Rep. Robert Pittenger
A North Carolina veteran’s proposal to raise money for PTSD research and treatment took a major step forward this week when Congressman Robert Pittenger (NC-09) secured the support of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald.
In a letter to Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan, Secretary McDonald writes, “The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) supports the proposal to establish a stamp under the United States Postal Service’s Semi-Postal Discretionary Program to support the education, research and treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder for U.S. military Veterans.”
Last month, Congressman Pittenger secured support from 128 Members of the U.S. House and Senate, including Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis, who co-signed Congressman Pittenger’s letter to the Postmaster General in support of the Stamp Out PTSD proposal.
Garland Denny, a Union County Navy veteran who died in October, dedicated his retirement to advocating for a special postage stamp to raise money for veterans services. His son, Chuck, continues his father’s mission and has secured support from the Carolina Panthers and is working to secure endorsements from additional organizations.
Under Mr. Denny’s proposal, the “Stamp Out PTSD” semi-postal stamp would raise money for PTSD research and treatment. Similar to the Breast Cancer Research Stamp, the Stamp Out PTSD semi-postal stamp would sell for more than the cost of first-class postage, with the difference donated to PTSD treatment.
“We are grateful for the support from Secretary McDonald, our bipartisan coalition in the House and Senate, and the Carolina Panthers,” said Congressman Pittenger. “June is National PTSD Awareness Month and we plan to continue building support to urge the Postal Service to Stamp Out PTSD.”
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