[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 94 (Monday, July 9, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7331-S7332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 59--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT 
THERE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED A NATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER WEEK TO 
  RAISE AWARENESS OF HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED BY COMMUNITY, MIGRANT, 
              PUBLIC HOUSING, AND HOMELESS HEALTH CENTERS

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

                            S. Con. Res. 59

       Whereas community, migrant, public housing, and homeless 
     health centers are nonprofit and community owned and operated 
     health providers that are vital to the Nation's communities;
       Whereas there are more than 1,029 of these health centers 
     serving nearly 12,000,000 people at 3,200 health delivery 
     sites, spanning urban and rural communities in the 50 States, 
     the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin 
     Islands;
       Whereas these health centers have provided cost-effective, 
     quality health care to the Nation's poor and medically 
     underserved, including the working poor, the uninsured, and 
     many high-risk and vulnerable populations;
       Whereas these health centers act as a vital safety net in 
     the Nation's health delivery system, meeting escalating 
     health needs and reducing health disparities;
       Whereas these health centers provide care to 1 of every 9 
     uninsured Americans, 1 of every 8 low-income Americans, and 1 
     of every 10 rural Americans, who would otherwise lack access 
     to health care;
       Whereas these health centers, and other innovative programs 
     in primary and preventive care, reach out to 600,000 homeless 
     persons and more than 650,000 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, 
     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 between 10 and 40 
     percent;
       Whereas these health centers are built by community 
     initiative;

[[Page S7332]]

       Whereas Federal grants provide seed money empowering 
     communities to find partners and resources and to recruit 
     doctors and health professionals;
       Whereas Federal grants, on average, contribute 28 percent 
     of these health centers' budgets, with the remainder provided 
     by State and local governments, Medicare, Medicaid, private 
     contributions, private insurance, and patient fees;
       Whereas these health centers are community oriented and 
     patient focused;
       Whereas these health centers tailor their services to fit 
     the special needs and priorities of communities, working 
     together with schools, businesses, churches, community 
     organizations, foundations, and State and local governments;
       Whereas these 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 these health centers engage citizen participation 
     and provide jobs for 50,000 community residents; and
       Whereas the establishment of a National Community Health 
     Center Week for the week beginning August 19, 2001, would 
     raise awareness of the health services provided by these 
     health centers: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) there should be established a National Community Health 
     Center Week to raise awareness of health services provided by 
     community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health 
     centers; and
       (2) the President should issue a proclamation calling on 
     the people of the United States and interested organizations 
     to observe such a week with appropriate programs and 
     activities.

                          ____________________