IV 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 345 
Expressing support for designation of the month of June 2015 as ‘‘National 
Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month’’ and June 27, 2015, as ‘‘Na-
tional Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 25, 2015 
Mr. PETERS (for himself, Ms. NORTON, Mr. JONES, Mr. PAYNE, and Mr. 
DESAULNIER) 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 
2015 as ‘‘National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness 
Month’’ and June 27, 2015, as ‘‘National Post-Trau-
matic Stress 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 pos-
sible 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 345 IH 
2001, and have served in places such as Afghanistan and 
Iraq; 
Whereas the Armed Forces of the United States have sus-
tained a historically high operational tempo since Sep-
tember 11, 2001, with many members of the Armed 
Forces deploying overseas multiple times, placing those 
members at high risk of post-traumatic stress (referred 
to in this preamble as ‘‘PTS’’); 
Whereas men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans 
who served before September 11, 2001, remain at risk 
for PTS 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 Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs have been diagnosed with PTS; 
(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 PTS; 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 
PTS 
remain 
unreported, 
undiagnosed, and untreated due to a lack of awareness 
about PTS and the persistent stigma associated with 
mental health conditions; 
Whereas exposure to military trauma can lead to PTS; 
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•HRES 345 IH 
Whereas PTS significantly increases the risk of anxiety, de-
pression, suicide, homelessness, and drug- and alcohol-re-
lated injuries and deaths, especially if left untreated; 
Whereas public perceptions of PTS or other mental health in-
juries create unique challenges for veterans seeking em-
ployment; 
Whereas the Department of Defense and the Department of 
Veterans Affairs—as well as the larger medical commu-
nity, both private and public—have made significant ad-
vances in the identification, prevention, diagnosis, and 
treatment of PTS and the symptoms of PTS, but many 
challenges remain; 
Whereas increased understanding of PTS can help diminish 
the stigma attached to this mental health issue, and addi-
tional efforts are needed to find further ways to reduce 
this stigma—including an examination of how PTS is 
discussed in the United States and a recognition that 
PTS is a common injury that is treatable and repairable; 
Whereas PTS can result from any number of stressors other 
than combat, including rape, sexual assault, battery, tor-
ture, 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 
Awareness Month and a National Post-Traumatic Stress 
Day will raise public awareness about issues related to 
PTS, reduce the stigma associated with PTS, and help 
ensure that those suffering from the invisible wounds of 
war receive proper treatment: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
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•HRES 345 IH 
(1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Post- 
Traumatic Stress Awareness Month’’ and ‘‘National 
Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day’’; 
(2) supports the efforts of the Secretary of Vet-
erans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense—as well 
as the entire medical community—to educate mem-
bers of the Armed Forces, veterans, the families of 
members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and the 
public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of 
post-traumatic stress injuries; 
(3) encourages commanders of the Armed 
Forces to support appropriate treatment of men and 
women of the Armed Forces who are diagnosed with 
PTS; and 
(4) respectfully requests that the Clerk of the 
House of Representatives transmit a copy of this 
resolution to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and 
the Secretary of Defense. 
Æ 
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