[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 15, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9431-S9432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]







                      NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK



  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 

now proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 195, S. Res. 

140.





[[Page S9432]]



  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.

  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:



       A resolution (S. Res. 140) designating the week of August 

     10, 2003, as ``National Health Center Week.''



  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 

resolution.

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 

resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to 

reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or 

debate.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

  The resolution (S. Res. 140) was agreed to.

  The preamble was agreed to.

  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:



                              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.



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