In The News

U.S. Representative Scott Perry praised and thanked members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives today, on their unanimous, bipartisan passage (202-0) of the Nation’s first-ever legislation to urge Congress and the President of the United States to pass and sign landmark legislation to help end America's Veteran suicide epidemic, which takes more than 20 Veterans every day.

Perry introduced the "Treatment and Relief through Emerging and Accessible Therapy (TREAT PTSD)" Act (HR 1656) in March, to take the offensive in the war on Veteran suicide by providing relief from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Injury (PTSD/I) by expanding access to a lifesaving therapy called Stellate Ganglion Block (SGB).

“This vote is so humbling, and I can't thank the Members of the Pennsylvania House enough for speaking with one powerful voice in a unanimous, bipartisan resolution beseeching Congress to pass and the President to sign my SGB legislation into law,”

said Perry.  “One of the most effective treatments to stop Veteran suicide is SGB, and we have a moral duty as legislators to remove barriers so our brave warriors can stop suffering and dying needlessly.”

House Resolution 1656 would require the VA to expand an already-approved VA option for SGB as a frontline treatment for PTSD/I. Currently, the VA requires a Veteran to fail other treatments before being approved for SGB.

Perry, a 38-plus-year Veteran, and retired brigadier general who flew 44 combat missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), thanked the resolution's author, State Rep. Frank Ryan (Lebanon), a former Marine and OIF/Combat Veteran, for listening, learning and leading the fight for today's landmark legislation.

“Rep. Ryan immediately understood the issue and got to work solving it. This is tremendous leadership on his part, and Veterans from around our commonwealth and Country will celebrate this effort," said Perry. "Now we need Members of Congress to do the same. I hope this overwhelming bipartisan support in the State will help our PA Congressional lead the charge in DC.”

Perry’s bill has been referred to the Committees on Armed Services, and Veterans' Affairs.  It has been endorsed enthusiastically by the American Legion, VFW-PA, AMVETS, the Pennsylvania National Guard Associations, and Mission 22, a non-profit dedicated to ending the Veteran suicide epidemic and healing America's Veterans. 

“Our Veterans need us to unite, and they deserve this treatment, now more than ever,” said Perry. “This bill isn’t just good policy; it’s personal, and I’ll continue doing everything in my power to bring legislators together to save our Veterans,” said Perry.