[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 28, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H1278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CONSOLIDATED HEALTH CENTERS BUDGET

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to add my voice to those calling for a 
substantial increase in the fiscal year 2002 budget appropriation for 
the consolidated health centers program.
  Community health centers provide critical primary and preventive 
health care services to over 11 million low-income and uninsured 
patients in more than 3,000 rural and urban communities throughout our 
country. In my own district, thousands of citizens benefit greatly from 
the quality health care they receive at our local community health care 
clinics.
  The fact that this program has enjoyed strong bipartisan support 
throughout its 30 years' existence is itself a testament to the success 
they have achieved in providing needed health care services to our 
Nation's most vulnerable populations.
  While I am encouraged by the President's call to double the level of 
service these health centers provide, I believe his proposed funding 
increase of $124 million will not adequately cover the critical demand 
for quality health care by the uninsured.
  There are over 45 million people in our country without access to 
affordable health care insurance; and, sadly, that number continues to 
rise.
  Nowhere is the problem of access to quality health care more critical 
than within the African American community where economic factors and 
limited health care options exacerbate an already disproportionate 
health care crisis.
  Community health care centers are a vital component in addressing the 
health care gap that exists in minority communities across this 
country. But if they are to continue to meet the growing health care 
needs of those communities, it is imperative that we increase the 
consolidated health centers program funding by $250 million in fiscal 
year 2002.

                              {time}  1815

  Mr. Speaker, with an additional $250 million, we can expand community 
health care facilities in rural and urban communities and provide 
quality health care to an additional 70,000 uninsured individuals. I 
urge the Committee on Appropriations and all of my House colleagues to 
support a $250 million increase in funding for the consolidated health 
care program.

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