORTER, Mr. RUSH, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. GRIFFITH, 

Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas, Mr. KAGEN, Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, Ms. BORDALLO, Mrs. SCHMIDT, Mr. LUJA ́N, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr. 

HINOJOSA, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. PASTOR of Arizona, Mr. PIERLUISI, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. LANGEVIN, and Mr. GUTIERREZ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Armed Services 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that 

the President should overturn the policy that prohibits 

sending a presidential letter of condolence to the family 

of a member of the Armed Forces who has died by 

suicide. 

Whereas suicide is a growing problem in the Armed Forces 

that cannot be ignored; 


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•HRES 1229 IH 

Whereas a record number of military suicides was reported 

in 2008, with 128 active-duty Army and 48 Marine 

deaths reported; 

Whereas the number of military suicides during 2009 is expected to equal or exceed the 2008 total; 

Whereas long-standing policy prevents President Obama from 

sending a condolence letter to the family of a member of 

the Armed Forces who has died by suicide; 

Whereas members of the Armed Forces sacrifice their physical, mental, and emotional well-being for the freedoms 

Americans hold dear; 

Whereas the military family also bears the cost of defending 

the United States, with military spouses and children 

sacrificing much and standing ready to provide unending 

support to their spouse or parent who is a member of the 

Armed Forces; 

Whereas the loss of a member of the Armed Forces to suicide 

directly and tragically affects military spouses and children, as well as the United States; 

Whereas much more needs to be done to protect and address 

the mental health needs of members of the Armed 

Forces, just as they serve to protect and defend the freedoms of the United States; 

Whereas a presidential letter of condolence is not only about 

the deceased because it also serves as a sign of respect 

for the grieving family and an acknowledgment of the 

family for their personal loss; and 

Whereas a lack of acknowledgment and condolence from the 

President only leaves these families with an emotional 

vacuum and a feeling that somehow their sacrifices have 

been less than others: Now, therefore, be it 


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•HRES 1229 IH 

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that— 

3 (1) the current policy that prohibits sending a 

4 presidential letter of condolence to the family of a 

5 member of the Armed Forces who has died by sui6 cide only serves to perpetuate the stigma of mental 

7 illness that pervades the Armed Forces; and 

8 (2) the President, as Commander-in-Chief, 

9 should overturn the policy and treat all military fam10 ilies equally. 

Æ 


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