HR0248 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0248 LRB096 12155 DRJ 24858 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois currently has the largest contingent of combat troops deployed overseas since the Second World War in Task Force Phoenix VIII in Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, A 2008 Rand study claims that nationally at least 300,000 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), while another 320,000 suffer from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI); and

WHEREAS, The aforementioned Rand study also concludes that "a majority of the injured are not receiving help from either the Pentagon or the [United States Department of Veterans Affairs]"; and

WHEREAS, It is likely that many Illinois veterans would, as a matter of convenience, seek treatment for PTSD through their local health care providers rather than through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we encourage and support action by the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs to cause private health care providers to be reimbursed for their costs associated with the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder sought by veterans; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage and support action by the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs to provide the resources necessary for private health care providers to seek continuing education in the effective diagnosis and treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Governor and the Director of Veterans' Affairs.