IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 391 

Expressing support for designation of the month of June 2017 as ‘‘National 

Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month’’ and June 27, 2017, 

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

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 16, 2017 

Mr. PETERS (for himself, Mr. JONES, and Mr. THOMPSON of California) 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 

Expressing support for designation of the month of June 

2017 as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month’’ and June 27, 2017, as ‘‘National PostTraumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day’’. 

Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces of 

the United States, who proudly serve the United States, 

risk their lives to protect the freedom 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 more than 2,000,000 members of the Armed Forces 

have deployed overseas since the events of September 11, 


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•HRES 391 IH 

2001, and have served in places such as Afghanistan and 

Iraq; 

Whereas the Armed Forces of the United States have sustained a historically high operational tempo since September 11, 2001, with many members of the Armed 

Forces deploying overseas multiple times, placing those 

members at high risk of post-traumatic stress injury/injuries (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘PTSI’’); 

Whereas men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans 

who served before September 11, 2001, remain at risk 

for PTSI and other mental health injuries; 

Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports that— 

(1) since October 2001, more than 390,000 of the 

approximately 1,160,000 veterans of Operation Enduring 

Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New 

Dawn who have received health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs have been diagnosed with PTSI; 

(2) in fiscal year 2014, more than 531,000 of the 

nearly 6,000,000 veterans who sought care at a medical 

facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs received 

treatment for PTSI; and 

(3) of veterans who served in Operation Enduring 

Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New 

Dawn who are receiving health care from the Department 

of Veterans Affairs, more than 615,000 have received a 

diagnosis for at least 1 mental health injury; 

Whereas many cases of PTSI remain unreported, 

undiagnosed, and untreated due to a lack of awareness 

about PTSI and the persistent stigma associated with 

mental health conditions; 

Whereas exposure to military trauma can lead to PTSI; 


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•HRES 391 IH 

Whereas PTSI significantly increases the risk of anxiety, depression, suicide, homelessness, and drug- and alcohol-related injuries and deaths, especially if left untreated; 

Whereas public perceptions of PTSI or other mental health 

injuries create unique challenges for veterans seeking employment; 

Whereas the Department of Defense and the Department of 

Veterans Affairs, as well as the larger medical community, both private and public, have made significant advances in the identification, prevention, diagnosis, and 

treatment of PTSI and the symptoms of PTSI, but many 

challenges remain; 

Whereas increased understanding of PTSI can help diminish 

the stigma attached to this mental health issue, and additional efforts are needed to find further ways to reduce 

this stigma—including an examination of how PTSI is 

discussed in the United States and a recognition that 

PTSI is a common injury that is treatable and repairable; 

Whereas the diagnosis now known as Post-Traumatic Stress 

Disorder was first defined by the American Psychiatric 

Association in 1980 to commonly and more accurately 

understand and treat veterans who had endured severe 

traumatic combat stress; 

Whereas combat stress has previously been viewed as a mental illness caused by a pre-existing flaw of character and/ 

or ability; and the word ‘‘disorder’’ carries a stigma that 

perpetuates this misconception; 

Whereas making PTSI less stigmatizing and more honorable 

can favorably influence those affected and encourage 

them to seek help without fear of retribution or shame; 


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Whereas PTSI can result from any number of stressors other 

than combat, including rape, sexual assault, battery, torture, confinement, child abuse, car accidents, train 

wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, or natural disaster, and 

affects approximately 8,000,000 adults in the United 

States annually; and 

Whereas the designation of a National Post-Traumatic Stress 

Injury Awareness Month and a National Post-Traumatic 

Stress Injury Day will raise public awareness about 

issues related to PTSI, reduce the stigma associated with 

PTSI, and help ensure that those suffering from the invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Post3 Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month’’ and 

4 ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness 

5 Day’’; 

6 (2) supports the efforts of the Secretary of Vet7 erans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense, as well 

8 as the entire medical community, to educate mem9 bers of the Armed Forces, veterans, the families of 

10 members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and the 

11 public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of 

12 post-traumatic stress injury/injuries (PTSI); 

13 (3) encourages commanders of the Armed 

14 Forces to support appropriate treatment of men and 


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1 women of the Armed Forces who are diagnosed with 

2 PTSI; and 

3 (4) respectfully requests that the Clerk of the 

4 House of Representatives transmit a copy of this 

5 resolution to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and 

6 the Secretary of Defense. 

Æ 


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