H.R. No. 2647       R E S O L U T I O N            WHEREAS, The brave men and women of our nation's armed forces   regularly risk their lives in defense of our freedoms, and as a   result, many suffer from the serious effects of post-traumatic   stress; and          WHEREAS, In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association   crafted the term "post-traumatic stress disorder" to diagnose the   effects of traumatic stress suffered by combat veterans, first   responders, and victims of crime, abuse, or natural disasters; and          WHEREAS, Unfortunately, the term PTSD may carry a negative   connotation for some, discouraging them from seeking treatment due   to the perception that the word "disorder" indicates weakness or   mental illness in the individual who suffers from post-traumatic   stress; and          WHEREAS, Research utilizing electromagnetic imaging has   demonstrated that combat and other traumatic stress can cause   actual physical changes in the brain, leading to psychological   symptoms and changes in behavior; as a result, a movement has arisen   that hopes to change the official diagnosis, in certain cases, from   PTSD to "post-traumatic stress injury," or PTSI; and          WHEREAS, A leader in these advocacy efforts is the veterans   organization Honor for All, which is dedicated to eliminating the   stigma attached to post-traumatic stress, to preserving the dignity   of the injured, and to helping them avert impulsive or dangerous   behavior which might lead to suicide; and          WHEREAS, Under the motto "Visible Honor for Invisible   Wounds," the organization is engaged in a national effort to   introduce the term "injury" into the vernacular when discussing   post-traumatic stress that arises as a result of changes in the   brain; this simple change can help encourage individuals to seek   timely treatment without fear of retribution or shame; and          WHEREAS, The nation's military veterans who have suffered the   hidden wounds of post-traumatic stress injury while serving our   nation are truly entitled to every possible resource to ensure   their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well-being; now,   therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That June 27, 2017, be recognized as Post-Traumatic   Stress Injury Awareness Day and that the month of June be recognized   as Post-Traumatic Stress Injury Awareness Month in the State of   Texas.     Gutierrez     ______________________________   Speaker of the House                 I certify that H.R. No. 2647 was adopted by the House on May   28, 2017, by a non-record vote.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House