S.Res. 758

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 758 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 758

Expressing support for the designation of the month of June 2026 as 
``National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month'' and June 27, 2026, 
as ``National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day''.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 8, 2026

Mr. Sullivan (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Justice, Mr. Hickenlooper, 
Mr. Cramer, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Sheehy, Mr. 
Banks, Ms. Collins, and Mr. Hoeven) submitted the following resolution; 
which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Expressing support for the designation of the month of June 2026 as 
``National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month'' and June 27, 2026, 
as ``National Post-Traumatic Stress 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 3,500,000 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, post-traumatic stress disorder, or post-
traumatic stress injury;
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 suffer from severe or chronic post-traumatic 
stress responses;

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

(3) 30 percent of veterans who served in the Vietnam era have had post-
traumatic stress in their lifetimes;

Whereas the diagnosis known as post-traumatic stress disorder was initially 
formulated in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association to describe 
and categorize the symptoms and behavioral complications of severe 
traumatic stress;
Whereas the symptoms and behavioral complications of severe traumatic stress 
have historically been unjustly portrayed in the media, stigmatizing 
individuals living with post-traumatic stress;
Whereas electro-magnetic imaging has shown that severe traumatic stress causes 
physical changes in the brain;
Whereas many post-traumatic stress responses remain unreported, undiagnosed, and 
untreated due to--

(1) a lack of awareness about post-traumatic stress and the persistent 
stigma associated with mental health conditions; and

(2) a lack of access to mental health treatment;

Whereas, without timely redress, traumatic stress responses can worsen over time 
and lead to severe consequences, including self-harm;
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 have created 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 the mental health issues of post-traumatic 
stress;
Whereas additional efforts are needed to find further ways to eliminate the 
stigma associated with post-traumatic stress, including the recognition 
that post-traumatic stress is often a reparable injury, and an 
examination of how post-traumatic stress is portrayed by the media;
Whereas timely and appropriate treatment of post-traumatic stress responses can 
diminish complications and prevent suicides; and
Whereas the designation of a National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and 
a National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day raises public awareness 
about issues related to post-traumatic stress, reduces the associated 
stigma, supports resilience, and helps ensure that those individuals 
suffering from the invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment: 
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates--
(A) June 2026 as ``National Post-Traumatic Stress 
Awareness Month''; and
(B) June 27, 2026, 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) 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; and
(5) recognizes the impact of post-traumatic stress on the 
spouses and families of members of the Armed Forces and 
veterans.
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