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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1229 Introduced in House (IH)]

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. Lujan, 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;
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
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) the current policy that prohibits sending a 
        presidential letter of condolence to the family of a member of 
        the Armed Forces who has died by suicide only serves to 
        perpetuate the stigma of mental illness that pervades the Armed 
        Forces; and
            (2) the President, as Commander-in-Chief, should overturn 
        the policy and treat all military families equally.
                                 <all>
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