[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 138 (Thursday, October 2, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1971]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


THE HEALTH CARE SAFETY NET AMENDMENTS TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT OF 2003

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                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 2, 2003

  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
3038, the Health Care Safety Net Amendments and Technical Corrections 
Act of 2003. This bill makes small but significant technical changes to 
the Health Care Safety Net Improvement Act that I co-sponsored in the 
107th Congress.
  As a co-chair of the Community Health Centers Caucus, I would like to 
recognize a fellow co-chair of the Caucus, and Chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Health, Mr. Bilirakis, as well as the Ranking Member, 
Mr. Brown, for their work in bringing this bill to the floor.
  In the 107th Congress, this body passed the Health Care Safety Net 
Improvement Act of 2002 with strong bipartisan support, demonstrating a 
continuing commitment to the work of community health centers and the 
National Health Service Corps. The technical amendments in this bill 
ensure that the original goals of that legislation will be realized.
  It is fitting that we consider this bill today, as new Census Bureau 
figures released this week show that the number of uninsured Americans 
has increased at an even greater rate than anticipated. Community 
health centers play an invaluable role in serving this medically 
underserved population.
  In addition, a recent study by the George Washington University 
confirmed what many of us who have personally witnessed the work of 
health centers in our districts have long known, that the presence of 
community health centers in medically underserved communities reduces 
racial and ethnic disparities in key measures of community health. 
Researchers showed a clear association between the high penetration of 
community health centers in a state and narrower rates of disparity in 
infant mortality, access to prenatal care, and total death rates.
  The Health Care Safety Net Amendments and Technical Improvements Act 
will ensure that this essential work can continue. I urge my colleagues 
to support community health centers and vote yes on H.R. 3038.

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