I 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6003 
To reduce post traumatic stress disorder and other combat-related stress 
disorders among military personnel, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 28, 2006 
Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Armed Services 
A BILL 
To reduce post traumatic stress disorder and other combat- 
related stress disorders among military personnel, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Psychological Kevlar 
Act of 2006’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to reduce the number of 
psychological casualties among military personnel by pro-
viding members of the Armed Forces entering combat with 
the training, supports, and other evidence-based measures 
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necessary to improve their psychological resilience and re-
duce their susceptibility to post-traumatic stress disorder 
and other stress-related psychopathologies. 
SEC. 3. PLANS FOR REDUCING POST TRAUMATIC STRESS 
DISORDER. 
(a) PLAN FOR PREVENTION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Defense 
shall develop and implement a plan to incorporate 
evidence-based preventive and early-intervention 
measures, practices, or procedures that reduce the 
likelihood that personnel in combat will develop post- 
traumatic stress disorder or other stress-related 
psychopathologies (including substance use condi-
tions) into— 
(A) basic and pre-deployment training for 
enlisted members of the Armed Forces, non-
commissioned officers, and officers; 
(B) combat theater operations; and 
(C) post-deployment service. 
(2) UPDATES.—The Secretary of Defense shall 
update the plan under paragraph (1) periodically to 
incorporate, as the Secretary considers appropriate, 
the results of relevant research, including research 
conducted pursuant to section 4. 
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(b) RESEARCH.—Subject to section 4, the Secretary 
of Defense shall conduct and fund, in consultation with 
the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Insti-
tutes of Health, and the National Academy of Sciences, 
such research as is necessary to develop the plan described 
in subsection (a). 
(c) OUTREACH AND EDUCATION.— 
(1) TRAINING PROGRAM FOR OFFICERS.—The 
Secretary of Defense shall develop and implement a 
training program to educate and promote under-
standing and awareness among commissioned offi-
cers and non-commissioned officers about the signs 
and risks of combat stress as well as the signs and 
risks of stress-related psychopathology (including 
substance use conditions). Training should include 
decisions-making tools for making a referral for fol-
low-up care. 
(2) TRAINING PROGRAM FOR MEDICAL PROFES-
SIONALS.—The Secretary of Defense shall develop 
and implement a training program to educate front- 
line medical professionals and primary care pro-
viders about the signs and risks of combat stress as 
well as the signs and risks of stress-related psycho-
pathology (including substance use conditions). 
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