South Carolina General Assembly

120th Session, 2013-2014

H. 5227

STATUS INFORMATION

House Resolution

Sponsors: Reps. Clemmons, J.E.Smith, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Bedingfield, Bernstein, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Branham, Brannon, G.A.Brown, R.L.Brown, Burns, Chumley, Clyburn, CobbHunter, Cole, H.A.Crawford, K.R.Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Edge, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrester, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gambrell, George, Gilliard, Goldfinch, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hardwick, Harrell, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, Kennedy, King, Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, M.S.McLeod, W.J.McLeod, Merrill, Mitchell, D.C.Moss, V.S.Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, Neal, Newton, Norman, Norrell, R.L.Ott, Owens, Parks, Patrick, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Quinn, Ridgeway, Riley, Rivers, RobinsonSimpson, Rutherford, Ryhal, Sabb, Sandifer, Sellers, Simrill, Skelton, G.M.Smith, G.R.Smith, J.R.Smith, Sottile, Southard, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Toole, Vick, Weeks, Wells, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Wood

Document Path: l:\council\bills\gm\24099zw14.docx

Introduced in the House on May 8, 2014

Adopted by the House on May 8, 2014

Summary: PTSD Awareness Day

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

DateBodyAction Description with journal page number

5/8/2014HouseIntroduced and adopted (House Journalpage125)

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

5/8/2014

AHOUSE RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES WHO SUFFER FROM POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS AS A RESULT OF SERVICE DURING MILITARY COMBAT, TO COMMEND THE WORK OF HIDDEN WOUNDS, INC. TO SERVE MILITARY VETERANS SUFFERING FROM POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS, AND TO DECLARE FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014, AS “PTSD AWARENESS DAY” IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, with deep appreciation, the members of the South Carolina House of Representativeshonor, on behalf of all South Carolinians,the great sacrifices that men and women of the United States Armed Forces make for the ideals of liberty and justice so richly enjoyed in this nation; and

Whereas, many members of the Armed Forces return home from military combat with severe injuries and wounds that require extensive recovery time, and others return home with wounds that are not visible but are, nevertheless, detrimental to their participation in the daily routine of life; and

Whereas, in order to bring greater awareness to the issue of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the United States Senate designated June 27 forthe annual observance of National PTSD Awareness Day; and

Whereas, according to the National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD), PTSD is an anxiety disorder resulting from exposure to a single traumatic event or multiple traumatic events, such as sexual or physical assault, natural or manmade disaster, and warrelated combat stress; and

Whereas, symptoms of PTSD include persistent intrusive thoughts and distressing dreams about the traumatic event, triggered emotional responses to reminders of the trauma, efforts to avoid thinking or talking about the trauma, and persistent hypervigilance for cues that indicate additional danger or trauma reoccurring; and

Whereas, Hidden Wounds, Inc., serves military veterans across the nation with the singular goal of stemming the rising rate of suicide associated with military veterans suffering with posttraumatic stress and other related psychological injuries; and

Whereas, founded by executive directorAnna Bigham,the nonprofit organizationHidden Wounds provides interim and emergency counseling services to ensure the psychological health and wellbeing of combat veterans and their families who may suffer from PTSD; and

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives proudly joins in honoring our military veterans around the world by observing National PTSD Awareness Day and in declaring South Carolina’s PTSD Awareness Day on June 27, 2014. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and honor the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces who suffer from posttraumatic stress as a result of service during military combat, commend the service of Hidden Wounds, Inc. to military veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress, and declare Friday, June 27, 2014, as “PTSD Awareness Day” in South Carolina.

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