HR0375

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, A significant growth in Post-Traumatic Stress 
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Disorder (PTSD) has been identified over the past few years 
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with the escalation of combat veterans returning home from the 
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Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts; nation-wide calls for more 
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assistance for those returning with mental issues as a result 
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of combat have been growing, and this resolution is in response 
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to those calls; and

 
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    WHEREAS, As of January 2007, more than 1.6 million U.S. 
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Servicemen and women had served in Afghanistan and Iraq; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In October 2005, the U.S. Department of Veterans 
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Affairs reported that more than 430,000 U.S. soldiers have been 
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discharged from the military following service in Afghanistan 
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and Iraq; more than 119,000 have sought help for medical or 
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mental health issues from the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
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date; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In January 2006, the Journal of the American 
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Medical Association reported that 35% of Iraq Veterans have 
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already sought help for mental health concerns; a 2003 New 
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England Journal of Medicine Study found that more than 60% of 
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Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom veterans 
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showing symptoms of PTSD were unlikely to seek help due to 
 


 






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fears of stigmatization or loss of career advancement 
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opportunities; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In 2005, the Department of Veterans Affairs 
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reported that 18% of Afghanistan Veterans and 20% of Iraq 
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Veterans in their care were suffering from some type of 
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service-connected psychological disorder; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The Department of Veterans Affairs has seen a 
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tenfold increase in PTSD cases in 2006; according to the VA, 
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more than 37,000 Vets of Iraq and Afghanistan are suffering 
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from mental health disorders, and more than 16,000 have already 
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been diagnosed with PTSD; and

 
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    WHEREAS, According to the Army, since March 2003, at least 
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45 U.S. soldiers and 9 Marines have committed suicide in Iraq; 
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at least 20 soldiers and 23 Marines have committed suicide 
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since returning home, though exact numbers are not available; 
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and
 
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    WHEREAS, The United States Congress is currently 
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considering H.R. 612, H.R. 1538, S. 713, and H.R. 1268, which 
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address the tragic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder situation 
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among our returning veterans; therefore, be it
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
 


 






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NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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our returning veterans deserve the very best in healthcare, 
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including mental care, and that both the Federal Government and 
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State Governments must work together to provide this 
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healthcare; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That the State of Illinois wishes to be a model 
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State for the medical care that we offer to our returning 
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soldiers in joint partnership with the Federal Government; and 
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be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That we urge Congress to act on H.R. 612, H.R. 
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1538, S. 713, and H.R. 1268 for the safety and well-being of 
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our returning veterans who face mental illness caused by their 
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fulfillment of their duties; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be sent 
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to the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader of the U.S. 
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Senate, the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the U.S. House 
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of Representatives, the Illinois Congressional Delegation, and 
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the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs.