PRINTER'S NO. 1580
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
103
Session of
2021
INTRODUCED BY RYAN, PENNYCUICK, HAMM, HILL-EVANS, JAMES, MOUL,
DAVANZO, STAATS, DELLOSO, DeLUCA, SCHLEGEL CULVER AND GUENST,
MAY 20, 2021
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS, MAY 20, 2021
A RESOLUTION
Beseeching the Congress of the United States to pass H.R. 1656,
the Treatment and Relief through Emerging and Accessible
Therapy for PTSD Act.
WHEREAS, H.R. 1656 directs the United States Secretary of
Veterans Affairs and the United States Secretary of Defense to
furnish stellate ganglion block (SGB) therapy to veterans and
members of the Armed Forces of the United States with post-
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) estimates that 23% of Operation Enduring Freedom and
Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans have received a diagnosis of
PTSD; and
WHEREAS, Older veterans are also impacted, with the VA
estimating that 12% of Gulf War veterans and 15% of Vietnam
veterans receive a PTSD diagnosis each year; and
WHEREAS, Unfortunately, only 40% of veterans find relief from
PTSD with current treatments; and
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
WHEREAS, If left untreated, PTSD symptoms have a positive
correlation with suicide risk; and
WHEREAS, The lack of effective PTSD treatments directly
contributes to the 20 veteran suicides the United States
experiences each day; and
WHEREAS, An SGB procedure injects an anesthetic agent on the
stellate ganglion, a collection of nerves in the neck that
controls the activation of the "fight" or "flight" survival
reflex; and
WHEREAS, SGB is proven to alleviate common PTSD symptoms such
as hyperarousal, exaggerated startle responses and anxiety; and
WHEREAS, The procedure has been performed since the 1920s and
is considered low risk; and
WHEREAS, SGB was first recognized as a treatment for PTSD in
2008; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 1656 is supported by the Pennsylvania National
Guard Associations, the American Legion and behavioral health
clinicians; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives beseech the
Congress of the United States to pass H.R. 1656, the Treatment
and Relief through Emerging and Accessible Therapy for PTSD Act;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
the President of the United States, leaders in Congress and the
Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation.
20210HR0103PN1580 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25