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RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE TO ADOPT HOUSE MEMORIAL 909 OR SIMILAR LEGISLATION URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO RECOGNIZE THE EPIDEMIC OF SUICIDE AMONG VETERANS AND FULLY FUND SUICIDE PREVENTION EFFORTS BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS; AND URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO FULLY FUND THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SUICIDE PREVENTION EFFORTS

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WHEREAS, according to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (�V.A.�), in 2018, there were approximately 18 million veterans living in the nation; and
WHEREAS, these courageous men and women served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, every other operation that involved members of the United States Armed Forces, and in times of peace as well; and
WHEREAS, according to the V.A.�s 2019 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, there was an average of 16.8 veteran suicide deaths per day in 2017, which amounted to approximately 6,139 veterans who died by suicide that year; and
WHEREAS, research shows that veterans who die by suicide suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (�PTSD�), sleep disorders, traumatic brain injuries, chronic pain, and a host of other mental or physical disabilities, illnesses or disorders at higher rates than the general population; and
WHEREAS, for instance, while PTSD is not unique to veterans, because of their increased exposure to traumatic situations, veterans comprise a disproportionate share of the population living with PTSD; and
WHEREAS, statistics compiled by the V.A. indicate that 11 to 20 percent of veterans that served in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, 12 percent of veterans that served in Desert Storm, and 15 percent of veterans that served in the Vietnam War have PTSD, as compared to seven to eight percent of the general population; and
WHEREAS, according to a 2016 report published by the V.A., which considered records from every state in the nation and analyzed 55 million veterans� records from 1979 through 2014, during the period from 2001 through 2014, veterans demonstrated an increased risk of suicide when compared to their non-veteran peers; and
WHEREAS, in light of the significant number of veterans who die by suicide, the V.A. has implemented a number of measures including, but not limited to, the Veterans Crisis Line, suicide prevention research, and evidence based clinical treatment approaches, all of which are intended to provide needed support and treatment to veterans and reduce the number of deaths caused by suicide; and
WHEREAS, on December 11, 2019, Representative Matt Willhite (D � Royal Palm Beach) filed House Memorial (�HM�) 909, which urges the United States Congress to recognize the epidemic of suicide among veterans and to fully fund suicide prevention efforts by the V.A.; and
WHEREAS, HM 909 is another measure aimed at ensuring funding necessary to support health care [GS(1]and other treatment and services is available to the men and women who bravely risked their lives to protect the nation; and
WHEREAS, this Board urges the Legislature to adopt HM 909; and
WHEREAS, similarly, this Board urges the United States Congress to fully fund all of the V.A.�s suicide prevention efforts; and
WHEREAS, this Board recognizes the sacrifices veterans have made in service to our country and supports measures designed to prevent their deaths by suicide,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature to adopt HM 909 or similar legislation urging the United States Congress to recognize the epidemic of suicide among veterans and fully fund suicide prevention efforts by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
Section 2. Urges the United States Congress to fully fund the United States Department of Veterans Affairs suicide prevention efforts.
Section 3. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, Representative Matt Willhite, the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade County State Legislative Delegation, and the Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans� Affairs.
Section 4. Directs the County�s state lobbyists to advocate for the legislative action set forth in section 1 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend the 2020 state legislative package to include this item.
Section 5. Directs the County�s federal lobbyists to advocate for the legislative action set forth in section 2 above, and authorizes and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to amend the 2020 federal legislative package to include this item.