A resolution expressing support for the designation of September 30, 2020, as "National Veterans Suicide Prevention Day".

III 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 737 Expressing support for the designation of September 30, 2020, as ‘‘National Veterans Suicide Prevention Day’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES SEPTEMBER 30 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 29), 2020 Mr. KAINE (for himself, Mr. WICKER, Mr. MORAN, and Mr. TESTER) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of September 30, 2020, as ‘‘National Veterans Suicide Prevention Day’’. Whereas the wounds sustained through armed service to the United States are both visible and invisible; Whereas the wounds sustained through armed service to the United States may be invisible, but those wounds are treatable if the bearers of those wounds are connected to the right resources; Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Depart- ment of Defense have determined that an average of nearly 20 current or former members of the Armed Forces die by suicide each day; Whereas veterans account for a disproportionate percentage of all adult suicides in the United States; VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:53 Oct 01, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR737.ATS SR737 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 737 ATS Whereas the surviving family members of veterans who suc- cumb to the invisible wounds of armed service to the United States must not be forgotten and isolated but in- stead must be directed to available resources and sup- port; Whereas, after the loss of a veteran family member to the in- visible wounds of armed service to the United States, the family members of that veteran must not lose their link to the support and strength of the military and veteran communities; Whereas the families of veterans who die by suicide hold val- uable ‘‘lessons learned on the lookback’’ that can be used to prevent future suicides in veteran populations; Whereas the voices of the surviving family members of vet- erans who die by suicide are useful and should be lever- aged in prevention efforts; Whereas the need for formal recognition of the families of veterans who succumb to the invisible wounds of armed service to the United States is vital to the strength, health, and survival of the veteran community; Whereas those families should be recognized, supported, and heard on National Veterans Suicide Prevention Day and throughout the year; and Whereas September 30, 2020, is an appropriate day to des- ignate as ‘‘National Veterans Suicide Prevention Day’’: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate supports the designation 1 of September 30, 2020, as ‘‘National Veterans Suicide 2 Prevention Day’’. 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:53 Oct 01, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR737.ATS SR737 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS