[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 83 (Friday, June 23, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HEALTH CENTERS RENEWAL ACT OF 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 21, 2006

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5573, the 
Health Centers Renewal Act. By reauthorizing the health center program, 
we will ensure that community health centers are able to continue the 
delivery of cost-effective, high quality care to medically underserved 
communities.
  It is important to note that community health centers are the primary 
providers of health care to America's poor and medically underserved. 
For over 30 years, they have been responsible for bringing doctors, 
basic health services and facilities into the Nation's neediest and 
most isolated communities. Community health centers provide quality 
primary health care in over 20 locations to one out of ten Rhode 
Islanders throughout my home state.
  With increasing numbers of Americans losing access to employer-
sponsored health coverage as a result of recent increases in 
unemployment and the rising cost of health care, it is more important 
than ever to support people and programs devoted to filling in the 
gaps. Without the services of community health centers, we would see 
even more over-crowding in our emergency rooms and unnecessary declines 
in quality of life for those who lack access to other forms of 
preventative care. Health centers do a tremendous job of managing the 
problems that exist in our broken health care system. But they cannot 
continue to do it alone. As we join together today to reauthorize the 
health center programs, I hope my colleagues will take this opportunity 
to reflect on the health care crisis that exists in America.
  I have introduced legislation that proposes a universal system of 
health care, offering access to coverage for all Americans. Under my 
proposal, all Americans would have the opportunity to participate in a 
program modeled after the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program 
(FEHBP), which has provided Members of Congress, their staffs and other 
federal employees with quality health care over many years. With a 
commitment and partnership from businesses, consumers and the 
government, we could offer this kind of coverage and oversight to all 
Americans. Recent developments in Massachusetts and other parts of the 
country have shown us that the business community and Americans are 
ready to participate in such a system--it is now up to us, as Congress, 
to take on this Issue.
  Mr. Speaker, once again I call on Congress to join me in the effort 
to develop a universal health insurance program that will include all 
Americans. In the meantime, I urge my colleagues to join me in support 
of programs that make health care available to at-risk individuals in 
underserved communities and vote in favor of H.R. 5573.

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