September 29, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 169 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session

[Pages S5985-S5986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 737--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE DESIGNATION OF 
  SEPTEMBER 30, 2020, AS ``NATIONAL VETERANS SUICIDE PREVENTION DAY''

  Mr. KAINE (for himself, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Moran, and Mr. Tester) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 737

       Whereas the wounds sustained through armed service to the 
     United States are both visible and invisible;
       Whereas the wounds sustained through armed service to the 
     United States may be invisible, but those wounds are 
     treatable if the bearers of those wounds are connected to the 
     right resources;
       Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs and the 
     Department of Defense have determined that an average of 
     nearly 20 current or former members of the Armed Forces die 
     by suicide each day;
       Whereas veterans account for a disproportionate percentage 
     of all adult suicides in the United States;
       Whereas the surviving family members of veterans who 
     succumb to the invisible wounds of armed service to the 
     United States must not be forgotten and isolated but instead 
     must be directed to available resources and support;
       Whereas, after the loss of a veteran family member to the 
     invisible wounds of armed service to the United States, the 
     family members of that veteran must not lose their link to 
     the support and strength of the military and veteran 
     communities;
       Whereas the families of veterans who die by suicide hold 
     valuable ``lessons learned on the lookback'' that can be used 
     to prevent future suicides in veteran populations;
       Whereas the voices of the surviving family members of 
     veterans who die by suicide are useful and should be 
     leveraged in prevention efforts;
       Whereas the need for formal recognition of the families of 
     veterans who succumb to the invisible wounds of armed service 
     to the United States is vital to the strength, health, and 
     survival of the veteran community;
       Whereas those families should be recognized, supported, and 
     heard on National Veterans Suicide Prevention Day and 
     throughout the year; and

[[Page S5986]]

       Whereas September 30, 2020, is an appropriate day to 
     designate as ``National Veterans Suicide Prevention Day'': 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate supports the designation of 
     September 30, 2020, as ``National Veterans Suicide Prevention 
     Day''.

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