[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 31 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 31

Expressing the sense of the Senate that the week of August 7, 2005, be 
    designated as ``National Health Center Week'' in order to raise 
  awareness of health services provided by community, migrant, public 
     housing, and homeless health centers, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            February 1, 2005

   Mr. Coleman (for himself and Mr. Durbin) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Senate that the week of August 7, 2005, be 
    designated as ``National Health Center Week'' in order to raise 
  awareness of health services provided by community, migrant, public 
     housing, and homeless health centers, and for other purposes.

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 more than 
        15,000,000 people in over 3,600 communities;
Whereas such health centers are found 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;
Whereas these health centers provide care to 1 of every 7 uninsured individuals, 
        1 of every 9 Medicaid beneficiaries, 1 of every 7 people of color, and 1 
        of every 9 rural Americans, all of whom would otherwise lack access to 
        health care;
Whereas these health centers are engaged with other innovative programs in 
        primary and preventive care to reach out to over 621,000 homeless 
        persons and more than 709,000 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, transportation, 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 over the past 4 years even as infant mortality rates 
        across the country have risen;
Whereas these health centers are built by community initiative, and run by the 
        patients they serve;
Whereas Federal grants provide seed money empowering communities to find 
        partners and resources 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 there are more than 100 health centers that receive no Federal grant 
        funding, yet continue to serve their communities regardless of their 
        patients' ability to pay;
Whereas all health centers tailor their services to fit the special needs and 
        priorities of their communities, working together with schools, 
        businesses, churches, community organizations, foundations, and State 
        and local governments;
Whereas all 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 all health centers encourage citizen participation and provide jobs for 
        nearly 100,000 community residents; and
Whereas the designation of the week of August 7, 2005, as ``National Health 
        Center Week'' would raise awareness of the health services provided by 
        all health centers: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the week of August 7, 2005, 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>