[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 12, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5375-S5377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 357--DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF AUGUST 8 THROUGH AUGUST 
              14, 2004, AS ``NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK''

  Mr. CAMPBELL (for himself, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Bond, Mr. Hollings, Mr. 
Kerry, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Biden, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Lincoln, Ms. Landrieu, 
Mr. Grassley, Mr. Domenici, Ms. Collins, Mr. Burns, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. 
Talent, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Lugar, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Crapo, 
Mr. Daschle, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr.

[[Page S5376]]

Cochran, Mr. Smith, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Allen, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Enzi, Mr. 
Lieberman, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Dodd) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

       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 15,000,000 people in over 3,500 communities in every 
     State and territory, spanning urban and rural communities in 
     all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, 
     and the Virgin Islands;
       Whereas these 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, meeting 
     escalating health needs, and reducing health disparities;
       Whereas these health centers provide care to individuals in 
     the United States who would otherwise lack access to health 
     care, including 1 of every 8 uninsured individuals, 1 of 
     every 9 Medicaid beneficiaries, 1 of every 7 people of color, 
     and 1 of every 9 rural Americans;
       Whereas these health centers and other innovative programs 
     in primary and preventive care reach out to over 621,000 
     homeless individuals and more than 709,000 migrant and 
     seasonal farm workers;
       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 increase 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 form 25 percent of such 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, working 
     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 over 70,000 community residents; and
       Whereas designating the week of August 8 through August 14, 
     2004, 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 8 through August 14, 
     2004, 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 submitting a resolution 
declaring the week of August 8, 2004, 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 Senator Durbin and 31 of our 
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 nonprofit, 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.
  Last year, the community health centers in my State of Colorado 
provided care to 372,000 patients, and 41 percent of those patients 
were children under the age of 19. Of the patients seen in Colorado in 
2003, 45 percent had no health insurance, 30 percent were Medicaid 
recipients and 87 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 nationwide 
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 8, 2004, a National 
Health Center Week.
                                 ______
                                 

SENATE RESOLUTION 358--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE THAT NO LATER 
THAN DECEMBER 31, 2006, LEGISLATION SHOULD BE ENACTED TO PROVIDE EVERY 
INDIVIDUAL IN THE UNITED STATES WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE HEALTH 
 INSURANCE COVERAGE THAT IS THE SAME AS, OR IS BETTER THAN, THE HEALTH 
  INSURANCE COVERAGE AVAILABLE TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AT THE SAME OR 
                              LOWER RATES

  Mr. DASCHLE (for himself, Mr. Graham of Florida, Mr. Kennedy, Ms. 
Stabenow, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Lautenberg, Mrs. 
Murray, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Levin, Mr. Wyden, Mr. 
Edwards, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. Bingaman, and Mr. 
Leahy) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 358

       Whereas the number of uninsured people in the United States 
     has grown to 43,600,000, an increase of 3,800,000 since 2000;
       Whereas nearly 20 percent of uninsured Americans are 
     children;
       Whereas 8 out of 10 uninsured people in the United States 
     come from working families;
       Whereas members of racial and ethnic minority groups at all 
     income levels are more likely to be uninsured than their 
     white counterparts;
       Whereas the United States is the only major industrialized 
     country that does not guarantee health care to all of its 
     citizens;
       Whereas the United States has the highest health care 
     spending per capita, but consistently scores near the bottom 
     in infant mortality and life expectancy when compared with 
     other developed, high-income countries;
       Whereas those without insurance are more likely to go 
     without necessary medical care and preventive services;
       Whereas millions of Americans who have insurance coverage 
     are underinsured;
       Whereas the Institute of Medicine has estimated that the 
     lost economic value of uninsurance is between $65,000,000,000 
     and $130,000,000,000 each year, and the Kaiser Family 
     Foundation has concluded that uninsured Americans could incur 
     nearly $41,000,000,000 in health care treatment in 2004;
       Whereas the financial consequences of uninsurance are 
     disastrous for families, as demonstrated by a recent study 
     that found medical problems were a factor in 45 percent of 
     all non-business bankruptcy filings;
       Whereas employer-based insurance premiums grew 13.9 percent 
     between 2002 and 2003, the third consecutive year of double-
     digit increases;
       Whereas a recent study by the Commonwealth Fund concluded 
     that small employers that provide health insurance to their 
     employees pay more but receive less for their money while 
     suffering faster increases in premiums and steeper jumps in 
     deductibles than large firms;
       Whereas public programs such as medicare, medicaid, the 
     State Children's Health Insurance Program, the Indian Health 
     Service, the Veterans Health Administration, and TRICARE, 
     play a critical role in providing coverage for millions of 
     Americans, but are often underfunded;
       Whereas the market for individual insurance policies is 
     extremely expensive and allows for discrimination based on 
     health status, age, and gender; and
       Whereas members of Congress and their families have the 
     opportunity to select among many benefit choices and to 
     purchase high quality, group health insurance coverage at 
     reasonable rates: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that no later 
     than December 31, 2006, legislation should be enacted to 
     provide every individual in the United States with the 
     opportunity to purchase health insurance coverage that is the 
     same as, or is better than, the health insurance coverage 
     available to members of Congress, at the same or lower rates.

[[Page S5377]]

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 359--DESIGNATING THE WEEK OF APRIL 11 THROUGH APRIL 
            17, 2004, AS ``FREE ENTERPRISE EDUCATION WEEK''

  Mr. COLEMAN submitted the following resolution; which was considered 
and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 359

       Whereas the United States values the free enterprise system 
     as its basic economic system;
       Whereas the elementary schools and secondary schools of the 
     United States should strive to educate their students about 
     the importance of the free enterprise system;
       Whereas an understanding of the free market system by the 
     youth of the United States is necessary to the United States' 
     long-term economic growth;
       Whereas companies, student organizations, and teachers in 
     the United States are willing and able to participate in 
     educating young people about free markets and opportunities; 
     and
       Whereas many organizations, such as Students in Free 
     Enterprise, have developed programs to teach and encourage 
     entrepreneurship among students: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of April 11 through April 17, 2004, 
     as ``Free Enterprise Education Week'';
       (2) encourages schools and businesses in the United States 
     to educate students about the free enterprise system; and
       (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the people of the United States and interested 
     groups to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies, 
     activities, and programs.
                                 ______
                                 

                    SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 107

  Mr. LIEBERMAN submitted the following concurrent resolution; which 
was considered and agreed to:

       Whereas Congress hosted the first American Association for 
     the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Congressional Science and 
     Engineering Fellows in 1973;
       Whereas the AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering 
     Fellowship Program was the first to provide an opportunity 
     for Ph.D.-level scientists and engineers to learn about the 
     policymaking process while bolstering the technical expertise 
     available to members of Congress and their staff;
       Whereas members of Congress hold the AAAS Congressional 
     Science and Engineering Fellowship Program in high regard for 
     the substantial contributions that AAAS Congressional Science 
     and Engineering Fellows have made, serving both in personal 
     offices and on committee staff;
       Whereas Congress is increasingly involved in public policy 
     issues of a scientific and technical nature, and recognizes 
     the need to develop additional in-house expertise in the 
     areas of science and engineering;
       Whereas more than 800 individuals have held AAAS 
     Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowships since 1973;
       Whereas the AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering 
     Fellows represent the full range of physical, biological, and 
     social sciences and all fields of engineering;
       Whereas the AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering 
     Fellows bring to Congress new insights and ideas, extensive 
     knowledge, and perspectives from a variety of disciplines;
       Whereas the AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering 
     Fellows learn about legislative, oversight, and investigative 
     activities through assignments that offer a wide array of 
     responsibilities;
       Whereas AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering 
     Fellowships provide an opportunity for scientists and 
     engineers to transition into careers in government service; 
     and
       Whereas many former AAAS Congressional Science and 
     Engineering Fellows return to their disciplines and share 
     knowledge with students and peers to encourage more 
     scientists and engineers to participate in informing 
     government processes: Now, therefore be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes the significance of the 30th anniversary of 
     the American Association for the Advancement of Science 
     Congressional Science and Engineering Fellowship Program;
       (2) acknowledges the value of over 30 years of 
     participation in the legislative process by the AAAS 
     Congressional Science and Engineering Fellows; and
       (3) reaffirms its commitment to support the use of science 
     in governmental decisionmaking through the AAAS Congressional 
     Science and Engineering Fellowship Program.
                                 ______
                                 

 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 108--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF 
                        TINNITUS AWARENESS WEEK

  Mr. LIEBERMAN (for himself, Mrs. Lincoln, and Mr. Wyden) submitted 
the following concurrent resolution; which was considered and agreed 
to:

       Whereas 50,000,000 individuals in the United States have 
     experienced tinnitus, the perception of noises or ringing in 
     the ears and head when no external sound source is present;
       Whereas 12,000,000 individuals in the United States 
     experience tinnitus to an incessant and debilitating degree, 
     such that the sounds in their ears and heads never abate, 
     forcing them to seek assistance from a health care 
     professional;
       Whereas tinnitus is frequently caused by exposure to loud 
     noises in the workplace, where an estimated 30,000,000 
     individuals in the United States are exposed to injurious 
     levels of noise each day, and where noise-induced hearing 
     loss is the most common occupational injury;
       Whereas tinnitus is also caused by exposure to loud noises 
     in recreational settings, where levels of sound can reach 
     traumatic levels, and where individuals frequently are not 
     aware that temporary ringing in the ears can become permanent 
     after continued exposure to loud levels of sound;
       Whereas in many cases, simply wearing proper hearing 
     protection would protect individuals from damaging their 
     hearing;
       Whereas many individuals with tinnitus are told that the 
     only solution to their condition is to learn to live with it, 
     even though treatments for tinnitus are available that can 
     help reduce the stress of the incessant ringing and increase 
     the coping skills and quality of life for individuals who 
     experience this condition; and
       Whereas the American Tinnitus Association has designated 
     the week beginning May 15, 2004, as the first National 
     Tinnitus Awareness Week, in order to raise public awareness 
     and to further its mission to silence tinnitus through 
     education, advocacy, research, and support: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Tinnitus 
     Awareness Week, as designated by the American Tinnitus 
     Association;
       (2) encourages interested groups and affected persons to 
     promote public awareness of tinnitus, the dangers of loud 
     noise, and the importance of hearing protection for all 
     individuals; and
       (3) commits to continuing its support of innovative hearing 
     health research through the National Institutes of Health, 
     particularly through the National Institute on Deafness and 
     Other Communication Disorders, so that treatments for 
     tinnitus can be refined and a cure for tinnitus can be 
     discovered.

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