[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 47 (Monday, March 19, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3266-S3267]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   BURLINGTON COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, this spring, the new community 
health center in Burlington, IA, officially opened for business. Having 
secured funding for the center and attended the groundbreaking ceremony 
last June, I know how important this health care facility is to 
Burlington and the surrounding communities. At long last, Des Moines 
County has a permanent, unified medical and dental clinic something 
that has been sorely needed for many years.
  This is a truly unique community health center. It is housed on the 
grounds of Southeastern Community College. And there is an agreement 
between the CHC board and the community college to allow nursing and 
health aide students to do some of their training in the center. This 
gives the center an edge in recruiting staff, and it gives students 
hands-on training opportunities right there on campus. Clearly, this is 
a win-win-win arrangement for the center, for the community college, 
and for the entire Burlington community.
  I salute Ron Kemp and others who had the vision to create this new 
community health center, and the persistence to transform their vision 
into bricks and mortar. The facility is welcoming, modern, and well 
equipped. And the staff members are truly an inspiration. They have a 
special passion for their work, and take pride in the fact that they 
are providing first-rate health care to underserved communities.
  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., used to say that ``Life's most 
persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?'' The 
staff members at the community health centers of southeast Iowa have 
answered that question in powerful ways. They have committed themselves 
to providing high-quality health care to all comers, regardless of 
ability to pay. All are welcomed equally. All are served with 
professionalism and excellence.
  As chair of the Health and Human Services Appropriations 
Subcommittee, I am 100 percent committed to securing appropriate 
funding

[[Page S3267]]

for community health centers all across America. One thing I know for 
certain: Every dollar Congress appropriates for centers like the one in 
Burlington is a dollar spent wisely and frugally. It never ceases to 
amaze me how their staff members are able to do so much--and to serve 
so many people--with such limited resources.
  I dare say that nobody in the health care profession faces greater 
challenges than those who choose to work in community health centers 
challenges including chronic illness, cultural and linguistic 
differences, geographical barriers, homelessness, and on and on. 
Nothing stops these superb professionals.
  And one more thing: Community health centers have a well-deserved 
reputation for caring and kindness. In some ways, their physicians and 
nurses are a throwback to another era. They offer a direct and personal 
style of health care. They follow up. They care about prevention and 
wellness.
  So I am deeply grateful to executive director Ron Kemp, to Dr. 
Beverly Simone, the president of Southeastern Community College, to the 
center's dedicated board members, to Ted Boesen, executive director of 
the Iowa/Nebraska Primary Care Association, and to all the other people 
who made this new facility possible. They work their hearts out to 
provide the very best health care to some of our most needy citizens. I 
deeply appreciate their passion, their compassion, and their dedication 
to public service.

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