Amended in Assembly March 14, 2016

California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 20

Introduced by Assembly Member Kim

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Travis Allen, Brough, and Chang)

(Coauthors: Senators begin delete Bates end delete begin insert Bates, Huff, end insert and Mendoza)

May 28, 2015

Assembly Joint Resolution No. 20—Relative to Veterans Affairs hospitals.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AJR 20, as amended, Kim. Veterans Affairs hospitals.

This measure would request the Congress of the United States to support and build a central Veterans Affairs begin delete hospital end delete begin insert Hospital end insert in Orange County.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, Many service members returning home to Orange
County face significant barriers to a successful transition back to
civilian life; and

WHEREAS, Sixty-one percent of post-9/11 Orange County
veterans reported difficulties adjusting to civilian life and needing
time to figure out what to do after service in the military; and

WHEREAS, About one in five post-9/11 veterans in Orange
County have considered suicide, and one in six developed a suicide
begin delete plan, and among end delete begin insert plan. Among end insert those Orange County veterans who
considered or made a plan to commit suicide, about one-half did
not seek help; and

WHEREAS, Orange County veterans have reported barriers,
including not knowing where to access services, difficulty
scheduling appointments, and concerns about confidentiality and
treatment; and

WHEREAS, Twenty-five percent of post-9/11 veterans and 9
percent of pre-9/11 veterans indicated severe physical health
symptoms. In addition, post-9/11 veterans were more likely to
screen positive for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression
than pre-9/11 veterans; and

WHEREAS, One-half of all Orange County post-9/11 veterans
reported their greatest needs as Veterans Affairs service assistance
and health care assistance; and

WHEREAS, Only 24 percent of Orange County veterans
reported that they could handle the challenges on their own, and
their needs are not being met; and

WHEREAS, A considerable number of Orange County veterans
are not receiving care for physical and psychological issues, and
have a high rate of mental health concerns; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature urges the Congress of the
United States to support and build a central Veterans Affairs
Hospital in Orange County for the mental health care needs of
local veterans; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives,
the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, each Senator and
Representative from California in the Congress of the United
States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.