Rogers / 2 Senator Horii

S.R._____

A BILL
To require United States Armed Forces service members returning from active duty to pass psychological evaluations
at the conclusion of each tour.
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE
This act may be cited as the Soldiers Mental Trauma Protection Act of 2015.
SECTION 2. FINDINGS
Congress hereby finds and declares that,
1) Following deployment, traumatic events causes soldiers to suffer from emotional numbing, avoidance behaviors,
long-lasting intrusive memories, and increased anxiety or emotional arousal.
2) Early exposure to or intervention regarding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) related issues provide a measure
for which a soldier can accommodate new ideals regarding themselves and their future.
3) PTSD can occur because a soldier tends to avoid rethinking or reliving a traumatic event, resulting in zero
treatment until a full case of PTSD develops.
4) The Department of Veterans Affairs mental health professionals are the best-trained and equipped for identifying
and treating combat-related PTSD.
5) Select Veterans who turn to the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centers for help suffer internally in order
to hide vulnerability because of shame.
6) In the military, suffering from mental health issues is seen as a sign of weakness.
7) Failure to seek help and treatment can negatively progress the preexisting psychological conditions.
8) PTSD is linked to high medical and social costs because PTSD is a strong risk factor for crime, poor work
performance and associated job losses, and familial discord.
9) While veterans returning from todays conflicts have shown the greatest increase in PTSD rates, the majority of
Veterans treated are from previous military conflicts.
10) Of Veterans returning from active duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, only 46 percent choose to receive VA assistance.
11) Of Veterans who accepted VA care, 48 percent were diagnosed with mental health problems.
12) It is estimated that 30 of every 100 Vietnam War Veterans have had PTSD in their lifetime.
13) It is estimated that twelve of every 100 Gulf War Veterans have PTSD in a given year.
14) It is estimated that between eleven and twenty of every 100 Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom
have PTSD in a given year.
15) Estimates of depression in returning troops ranges from three to 25 percent.
16) On average, five active-duty troops attempt suicide each day.
SECTION 3. STATUTORY LANGUAGE
A) The Soldiers Mental Trauma Protection Act of 2015 shall hereby necessitate the evaluation of a soldiers mental
health before he or she reassimilates to civilian life. Armed forces service members returning from active duty shall
not be permitted to leave United States military supervision until the soldiers mental health is deemed fit for release
by United States Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) medical professionals. These psychological evaluations shall
be administered as a supplement to the already established military debriefing procedures. If a soldier is reported to
be psychologically unfit, he will be monitored and required to return to DVA hospitals on a regular basis. In extreme
cases, the soldier will be monitored and required to spend an appropriate amount of time, determined by medical
experts, in a DVA hospital. Free PTSD programs to increase understanding which will be open for all caretakers.
B) This bill shall be enforced by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Funding for this bill will be
reallocated from the Department of Veterans Affairs budget.
C) This bill shall be enacted on January 1, 2017. This bill shall expire on December 31, 2022.