[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 108 (Thursday, August 1, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7881-S7882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNITION FOR THE NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK 2002

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I recognize the National Health 
Center Week that will be celebrated from August 18, to 24, 2002. Health 
centers provide services to over ten million people living in under-
served areas throughout the United States, with about 50 percent of the 
users being from rural areas such as South Dakota. It gives me great 
pride to have been selected for the National Association of Community 
Health Centers' ``2002 Community Super Hero'' award which was presented 
to me earlier this year.
  Community health centers have a long-standing history of providing 
quality primary health care services to medically under-served 
populations. Providing care to one of every 12 rural Americans, health 
centers provide medical attention to those who would otherwise lack 
access to health care. For less than one dollar per day, these health 
centers provide care to both individuals and families. Today, there are 
23 community health centers serving 31,0000 individuals across my State 
and I am working, along with the President and my colleagues in 
Congress, to greatly increase the number nationwide. I am pleased, as a 
member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, to have recently voted 
to increase funding by $190 million for a total of $1.53 billion for 
the Nation's community health centers next year. This funding level 
represents a $76 million increase over the President's Fiscal Year 2003 
budget request.
  A unique aspect of community health centers allows them to 
individualize their center to met the specific needs of a particular 
community. By partnering with community organizations, schools and 
businesses, health centers are able to best meet the health care needs 
of individuals in each respective community.
  Let me also pay special recognition to John Mengenhausen, Chief 
Executive Officer of Horizon Health Care in

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Howard, South Dakota and the National Association of Community Health 
Care Center's Board Chair, Scot Graff, Executive Director of the 
Community Health Care Association in South Dakota, and all of the staff 
at the association for the fine work they do on behalf of South Dakota. 
Furthermore, I want to commend all of the dedicated health care 
professionals in the health centers throughout South Dakota who work 
day in and day out devoting their lives to delivering critical health 
care to those most in need.
  Once again, it gives me great pleasure to recognize the National 
Health care Center Week on behalf of the South Dakota Community Health 
care Association and the many thousands of South Dakotans who may 
continue to benefit through this important program.

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