[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 140 Introduced in Senate (IS)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 140

 Designating the week of August 10, 2003, as ``National Health Center 
                                Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 9, 2003

Mr. Campbell (for himself, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Bond, Mr. Hollings, Mr. 
        Kerry, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Biden, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Johnson, Mr. 
        Inhofe, Mr. Talent, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Allen, Mr. Enzi, Mr. 
        Smith, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Domenici, and Mr. Crapo) submitted the 
        following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
        the JudiciaryYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Designating the week of August 10, 2003, as ``National Health Center 
                                Week''.

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, in 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 by 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 have increased 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 that empowers communities to find 
        partners and resources, and to recruit doctors and needed health 
        professionals;
Whereas Federal grants on average contribute 25 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 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, and work 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 designation of the week of August 10, 2003, as ``National Health 
        Center Week'' would raise awareness of the health services provided by 
        health centers: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the week of August 10, 2003, as ``National 
        Health Center Week''; and
            (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        calling upon the people of the United States to observe the 
        week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
                                 <all>