Title: Expressing support for the designation of the month of June 2021 as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month" and June 27, 2021, as "National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day".
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This resolution supports the designations of National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month and National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day.
The resolution supports (1) the education of members of the Armed Forces, veterans, their families, and the public about post-traumatic stress; and (2) efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to foster cultural change around the issue of post-traumatic stress.
The resolution also encourages the leadership of the Armed Forces to support treatment of members of the Armed Forces who suffer from post-traumatic stress.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 506 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 506

  Expressing support for the designation of the month of June 2021 as 
``National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month'' and June 27, 
   2021, as ``National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 28, 2021

  Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Mast, Mr. Moulton, Mrs. Hartzler, Mrs. 
 Luria, Mr. Waltz, Mr. Wittman, Mr. Crow, Mr. Katko, Ms. Stefanik, and 
 Mr. Trone) 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 the designation of the month of June 2021 as 
``National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month'' and June 27, 
   2021, as ``National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day''.

Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces, who proudly serve the 
        United States, risk their lives to protect the freedom, health, and 
        welfare 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 nearly 2,800,000 members of the Armed Forces have deployed overseas 
        since the events of September 11, 2001, and have served in places such 
        as Afghanistan and Iraq;
Whereas the current generation of men and women in the Armed Forces has 
        sustained a high rate of operational deployments, with many members of 
        the Armed Forces serving overseas multiple times, placing those members 
        at high risk of enduring traumatic combat stress;
Whereas, when left untreated, exposure to traumatic combat stress can lead to 
        severe and chronic post-traumatic stress responses, commonly referred to 
        as post-traumatic stress disorder (in this preamble referred to as 
        ``PTSD'') or post-traumatic stress injury;
Whereas many men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans who served before 
        September 11, 2001, live with mental health needs from post-traumatic 
        stress and remain at risk;
Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports that approximately--

    (1) 11 to 20 percent of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom 
or Operation Enduring Freedom have PTSD in a given year;

    (2) 12 percent of veterans who served in the Persian Gulf war have PTSD 
in a given year; and

    (3) 30 percent of veterans who served in the Vietnam era have had PTSD 
in their lifetimes;

Whereas many post-traumatic stress responses remain unreported, undiagnosed, and 
        untreated due to a lack of awareness about post-traumatic stress and the 
        persistent stigma associated with mental health conditions;
Whereas exposure to trauma during service in the Armed Forces can lead to post-
        traumatic stress;
Whereas post-traumatic stress significantly increases the risk of anxiety, 
        depression, homelessness, substance abuse, and suicide, especially if 
        left untreated;
Whereas public perceptions of post-traumatic stress as a mental health disorder 
        creates unique challenges for veterans seeking employment;
Whereas the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and 
        veterans service organizations, as well as the larger medical community, 
        both private and public, have made significant advances in the 
        identification, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of post-traumatic 
        stress and the symptoms of post-traumatic stress, but many challenges 
        remain;
Whereas increased understanding of post-traumatic stress can help to eliminate 
        the stigma attached to this mental health issue;
Whereas additional efforts are needed to find further ways to eliminate the 
        stigma associated with post-traumatic stress, including--

    (1) an examination of how post-traumatic stress is discussed in the 
United States; and

    (2) a recognition that post-traumatic stress is a common injury that is 
treatable;

Whereas timely and appropriate treatment of post-traumatic stress responses can 
        diminish complications and avert suicides;
Whereas post-traumatic stress 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, 
        natural disasters, or global pandemics, and affects approximately 
        8,000,000 adults in the United States annually;
Whereas traumatic events such as the COVID-19 pandemic could increase the number 
        of those impacted by or exacerbate the responses of post-traumatic 
        stress;
Whereas the diagnosis now known as PTSD 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 the word ``disorder'' perpetuates the stigma associated with combat 
        stress; and
Whereas the designation of a National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness 
        Month and a National Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Day raises 
        public awareness about issues related to post-traumatic stress, reduces 
        the associated stigma, and helps ensure that those individuals suffering 
        from the invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the designation of ``National Post-Traumatic 
        Stress Injury Awareness Month'' and ``National Post-Traumatic 
        Stress Injury Awareness Day'';
            (2) supports the efforts of the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs and the Secretary of Defense, as well as the entire 
        medical community, to educate members 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;
            (3) supports efforts by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        and the Secretary of Defense to foster cultural change around 
        the issue of post-traumatic stress, understanding that personal 
        interactions can save lives and advance treatment;
            (4) welcomes the efforts of the National Center for Post-
        Traumatic Stress Disorder of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        and local Vet Centers (as defined in section 1712A(h) of title 
        38, United States Code) to provide assistance to veterans who 
        are suffering from the effects of post-traumatic stress;
            (5) encourages the leadership of the Armed Forces to 
        support appropriate treatment of men and women of the Armed 
        Forces who suffer from post-traumatic stress;
            (6) recognizes the impact of post-traumatic stress on the 
        spouses and families of members of the Armed Forces and 
        veterans; and
            (7) respectfully requests that the Clerk of the House 
        transmit a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of Veterans 
        Affairs and the Secretary of Defense.
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