A Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to pass H.R. 1947, the Treatment and Relief through Emerging and Accessible Therapy for PTSD Act or similar legislation dealing with stellate ganglion block therapy to veterans and members of the armed forces of the United States with post-traumatic stress disorder, during the 119th United States Congress.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1186 PRINTER'S NO. 2704
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 157
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY ZIMMERMAN, KRUPA, HAMM, FREEMAN, GUENST, JAMES,
SCHEUREN, HADDOCK, NEILSON, SCHMITT, COOK, GILLEN, K. HARRIS,
WEAKNECHT, RUSNOCK, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, MALONEY, BARTON, WATRO,
BOROWSKI, KLUNK AND PUGH, MARCH 31, 2025
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS AND
OPERATIONS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED,
DECEMBER 15, 2025
A RESOLUTION
Urging the Congress of the United States to pass H.R. 3023 1947,
the Treatment and Relief through Emerging and Accessible
Therapy for PTSD Act, should it be reintroduced, or similar
legislation dealing with stellate ganglion block therapy to
veterans and members of the armed forces of the United States
with post-traumatic stress disorder, during the 119th United
States Congress.
WHEREAS, H.R. 3023 1947 directs the United States Secretary
of Veterans Affairs and the United States Secretary of Defense
to furnish stellate ganglion block (SGB) therapy to veterans and
members of the armed forces of the United States with post-
traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) estimates that 23% of Operation Enduring Freedom and
Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans have received a diagnosis of
PTSD; and
WHEREAS, Older veterans are also impacted, with the VA
estimating that 12% of Gulf War veterans and 15% of Vietnam
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veterans receive a PTSD diagnosis each year; and
WHEREAS, Unfortunately, only 40% of veterans find relief from
PTSD with current treatments; and
WHEREAS, If left untreated, PTSD symptoms have a positive
correlation with suicide risk; and
WHEREAS, The lack of effective PTSD treatments directly
contributes to the 20 veteran suicides the United States
experiences each day; and
WHEREAS, An SGB procedure injects an anesthetic agent on the
stellate ganglion, a collection of nerves in the neck that
controls the activation of the "fight" or "flight" survival
reflex; and
WHEREAS, SGB is proven to alleviate common PTSD symptoms such
as hyperarousal, exaggerated startle responses and anxiety; and
WHEREAS, The procedure has been performed since the 1920s and
is considered low risk; and
WHEREAS, SGB was first recognized as a treatment for PTSD in
2008; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 3023 1947 is supported by the Pennsylvania
National Guard Associations, the American Legion and behavioral
health clinicians; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Congress of the United
States to pass H.R. 3023 1947, the Treatment and Relief through
Emerging and Accessible Therapy for PTSD Act, should it be
reintroduced, or similar legislation dealing with stellate
ganglion block therapy to veterans and members of the armed
forces of the United States with post-traumatic stress disorder,
during the 119th United States Congress; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
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the President of the United States, the presiding officers of
each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from
Pennsylvania.
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