California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Joint ResolutionNo. 20


Introduced by Assembly Member Kim

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Travis Allen, Brough, and Chang)

(Coauthors: Senators Bates and Mendoza)

May 28, 2015


Assembly Joint Resolution No. 20—Relative to Veterans Affairs hospitals.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AJR 20, as introduced, Kim. Veterans Affairs hospitals.

This measure would request the Congress of the United States to support and build a central Veterans Affairs hospital in Orange County.

Fiscal committee: no.

P1    1WHEREAS, Many service members returning home to Orange
2County face significant barriers to a successful transition back to
3civilian life; and

4WHEREAS, Sixty-one percent of post-9/11 Orange County
5veterans reported difficulties adjusting to civilian life and needing
6time to figure out what to do after service in the military; and

7WHEREAS, About one in five post-9/11 veterans in Orange
8County have considered suicide, and one in six developed a suicide
9plan, and among those Orange County veterans who considered
10or made a plan to commit suicide, about one-half did not seek help;
11and

12WHEREAS, Orange County veterans have reported barriers,
13including not knowing where to access services, difficulty
P2    1scheduling appointments, and concerns about confidentiality and
2treatment; and

3WHEREAS, Twenty-five percent of post-9/11 veterans and 9
4percent of pre-9/11 veterans indicated severe physical health
5symptoms. In addition, post-9/11 veterans were more likely to
6screen positive for post-traumatic stress disorder and depression
7than pre-9/11 veterans; and

8WHEREAS, One-half of all Orange County post-9/11 veterans
9reported their greatest needs as Veterans Affairs service assistance
10and health care assistance; and

11WHEREAS, Only 24 percent of Orange County veterans
12reported that they could handle the challenges on their own, and
13their needs are not being met; and

14WHEREAS, A considerable number of Orange County veterans
15are not receiving care for physical and psychological issues, and
16have a high rate of mental health concerns; now, therefore, be it

17Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
18California, jointly,
That the Legislature urges the Congress of the
19United States to support and build a central Veterans Affairs
20Hospital in Orange County for the mental health care needs of
21local veterans; and be it further

22Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
23of this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
24States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives,
25the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, each Senator and
26Representative from California in the Congress of the United
27States, and to the author for appropriate distribution.



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