[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 240 Engrossed in House (EH)]


                 In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

                                                         July 21, 2003.
Whereas community, migrant, public housing, 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 1,000 such health centers serving 13,000,000 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 such health centers have provided cost-effective, high-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 5 low-income babies born 
        in America, 1 of every 8 uninsured individuals, 1 of every 9 Medicaid 
        beneficiaries, 1 of every 9 people of color, and 1 of every 10 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 almost 750,000 homeless persons and nearly 
        850,000 farmworkers;
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 25 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 engage citizen participation and provide jobs for 
        60,000 community residents; and
Whereas the establishment of a National Community Health Center Week for the 
        week beginning on August 10, 2003, would raise awareness of the health 
        services provided by these health centers: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 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.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.