California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent ResolutionNo. 188


Introduced by Assembly Member Melendez

May 23, 2016


Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 188—Relative to PTSD Awareness Month.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 188, as introduced, Melendez. PTSD Awareness Month.

This measure would proclaim the month of June 2016 as PTSD Awareness Month.

Fiscal committee: no.

P1    1WHEREAS, Throughout our nation’s history, the men and
2women from the State of California have served in the United
3States Armed Forces to preserve our freedom, protect our security,
4and uphold our democratic values; from the battles of the Civil
5War, through the crucible of two world wars, through adversity in
6the Vietnam War and to the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,
7our men and women in uniform have stood proudly in defense of
8the United States, the State of California, and the cause of liberty;
9and

10WHEREAS, Brave individuals who proudly serve in the Armed
11Forces risk their lives for the freedom of every American and
12deserve every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical,
13mental, and emotional health; and

14WHEREAS, More than 2,000,000 individuals who proudly
15serve in the Armed Forces have deployed overseas since September
P2    111, 2001, and have served in countries such as Afghanistan and
2Iraq; and

3WHEREAS, The Armed Forces has maintained a high
4operational tempo since September 11, 2001, with many members
5of the Armed Forces deploying overseas numerous times; and

6WHEREAS, According to the California State Library,
7California has approximately 1.9 million veterans. Most live in
8southern California counties and are heavily clustered in Los
9Angeles County (323,431 in 2012), San Diego County (222,348
10in 2012), and Orange County (132,529 in 2012); and

11WHEREAS, According to the California State Library,
12approximately 26 percent of veterans report having a disability,
13and 32 percent indicate that their disability had interfered with
14them getting or holding a job; and

15WHEREAS, Veterans of the Armed Forces and veterans who
16served after September 11, 2001, remain at high risk of
17post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and

18WHEREAS, PTSD considerably increases the risk of anxiety,
19depression, drug- and alcohol-related disorders, and suicide,
20especially if left untreated; and

21WHEREAS, Several cases of PTSD remain undiagnosed and
22unreported due to a lack of awareness and education on PTSD;
23and

24WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of
25Veterans Affairs, 20 percent of veterans who served in Operations
26Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have PTSD in a given year,
27and 12 percent of Gulf War Veterans have PTSD in a given year;
28and

29WHEREAS, Although the United States Department of Defense
30and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs have made
31significant advances in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment
32of PTSD, many challenges remain; and

33WHEREAS, The United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs
34and the Secretary of Defense must continue to work to educate
35service members, veterans, the families of service members and
36veterans, and the public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment
37of PTSD; and

38WHEREAS, It is important to all citizens of the State of
39California that those who served our country in the military are
P3    1aware of the symptoms of PTSD and are able to seek and receive
2help; now, therefore, be it

3Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
4thereof concurring,
That the Legislature supports our soldiers who
5are suffering from PTSD by bringing awareness of this disorder
6to all Californians and proclaims the month of June 2016 as PTSD
7Awareness Month in the state; and be it further

8Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
9of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.



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