Bill Summary
This bill aims to designate a mental health residential rehabilitation treatment facility at the Alvin C. York Medical Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee as the "Sergeant John Toombs Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Facility" in honor of Sergeant John Toombs, a veteran who tragically took his own life after struggling with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The bill also recognizes the positive impact Sergeant Toombs' life has had on other veterans and seeks to improve the treatment of PTSD within the Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. This legislation would officially change the name of the facility and all references to it in any federal documents or records.
Possible Impacts
1) The designation of the Sergeant John Toombs Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Facility may lead to increased awareness and understanding of PTSD among veterans in Tennessee, potentially encouraging more individuals to seek treatment.
2) The bill may also provide funding for the facility, allowing for improved resources and care for veterans with mental health needs.
3) The renaming of the facility may also serve as a tribute to Sergeant John Toombs, bringing attention to his service and the sacrifices he made for his country.
[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1737 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1737
To designate the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment
Facility Expansion of the Department of Veterans Affairs Alvin C. York
Medical Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as the ``Sergeant John
Toombs Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Facility''.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 10, 2021
Mr. DesJarlais (for himself, Mrs. Harshbarger, Mr. Fleischmann, Mr.
Kustoff, Mr. Burchett, Mr. Green of Tennessee, Mr. Rose, Mr. Cooper,
Mr. Cohen, and Mr. Steube) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To designate the Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment
Facility Expansion of the Department of Veterans Affairs Alvin C. York
Medical Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, as the ``Sergeant John
Toombs Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Facility''.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Sergeant John Toombs of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, served
in the Tennessee Army National Guard as a part of the highly
distinguished 230th Signal Corps.
(2) His six years in the National Guard included a
deployment to Afghanistan, where Sergeant Toombs proudly served
as a guard and escort for visiting dignitaries and reporters
traveling into highly dangerous, war-ravaged areas in
Afghanistan.
(3) As a result of his service in Afghanistan, Sergeant
Toombs developed symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD), a disability he continued to suffer from after leaving
the National Guard in 2014.
(4) After two years of battling PTSD and failing to receive
the necessary treatment, Sergeant Toombs tragically took his
own life in November of 2016.
(5) However, the life of Sergeant Toombs has impacted other
veterans in Tennessee suffering from PTSD. Since this
devastating tragedy, positive measures have been made to raise
awareness and improve the overall treatment of veterans
suffering from PTSD within the Tennessee Valley Healthcare
System.
SEC. 2. SERGEANT JOHN TOOMBS RESIDENTIAL REHABILITATION TREATMENT
FACILITY.
(a) Designation.--The Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation
Treatment Facility Expansion of the Department of Veterans Affairs
Alvin C. York Medical Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, shall be known
and designated as the ``Sergeant John Toombs Residential Rehabilitation
Treatment Facility'', after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, map,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Alvin C.
York Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Facility
referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be a reference to the
``Sergeant John Toombs Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Facility''.
<all>