[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 138 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1868-E1869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HEALTH CENTERS CONSOLIDATION ACT OF 1996

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. HENRY BONILLA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 27, 1996

  Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1044, the Health 
Centers Consolidation Act of 1996. This bill will provide a 5-year 
authorization for America's Community, Migrant, Homeless, and Public 
Housing Health Center programs through fiscal year 2001.
  America's health center programs are doing a tremendous job in rural 
communities across the country bringing doctors and health facilities 
to communities in need. In its 30-year history, America's health 
centers have shown the value and strength of a health system rooted in 
community partnership and built on the delivery of accessible, quality 
primary care to Americans in need.
  Today, this growing network of community-based providers spans rural 
communities in all 50 States. Its innovative programs in primary care, 
prevention, and outreach serve nearly 8 million of America's poor and 
medically underserved population in 2,400 communities.
  Health centers serve in medically underserved communities. They are 
defined areas--suffering high levels of poverty, infant mortality, and 
poor health. They are rural and isolated areas, with few or no 
providers.
  Health centers hold the challenging task of providing for some of the 
poorest, sickest, and most vulnerable. These are people who confront 
enormous barriers to health care because of where they live--their 
economic status, and often, their costly and far greater complex health 
needs. They are people, frequently, locked out of traditional health 
care--whom others will not or cannot serve. And, they are people whose 
unmet health and social needs represent a huge and growing cost to the 
Nation.
  Today, in approving this reauthorization, we are helping the 
communities of the Nation project public health. Health centers have 
proven to be wise public investments. Compelling evidence shows that 
health center programs work. Their innovative programs in primary care 
and prevention keep people healthy--save tax dollars--and build 
stronger communities.
  In my district, there are 20 migrant and community health center 
delivery sites serving approximately 76,650 patients. These health 
centers are providing quality, cost-effective care to individuals who 
otherwise would not have access to health care. I personally have 
visited these centers, and have seen the enormous good they achieve. In 
many cases, they are the only provider of care for the people living in 
this region.
  For example, the Uvalde County Clinic, under the direction of Rachel 
Gonzales, is a

[[Page E1869]]

key provider of comprehensive primary care. It delivers medical care to 
approximately 7,000 patients out of a total population of 28,000. It 
also has the only pharmacy available in Uvalde County. Some patients 
travel as far as 60 miles to get to this health center for treatment. 
The Uvalde County Clinic is also vitally important in that it trains 
medical students, physician assistants, and residents from our medical 
schools in the State.

  For the hardworking people of Laredo, TX, the Gateway Community 
Health Center, of which Mike Trevino is the executive director, is a 
source of health care for the indigent population in the area. It 
serves approximately 12,000 patients, 83 percent of whom are uninsured. 
This center, with its focus on patient-centered care, reaches out with 
special programs for diabetes, hypertension and other chronic diseases, 
while promoting wellness and prevention.
  My friend, Ventura Gonzales, operates the Vida y Salud Health 
Systems, Inc. in Crystal City. This is an area where unemployment is 
high and health needs are growing. This center serves nearly 12,000 
patients, providing service to approximately 70 percent of the 
uninsured in that area. Remarkably, in an area where there is no other 
provider, this center has achieved a 93.3 percent immunization rate for 
children. It is a major employer in the area, and next to the school 
board, represents the second largest industry in my congressional 
district.
  Today, in improving this reauthorization, we are helping the 
communities of my district and communities across this Nation protect 
public health and expand access to health care. It is also important to 
emphasize that health centers are built by community initiative. A 
limited Federal grant program provides seed money to empower 
communities themselves to find partners and resources to develop 
centers, to hire doctors and needed health professionals, and to build 
their own points of entry into the Nation's health care delivery 
system.
  For these reasons I support America's health centers. It is a cost-
effective way to do a job that needs doing. This is why I have 
consistently fought very hard in the appropriations process to provide 
funding for these health centers.
  America's health centers meet today's rigid fiscal demands for cost 
effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability. They do a tremendous job 
reaching out to energize communities and their people to meet critical 
health needs and promote greater personal responsibility for good 
health. They work because they are partnerships--partnerships of 
people, Government, businesses and communities working together to 
improve health.
  Mr. Speaker, I support the passage of S. 1044.

                          ____________________