Newborn Screening
On February 27, the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee approved, by voice vote, the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act (H.R. 1281). The Senate approved its version of the measure (S. 1417), sponsored by Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC), on January 29 (see The Source, 1/31/14).
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), would reauthorize $25.834 million annually through FY2018 to improve screening of, and counseling and follow up treatment for, newborn and heritable disorders. The clearinghouse on newborn screening information and the advisory committee on heritable disorders would be reauthorized. The bill also would require the secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to develop longitudinal follow up and tracking programs for newborn screening.
Subcommittee Explores Link Between Military Sexual Trauma, PTSD and Suicide
On February 26, the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel held a hearing on the Relationships Between Military Sexual Assault, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Suicide, and on Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Treatment and Management of Victims of Sexual Trauma.
Susan J. McCutcheon, RN, EdD, national mental health director, Family Services, Women’s Mental Health and Military Sexual Trauma (MST), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), testified that "Between both civilian and military populations, research has shown that experiences of trauma are associated with suicidal behavior. With regard to sexual trauma specifically, data from civilian samples have shown an association between sexual victimization and suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, and death by suicide. These relationships remain even after controlling for comorbid mental health conditions like depression and PTSD. Studies of suicide among veterans who experienced MST show similar findings. For example, among both Canadian and United States military forces, experiences of sexual trauma during military service are associated with suicide attempts and death by suicide. A study of veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom similarly showed that experiences of sexual harassment and assault are associated with suicidal ideation. Consistent with studies of civilians, the association between sexual harassment/assault and suicidal ideation remained even after controlling for mental health symptomatology. VHA [Veterans Health Administration] administrative data sources show a similar pattern of findings in that MST is significantly associated with risk for suicide for both women and men, and that this relationship remains even after controlling for age, medical and psychiatric conditions, and place of residence."
The following witnesses also testified:
- Lance Corporal Jeremiah J. Arbogast, United States Marine Corps (Ret.);
- Jessica Kenyon, former private first class, United States Army;
- Karen S. Guice, MD, MPP, principal deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Health Affairs;
- Jacqueline Garrick, LCSW-C, BCETS, director, Department of Defense Suicide Prevention Office;
- Nathan W. Galbreath, PhD, MFS, senior executive advisor, Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office; and
- Margret E. Bell, PhD, director for Education and Training, National Military Sexual Trauma Support Team, Department of Veterans Affairs.
This Week:
President Obama is scheduled to submit his FY2015 budget proposal to Congress on Tuesday.
Floor Action:
Child Care- This week, the Senate is scheduled to consider the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act (S. 1086).
Military- The Senate also may consider two bills to address sexual assault in the military: the Military Justice Improvement Act (S. 1752), sponsored by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and the Victims Protection Act (S. 1917), sponsored by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO).
Mark-Ups:
Small Business- On Wednesday, the House Small Business Committee will mark up several bills regarding federal prime and subcontracting small business goals, including the Women’s Procurement Program Equalization Act (H.R. 2452).Pages: 1 · 2
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