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HR0267 |
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LRB096 12269 GRL 25072 r |
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| HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are the longest |
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| combat operations involving United States soldiers since the |
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| Vietnam War; and
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| WHEREAS, The length of these conflicts, along with what |
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| service members do during the war, the politics around the war, |
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| where the war is fought, and the type of enemy they face, all |
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| increase the chance of soldiers acquiring post-traumatic |
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| stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental health problems |
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| resulting from their service; and
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| WHEREAS, About 19% of service members from Iraq and about |
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| 11% of service members from Afghanistan have a mental health |
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| problem; about 1 out of every 3 (35%) service members from Iraq |
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| were seen in a VA hospital for a mental health visit within a |
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| year of their return; and
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| WHEREAS, Existing health benefits programs from the United |
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| States Department of Veterans Affairs require soldiers to go to |
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| a VA hospital for mental health treatment, curtailing their |
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| ability to see local doctors for their problems; and
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| WHEREAS, Enabling veterans to freely choose their health |
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| care provider is of great importance to the safety and welfare |