PRINTER'S NO. 2153
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
463
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY SCHWEYER, READSHAW, THOMAS, SNYDER, QUIGLEY,
HENNESSEY, DiGIROLAMO, MACKENZIE, HARHART, MURT, DAVIDSON,
BIZZARRO, BARRAR, COHEN, BURNS, FLYNN, SACCONE, ACOSTA,
SONNEY, DUSH, MILLARD, C. PARKER, FARINA, A. HARRIS, DAVIS,
VEREB, LONGIETTI, P. DALEY, FREEMAN, SCHREIBER, GIBBONS,
R. BROWN, O'NEILL, YOUNGBLOOD, HAHN, PAYNE, ROZZI,
SCHLOSSBERG, MAHONEY, KINSEY, MAJOR, MARSICO, PETRI, McNEILL,
GOODMAN, GILLEN, SAINATO, PHILLIPS-HILL, O'BRIEN, DRISCOLL,
WHEELAND, D. COSTA, GINGRICH, FARRY, DEAN, KLUNK, SAYLOR AND
FEE, SEPTEMBER 4, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
SEPTEMBER 4, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month September 2015 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, Recent 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 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
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served in active-duty units between 2001 and 2007 and left the
military during that same military 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
recent 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, Congress 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 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 2015 as "Military Suicide Prevention and
Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives fully support the
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bi-partisan actions of the 114th Congress and the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs as they continue to work together
to improve the needed support for our veterans.
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