2017 -- H 6274

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LC002697

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

DIVISION OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INVISIBLE

WOUNDS MEMORIAL

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Marshall, Azzinaro, McLaughlin, Vella-Wilkinson, and
Abney

     Date Introduced: June 01, 2017

     Referred To: House Finance

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     WHEREAS, As a state, we are thankful that the core ideals of our free nation are still

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preserved due to the noble sacrifices that veterans have and continue to make; and

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     WHEREAS, When these brave-hearted men and women, who have honorably served this

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great nation return home, they oftentimes continue to battle the invisible wounds of war; and

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     WHEREAS, While advances in medicine and technology have made it possible for more

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of our soldiers to return safely home, the stress of modern warfare, compounded by longer

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periods of deployment and frequent redeployment, has left our warriors with invisible wounds to

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their mental health in the form of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and

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substance-use issues; and

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     WHEREAS, The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 20 veterans commit

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suicide each day; and

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     WHEREAS, The service and sacrifice of these veterans, who continue to carry the

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burden of invisible wounds, should never be forgotten; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not

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otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year 2017-2018, such sums or such portions thereof as may

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be required from time to time to the Department of Human Services Division of Veterans Affairs

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for the purpose of establishing and maintaining an Invisible Wounds Memorial at the Rhode

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Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery located in Exeter, Rhode Island; and the state controller is

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hereby authorized and directed to draw his orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of

 

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said sum, or so much thereof as may be from time to time required, upon receipt of properly

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authenticated vouchers.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

DIVISION OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INVISIBLE

WOUNDS MEMORIAL

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     This resolution would authorize an appropriation to the Department of Human Services

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Division of Veterans Affairs such sums as necessary to establish an Invisible Wounds Memorial

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at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Exeter, Rhode Island.

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LC002697

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