{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=5be005c2-8e6c-4148-bdfb-94f064fb46bf", "Murkowski Bill Would Arm Soldiers With Information on Strain, Stress", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "AK", "Lisa Murkowski", "M001153", "www.murkowski.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "11.15.13\n\t\t\t Murkowski Bill Would Arm Soldiers With Information on Strain, Stress \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n        \n\t\t\t\t Senator Introduces Military Mental Health Improvement Act, To Combat Suicides By Reducing Stigma Through Better Information\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 As the United States Senate prepares to debate the National Defense Authorization Act \u2013 authorizing military pay, benefits and some policy initiatives \u2013 next week, Senator Lisa Murkowski is prioritizing our men and women in uniform by introducing S.1703, the Military Mental Health Improvement Act.\u00a0 This bill would clearly and comprehensively communicate exactly how their mental health records can be accessed or used throughout their career to service members when they enter the military \u2013 so that misinformation that would make them more reluctant to share problems is not given a chance to take hold.\r\n\u201cMilitary service on American soil and aboard is an intense and often life-changing experience for our troops, resulting in unseen scars that too many believe they must tolerate in deafening silence,\u201d said Murkowski.\u00a0 \u201cThere is a considerable stigma attached to seeking psychological help to treat the spectrum of stress and depression \u2013 where soldiers incorrectly believe their file will be flagged and their military career path will be hurt.\u00a0 One of the bravest things someone can do is to ask for help; I believe that improving the information flow will keep soldiers from believing they must choose between their career and their health.\u201d\r\nMore members of the U.S. military took their own lives (349) in 2012 than the number of combat casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan combined, which many mental health care providers and active duty military trace back to the stigma of seeking the care of a psychologist and the rampant myths that making that call or appointment would impede one\u2019s professional advancement pursuit.\r\nMurkowski\u2019s introduction of the bill has already been appreciated by veterans groups nationwide.\u00a0 The Veterans of Foreign Wars wrote her \u201cAlthough service members readily seek care for physical injuries, many are still reluctant to seek out mental health care.\u00a0 It is clear that the negative stigma associated with mental health problems remains a significant challenge \u2026 the VFW commends you for your leadership on this issue.\u201d The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America lauded Senator Murkowski\u2019s launching of the bill in the Senate.\u00a0 \u201cBy relaying this information to officers and enlisted personnel at the initial stages of their military training, the bill seeks to eliminate any misunderstandings service members may potentially have should they encounter any inaccurate information during their time of service,\u201d said IAVA Chief Executive Officer and Founder Paul Rieckhoff.\r\n\r\n\r\n(Senator Murkowski also recently taped a mental health PSA, to provide veterans a number to call)\r\nSenator Murkowski has made advocacy for veterans a signature issue for her, whether it be through expanding health care closer to home in Alaska, introducing legislation to ease the risks facing veterans, spreading awareness through her Veteran Spotlight or events like listening sessions and field hearings across Alaska spanning her Senate career.\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n     \n\t\n \n\t\n    \n    \n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t  \n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://www.murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=5be005c2-8e6c-4148-bdfb-94f064fb46bf"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.861539039760828, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}