PRINTER'S NO. 2394
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
489
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY SCHWEYER, HENNESSEY, BIZZARRO, DONATUCCI, ROZZI,
THOMAS, RYAN, DRISCOLL, DiGIROLAMO, MURT, YOUNGBLOOD,
SCHLOSSBERG, SONNEY, DUSH, FREEMAN, WARREN, CALTAGIRONE,
McNEILL, SOLOMON, MILLARD, WARD, PASHINSKI, KINSEY,
LONGIETTI, BURNS, MACKENZIE, DEASY, SAINATO, ROTHMAN,
READSHAW, NEILSON, SANKEY, GOODMAN, D. COSTA, J. HARRIS,
MARSICO, GILLEN, MASSER, CONKLIN, RAPP, FARRY AND WATSON,
SEPTEMBER 12, 2017
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
SEPTEMBER 12, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of September 2017 as "Military Suicide
Prevention and Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Current studies confirm a high suicide rate among
recent veterans; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated that nationwide 22 veterans take
their own lives each day; and
WHEREAS, Veterans who have served on active duty in the
military since the start of the Global War on Terror and
operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have committed suicide at a
much higher rate than those who have never served in the
military; and
WHEREAS, A new analysis published in the February 2015 issue
of the Annals of Epidemiology tracked all 1,282,074 veterans who
served in active-duty units between 2001 and 2007 and left the
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military during that same period; and
WHEREAS, The analysis matched military records with the
National Death Index, which collects data on every death, and
tracked the veterans after service until the end of 2009,
finding an alarming total of 1,868 suicides from that group; and
WHEREAS, The reason for the elevated suicide rate among these
veterans remains unclear but can most likely be attributed to
factors such as the long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and added
tours of duty; and
WHEREAS, These wars have attracted more volunteers prone to
risk-taking who face a difficult transition to civilian life due
to a prolonged, weakened economy and the unavailability of
employment upon returning home; and
WHEREAS, On January 12, 2015, the Congress of the United
States passed the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American
Veterans Act named after Marine Corps veteran Clay Hunt; and
WHEREAS, Corporal Hunt served honorably in both Afghanistan
and Iraq and was wounded in battle; and
WHEREAS, Upon his return home, Corporal Hunt grappled with
post-traumatic stress disorder and sadly, in March 2011 at 28
years of age, Corporal Hunt took his own life; and
WHEREAS, Officials at the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs have responded to the veteran suicide crisis by
boosting their mental health personnel and suicide hotline staff
in recent years, yet there is still more to do; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of September 2017 as "Military Suicide Prevention and
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives fully support the
bipartisan actions of the 115th Congress and the United States
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Department of Veterans Affairs as they continue to work together
to improve the needed support for our veterans.
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