[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 474 Introduced in House (IH)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 474

Recognizing the invaluable service of our Nation's public hospitals and 
                            health systems.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 14, 2006

Mr. Bilirakis submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the invaluable service of our Nation's public hospitals and 
                            health systems.

Whereas since the establishment of the first public hospitals in the United 
        States in the early 1700s, America's public hospitals and health systems 
        have been a vital part of our Nation's health care delivery system;
Whereas whether they are owned and operated by cities, counties, States, 
        universities, or nonprofit organizations, public hospitals and health 
        systems provide care to all, regardless of ability to pay;
Whereas public hospitals lead the way in caring for America's 46 million 
        uninsured, providing more than $6 billion in uncompensated care each 
        year;
Whereas public hospitals provide essential services such as trauma care, burn 
        care, and neo-natal intensive care;
Whereas public hospitals are major providers of ambulatory care, with 29 million 
        non-emergency department visits in 2004 in hospital and community-based 
        settings;
Whereas public hospitals are an important part of the emergency response systems 
        in the communities in which they are located;
Whereas public hospitals contribute to the local economy as major employers and 
        purchasers of goods and services;
Whereas public hospitals are recognized for their excellence in managing chronic 
        illnesses;
Whereas public hospitals provide culturally-competent care to diverse 
        populations with a workforce that reflects this diversity;
Whereas public hospitals have a rich tradition of conducting world-class medical 
        research on critical health shortages, including the development of the 
        treatment and cure for tuberculosis;
Whereas public hospitals annually train more than 11,000 medical professionals;
Whereas the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (NAPH) 
        was formally incorporated in November 1980, and opened for business 
        early the following year;
Whereas a quarter-century later, NAPH has grown to represent 120 of the Nation's 
        most important public hospitals and health systems; and
Whereas since its inception, NAPH has worked closely with the Congress, the 
        Executive Branch, and many State and local governments to advance the 
        needs of public hospitals and their patients and highlight the 
        importance of the Medicaid program to their ability to deliver critical 
        health care services: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That--
            (1) the Congress extends its appreciation for the quality 
        health care delivered every day at public hospitals throughout 
        the country; and
            (2) offers its congratulations to the National Association 
        of Public Hospitals and Health Systems for a quarter century of 
        service to its member hospitals, their communities, and the 
        patients they serve.
                                 <all>