[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 59 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. CON. RES. 59

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              July 9, 2001

  Mr. Hutchinson (for himself and Mr. Durbin) 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 Community Health Center Week 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 are 
        nonprofit and community owned and operated health providers that are 
        vital to the Nation's communities;
Whereas there are more than 1,029 of these health centers serving nearly 
        12,000,000 people at 3,200 health delivery sites, spanning urban and 
        rural communities in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto 
        Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands;
Whereas these 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;
Whereas these health centers act 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 9 uninsured Americans, 1 
        of every 8 low-income Americans, and 1 of every 10 rural Americans, who 
        would otherwise lack access to health care;
Whereas these health centers, and other innovative programs in primary and 
        preventive care, reach out to 600,000 homeless persons and more than 
        650,000 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 health professionals;
Whereas Federal grants, on average, contribute 28 percent of these health 
        centers' budgets, 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 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 August 19, 2001, would raise awareness of the health 
        services provided by these 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 to raise awareness of health services provided by 
        community, migrant, public housing, 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.
                                 <all>