[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 41 (Thursday, March 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E464]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RESOLUTION TO EXPAND ACCESS TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 13, 2003

  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Resolution to 
Expand Access to Community Health Centers. At a time when the number of 
uninsured Americans continues to increase and federal and state 
governments are facing budget shortfalls, community health centers 
continue to provide vital services at reasonable cost to millions of 
Americans. This bipartisan initiative calls for doubling the current 
level of funding for the consolidated health centers program by 2006. 
The additional funds would double access to comprehensive health care 
for the millions of Americans who currently are without health 
insurance.
  Community health centers are local, nonprofit, community-owned health 
care providers serving low-income and medically underserved urban and 
rural communities. Health centers have a proven 30-year track record of 
providing cost-effective, comprehensive, quality care. Past investment 
in community health centers has resulted in improved health and quality 
of life for many Americans, as well as a reduction in over all national 
health care spending.
  Community health centers provide health care services to uninsured 
and low-income individuals in medically underserved areas. They are 
vital to the fabric of health care in our country. This year, more than 
1,000 health centers will serve nearly 14 million children and adults 
in 3,400 communities across the country. Of these, 5 million are 
uninsured; 750,000 are homeless; 850,000 are migrant and seasonal 
farmworkers; 5.4 million are residents of rural areas; and nearly 9 
million are people of color.
  Community health centers are vital in my congressional district. 
Health Centers have significantly increased the use of preventive 
health services such as Pap smears, mammograms, and glaucoma screening 
services among the populations they serve. Health Centers have 
increased substantially the number and proportion of immunized 
children, and have made significant strides in preventing anemia and 
lead poisoning. Furthermore, Health Centers contribute to the health 
and well-being of their communities by reducing the risk of adverse 
pregnancy outcomes, keeping children healthy and in school, and helping 
adults remain productive and on the job.
  Expanding community health centers is a proven, viable, and cost-
effective way to bring health services to uninsured populations and 
underserved communities. The bipartisan REACH Resolution would enable 
health centers to serve 20 million Americans, including 9 million 
individuals without health insurance. As Cover the Uninsured Week comes 
to a close and with 41 million Americans living with no insurance we 
need to find ways to address this crisis. The REACH Resolution is a 
step in the right direction. The resolution would send a clear message 
that Congress supports efforts to provide critical health care to low- 
and moderate-income urban and rural communities. I urge my colleagues 
to support this important legislation.

                          ____________________