[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 121 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 121

  Expressing the sense of Congress that there should be established a 
National Health Center Week for the week beginning on August 18, 2002, 
 to raise awareness of health services provided by community, migrant, 
              public housing, and homeless health centers.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 13, 2002

 Mr. Hutchinson (for himself, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Bond, and Mr. Hollings) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
                     the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of Congress that there should be established a 
National Health Center Week for the week beginning on August 18, 2002, 
 to raise awareness of health services provided by community, migrant, 
              public housing, and homeless health centers.

Whereas community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health centers 
        (referred to in this concurrent resolution as ``health centers'') are 
        nonprofit, community-owned and community-operated health providers and 
        are vital to the Nation's communities;
Whereas there are more than 1,000 health centers serving 12,000,000 people at 
        more than 4,000 health delivery sites, spanning urban and rural 
        communities in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, 
        Guam, and the Virgin Islands;
Whereas 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 health centers provide care to 1 of every 9 uninsured Americans, 1 of 
        every 8 low-income Americans, and 1 of every 10 rural Americans, and 
        without health centers these Americans would otherwise lack access to 
        health care;
Whereas health centers and other innovative programs in primary and preventive 
        care reach out to 650,000 homeless persons and 700,000 farm workers;
Whereas 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 health centers increase the use of preventive health services such as 
        immunizations, Pap smears, mammograms, and glaucoma screenings;
Whereas in communities served by health centers, infant mortality rates have 
        been reduced by between 10 and 40 percent;
Whereas health centers are built by community initiative;
Whereas Federal grants provide seed money to empower communities to find 
        partners and resources and to recruit doctors and needed health 
        professionals;
Whereas Federal grants, on average, contribute 22 percent of a health center's 
        budget, with the remainder provided by State and local governments, 
        medicare, medicaid, private contributions, private insurance, and 
        patient fees;
Whereas health centers are community-oriented and patient-focused;
Whereas health centers tailor their services to fit the special needs and 
        priorities of communities by working together with schools, businesses, 
        churches, community organizations, foundations, and State and local 
        governments;
Whereas 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 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 18, 2002, would raise awareness of the health 
        services provided by health centers: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) there should be established a National Community Health 
        Center Week for the week beginning on August 18, 2002, to raise 
        awareness of health services provided by 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.
                                 <all>