[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 130 (Saturday, August 5, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1650-E1651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        INTRODUCING THE HEALTH CENTERS CONSOLIDATION ACT OF 1995

                                 ______


                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 4, 1995
  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to introduce, with my 
colleague Mr. Waxman, the Health Centers Consolidation Act of 1995.
  This legislation reduces administrative costs, simplifies and reduces 
paperwork, and lets health services programs focus more effectively on 
what they really are about--providing health care for the poor and 
medically needy, migrant farmworkers and their families, homeless 
people, and individuals who live in public housing. Without reducing 
the emphasis currently placed on any important aspects of health care, 
this bill allows programs that currently are authorized separately to 
consolidate, coordinate their efforts, and work as a real health care 
team to ensure better health and well-being for some of our most needy 
and fragile citizens. Today, health centers provide care and give hope 
for a better life to approximately 7.7 million of our citizens. They do 
this efficiently, cost effectively, and with a deep understanding and 
true dedication to the unique 

[[Page E1651]]
needs of the diverse and vulnerable populations they serve.
  The bill consolidates into a single legislative authority, 
authorities for community health centers, migrant health centers, 
health services for the homeless, and health services for residents of 
public housing. It streamlines the statutory definition of basic and 
required health services for these centers; replaces detailed 
application requirements by a general requirement that applicants 
identify their service populations, describe the scope of services, and 
show how service needs will be met; and reduces the number of grant 
applications and awards while maintaining the level of services 
provided by these centers and establishing an incentive award grant 
program for grantees with high or greatly improved performance.
  This is a good bill, and I commend it to my colleagues.
  

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