HOUSE RESOLUTION EXPRESSING GRATITUDE TO UNITED STATES ARMY BRIGADIER GENERAL JACK HAMMOND

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Edith Ajello and 9 co-sponsors

Rhode Island honors Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Jack Hammond for founding Home Base’s no-cost mental health and brain injury services for veterans and families.

06/03/2025 House read and passed

Purpose and Intent

HR 6379 is a nonbinding House Resolution expressing gratitude to United States Army Brigadier General (Ret.) Jack Hammond.

The resolution recognizes Hammond for founding the Home Base National Center of Excellence for Mental Health and Brain Injuries, which provides mental health and brain injury services to veterans and their families at no cost.

The bill serves as a formal endorsement and acknowledgment from the Rhode Island House of Representatives of Hammond’s leadership and the impact of Home Base.

Key Provisions

Honors and thanks: The House “honors and thanks” Brigadier General Jack Hammond (Retired) for founding Home Base National Center of Excellence for Mental Health and Brain Injuries.

Service acknowledgment: Highlights Hammond’s military leadership, combat experience, and post-military contributions as CEO of Home Base.

Federally connected achievement: Recognizes Home Base as a private-sector center (in partnership with the Boston Red Sox and Massachusetts General Hospital) that addresses veterans’ mental health and brain injuries.

No-cost services: Emphasizes that the programs and treatments provided through Home Base are offered free of charge to veterans, service members, and their families.

Transmission of the resolution: Authorizes the Secretary of State to transmit a duly certified copy of the resolution to General Jack Hammond (Retired).

Background and Context

Home Base is described as the nation’s first private-sector Center for Excellence for the Invisible Wounds program, developed in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

The program focuses on mental health and brain injury care for veterans, with a track record of innovation and collaboration across military and civilian sectors.

Hammond’s career highlights include leadership roles in U.S. and NATO operations, multiple military decorations, and public-speaking engagements on national defense and veteran care initiatives.

Affected Parties

Primary: General Jack Hammond (Retired) and the Home Base program beneficiaries (veterans and their families).

Secondary: Rhode Island residents and the state House of Representatives, which formally recognizes Hammond’s contributions.

Administrative: Rhode Island Secretary of State, which would transmit a certified copy of the resolution to Hammond.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Introduced: June 3, 2025.

Status: House read and passed on June 3, 2025.

Nature of the measure: A ceremonial/expressive resolution (not a statute or appropriation) with no fiscal impact or required implementation timeline beyond the acknowledgment.

Final step: As a House Resolution, it is a formal commendation by the Rhode Island House of Representatives.

Bill