[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 127 (Tuesday, September 13, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   THE HEALTHY COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE

                                 ______


                            HON. TIM ROEMER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 13, 1994

  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, increasingly complex health, social, and 
environmental issues confront communities across this great Nation of 
ours. The world we live in today is fragmented by conflict on civil and 
social planes.
  The involvement of individuals, neighborhoods, communities, and whole 
cities to find positive solutions that are realistic, equitable, 
lasting, and foresighted is essential. We must bring a diversity of 
people from across improbable boundaries together to rethink our 
approaches to the issues that ultimately affect our good health, 
quality of life, and general well-being. We have an obligation to 
create and implement a shared vision for our own future and the future 
of generations who follow us.
  Mr. Speaker, there is a group of over 100 volunteers from all walks 
of life in St. Joseph County, IN which is about the business of taking 
on this great task. They have created, and are now moving forward to 
implement, a shared vision of a healthier St. Joseph County by the year 
2015. They have found common ground on which to build bridges toward 
better and more cost-efficient delivery of health care services; 
streamlined inter-community local government coalitions that eliminate 
duplication of costly services; and perhaps most important, are working 
with the families and youth in their community to boost self-
sufficiency, pride in learning, and the revival of basic common values.
  Mr. Speaker, it would be timely and appropriate for our colleagues 
here in Congress to join me in congratulating the wonderful and lasting 
work of this dedicated group of individuals. These Hoosiers have 
volunteered a great deal of time and effort to this great task, and the 
vision of sharing they have created thorough the Healthy Community 
Initiative of St. Joseph County is truly a model program for 
communities everywhere in our country.

                          ____________________