[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 69 (Friday, May 9, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S6004]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 140--DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF AUGUST 10, 2003, AS 
                    ``NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK''

  Mr. CAMPBELL (for himself, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Bond, Mr. Hollings, Mr. 
Kerry, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Biden, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Inhofe, 
Mr. Talent, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Allen, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Smith, Ms. Landrieu, 
Mr. Domenici, and Mr. Crapo) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 140

       Whereas community, migrant, public housing, and homeless 
     health centers are nonprofit, community owned and operated 
     health providers and are vital to the Nation's communities;
       Whereas there are more than 1,000 such health centers 
     serving 13,000,000 people at more than 4,000 health delivery 
     sites, in urban and rural communities in all 50 States, the 
     District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin 
     Islands;
       Whereas such health centers have provided cost-effective, 
     high-quality health care to the Nation's poor and medically 
     underserved (including the working poor, the uninsured, and 
     many high-risk and vulnerable populations), acting as a vital 
     safety net in the Nation's health delivery system by meeting 
     escalating health needs and reducing health disparities;
       Whereas these health centers provide care to 1 of every 5 
     low-income babies born in America, 1 of every 8 uninsured 
     individuals, 1 of every 9 medicaid beneficiaries, 1 of every 
     9 people of color, and 1 of every 10 rural Americans, and 
     these Americans would otherwise lack access to health care;
       Whereas these health centers and other innovative programs 
     in primary and preventive care reach out to almost 750,000 
     homeless persons and nearly 850,000 farmworkers;
       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 have increased 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;
       Whereas Federal grants provide seed money that empowers 
     communities to find partners and resources, and to recruit 
     doctors and needed health professionals;
       Whereas Federal grants on average contribute 25 percent of 
     a health center's budget, 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, and work 
     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 60,000 community residents; and
       Whereas the designation of the week of August 10, 2003, as 
     ``National Health Center Week'' would raise awareness of the 
     health services provided by health centers: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of August 10, 2003, as ``National 
     Health Center Week''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe the 
     week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, today I am introducing a resolution 
declaring the week of August 10, 2003, as a National Health Center Week 
dedicated to raising awareness of health services provided by 
community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health centers. I am 
pleased to be joined in this effort by 17 of my colleagues.
  The resolution expresses the sense of Congress that 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.
  The resolution also recognizes health centers for providing cost-
effective, high-quality health care to the Nation's poor and medically 
underserved and by acting as a vital safety net in the Nation's health 
delivery system. These non-profit, community based centers are 
performing a vital service to our country's more vulnerable populations 
and they are to be commended for their efforts.
  Health centers throughout the country have a 30-year history of 
success. Studies continue to show that the centers effectively and 
efficiently improve our Nation's health.
  Over the past 2 years, the number of patients seen by community 
health centers in my state of Colorado has increased 20.8 percent and 
the number of visits provided has increased by 26 percent over the same 
period. Of the patients seen in Colorado in 2002, 48 percent had no 
health insurance, 26 percent were Medicaid recipients and 94 percent 
had family incomes less than $36,200 a year for a family of four. 
Community health centers are truly America's healthcare safety net.
  I believe it is important that we support and honor this nation-wide 
network of community based providers. That is why I urge my colleagues 
to act quickly on this legislation. Let's show our community health 
center network that we value its significant contribution to the health 
of our citizens by declaring the week of August 10, 2003, a National 
Health Center Week.

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