[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 381 Referred in Senate (RFS)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 381


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 27, 2000

        Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Congress that there should be established a 
   National Health Center Week to raise awareness of health services 
      provided by community, migrant, and homeless health centers.

Whereas community, migrant, and homeless health centers are nonprofit, community 
        owned and operated health providers and are vital to the Nation's 
        communities;
Whereas there are more than 1,029 such health centers serving more than 
        11,000,000 people at 3,200 health delivery sites, spanning urban and 
        rural communities in all 50

  States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands;
Whereas such health centers have provided cost-effective, quality health care to 
        the Nation's poor and medically underserved (including the working poor, 
        the uninsured, and many high-risk and vulnerable populations), acting as 
        a vital safety net in the Nation's health delivery system, meeting 
        escalating health needs, and reducing health disparities;
Whereas these health centers provide care to 1 of every 10 uninsured Americans, 
        1 of every 8 low-income Americans, and 1 of every 12 rural Americans, 
        and these Americans would otherwise lack access to health care;
Whereas these health centers and other innovative programs in primary and 
        preventive care reach out to more than 500,000 homeless persons and 
        600,000 farm workers;
Whereas these health centers make health care responsive and cost effective by 
        integrating the delivery of primary care with aggressive outreach, 
        patient education, translation, and enabling support services;
Whereas these health centers increase the use of preventive health services such 
        as immunizations, Pap smears, mammograms, and glaucoma screenings;
Whereas in communities served by these health centers, infant mortality rates 
        have been reduced between 10 and 40 percent;
Whereas these health centers are built by community initiative;
Whereas Federal grants provide seed money empowering communities to find 
        partners and resources and to recruit doctors and needed health 
        professionals;
Whereas Federal grants on average contribute 28 percent of such a health 
        center's budget, with the remainder provided by State and local 
        governments, Medicare, Medicaid, private contributions, private 
        insurance, and patient fees;
Whereas these health centers are community oriented and patient focused;
Whereas these health centers tailor their services to fit the special needs and 
        priorities of communities, working together with schools, businesses, 
        churches, community organizations, foundations, and State and local 
        governments;
Whereas these health centers contribute to the health and well-being of their 
        communities by keeping children healthy and in school and helping adults 
        remain productive and on the job;
Whereas these health centers, with a total operating budget of $4,000,000,000, 
        bolster and stabilize communities by stimulating development and 
        investment, generating more than $14,000,000,000 in community economic 
        development each year;
Whereas these health centers engage citizen participation and provide jobs for 
        50,000 community residents; and
Whereas the establishment of a National Community Health Center Week for the 
        week beginning on August 20, 2000, would raise awareness of the health 
        services provided by these health centers: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) there should be established a National Community Health 
        Center Week to raise awareness of health services provided by 
        community, migrant, and homeless health centers; and
            (2) the President should issue a proclamation calling on 
        the people of the United States and interested organizations to 
        observe such a week with appropriate programs and activities.

            Passed the House of Representatives July 27, 2000.

            Attest:

                                                 JEFF TRANDAHL,

                                                                 Clerk.

                            By Martha C. Morrison,

                                                          Deputy Clerk.