13-R151
2013 -- S 0584
Enacted 03/20/13
S E N A T E R E
S O L U T I O N
RESPECTFULLY
URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO PROVIDE SERVICES
AND BENEFITS FOR
RHODE ISLAND VETERANS
Introduced By: Senators Felag, Bates, Pichardo, Ottiano, and Pearson
Date Introduced: February 28, 2013
WHEREAS, In its February 2012 annual report to the General Assembly,
the Division of
Veterans’ Affairs predicted an increased demand for
long-term nursing and dementia care
services, emphasizing that
WHEREAS, Half of all
veterans in this state are over 65 years of age; and
WHEREAS, The 2012 annual report concludes that the increase in older
veterans will
increase the need for veterans services; and
WHEREAS, In 2012, over 75 percent of
provide $94,000,000 for the construction of a new Veterans’
Home and renovations to existing
facilities; and
WHEREAS, Not all senior
veterans meet the eligibility for the state veterans’ home or
instead desire to remain in their home environment; and
WHEREAS, As of December
2008, an estimated 25 to 40 percent (400,000 to 640,000
soldiers) of the over 1.6 million American service members deployed
to
have returned with psychological and neurological injuries
associated with Post Traumatic Stress
disorder (PTSD) or Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), dubbed the
“signature injuries” of the
War; and
WHEREAS, The current estimate of service members who will develop
PTSD within a
year of leaving combat is between 10 and 30 percent; and
WHEREAS, Approximately
3,000 veterans per year encounter the state’s behavioral
healthcare system, but there are many more veterans in need of
services who do not receive
timely help; and
WHEREAS, A 2006 study illustrates the need in Rhode Island for
trauma-related
services for veterans from the Gulf Wars (between 2,019 and
6,183 veterans in need), and other
wars (between 10,794 and 33,054 veterans in need); and
WHEREAS,
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain
Injury (TBI) screening, referrals, and
treatment to all veterans upon return from deployment; and
WHEREAS,
court in directing veterans who are diagnosed with trauma
related disorders into a court program
that integrates support and treatment plans with the
judicial process; and
WHEREAS, Our Federal
delegation continually supports the needs and efforts to expand
resources for
RESOLVED,
That this Senate respectfully requests the Congress of
the
pass legislation to establish funding for individual
states, including
home and community based veterans’ program; and be it
further
RESOLVED,
That this Senate of the State of
respectfully urges the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation to
support state funding
opportunities to implement recommendations from the President’s
Joining Forces Initiative to
strengthen behavioral healthcare systems and supportive services
for returning service members,
veterans, and their families; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That this Senate respectfully requests the Congress of
the
authorize the funding of the SERVE ACT through the Office of
National Drug Control Policy to
develop and implement a veterans’ treatment court; and be it
further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and is hereby
authorized and directed to
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the
Honorable Jack Reed and Honorable
N.
=======
LC01884
=======