May 23, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 87 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page S3114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 220--DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF JUNE 2019 AS ``NATIONAL 
     POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AWARENESS MONTH'' AND JUNE 27, 2019, AS 
            ``NATIONAL POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS AWARENESS DAY''

  Mr. SULLIVAN (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Tillis, Ms. Baldwin, 
Mr. Cramer, Mr. Murphy, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Markey, Mr. Moran, Mr. 
Coons, Mr. Daines, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Tester, Mr. Crapo, Mr. 
Casey, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Hoeven, Ms. Stabenow, Ms. Collins, 
Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Young, Ms. Duckworth, 
Mr. Rubio, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Leahy, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Smith, 
Mr. Menendez, Mr. Reed, and Mr. Booker) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 220

       Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces, 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 2,770,000 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 experiencing combat stress;
       Whereas, when left untreated, exposure to traumatic combat 
     stress can lead to post-traumatic stress, sometimes referred 
     to as post-traumatic stress disorder (in this preamble 
     referred to as ``PTSD'') or post-traumatic stress injury;
       Whereas men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans who 
     served before September 11, 2001, remain at risk for post-
     traumatic stress;
       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 combat stress injuries 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, suicide, homelessness, and drug- 
     and alcohol-related disorders and deaths, especially if left 
     untreated;
       Whereas public perceptions of post-traumatic stress or 
     other mental health disorders create 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 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 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, or natural disasters, 
     and affects approximately 8,000,000 adults in the United 
     States annually;
       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 
     Awareness Month and a National Post-Traumatic Stress 
     Awareness Day will raise public awareness about issues 
     related to post-traumatic stress, reduce the associated 
     stigma, and help ensure that those individuals suffering from 
     the invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 2019 as ``National Post-Traumatic 
     Stress Awareness Month'' and June 27, 2019, as ``National 
     Post-Traumatic Stress 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 officers 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 Secretary of the Senate 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of 
     Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense.

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