[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 93 (Monday, June 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1243]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE INTRODUCTION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA LOAN REPAYMENT EQUITY 
                    TECHNICAL AMENDMENT ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 7, 2007

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today I introduce the ``District of 
Columbia Loan Repayment Equity Technical Amendment Act of 2007.'' This 
bill will ensure that undeserved communities in the District of 
Columbia have access to adequate health care services in selected 
health professional shortage areas, HPSAs, identified by the Secretary 
of the Department of Health and Human Services under the State Loan 
Repayment Program, as Congress intended. This bill does not involve any 
new funds. It will make the District eligible to receive assistance 
through the Public Health Service Act grants system, as would already 
be the case if the District had a matching program. Until 2006 there 
was no matching program in the District thus making it ineligible to 
apply for assistance. This bill is revenue neutral. Adding the District 
of Columbia to this program will not have any effect on federal funding 
because the District will be required to compete for the Federal funds 
exactly as every other State competes for the grants.
  The State Loan Repayment Program, SLRP, was implemented in 1987 in 
response to Section 3381 of the Public Health Service Act, which 
authorizes the Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
to make grants to States to help recruit and retain primary health care 
professionals in HPSAs. Under the State Loan Repayment Program, 
clinicians provide primary care health services in HPSAs in exchange 
for funds for the repayment of their qualifying educational loans. 
These individuals are fully trained and licensed primary health care 
clinicians dedicated to meeting the health care needs of medically 
underserved communities.
  Under the State Loan Repayment Program, grants are made to States to 
operate their own loan repayment programs. Primary care health 
professionals who are providing a minimum of 2 years of full-time 
clinical services in public or non-profit facilities located in HPSAs 
are eligible to apply for a loan repayment. The State Loan Repayment 
Program is a collaboration of Federal, State, and community efforts. 
The Federal Government provides up to 50 percent of the funds to make 
loan repayment funds to primary health care professionals. The 
remaining 50 percent of the funding comes from State and local 
community resources.

  The District of Columbia has 13.8 percent underinsured residents 
compared to 15.7 percent of individuals that are uninsured across the 
country. Approximately 17 percent of non-elderly adults and l0.4 
percent of children are uninsured.
  Today, millions of Americans lack access to health insurance. In 
2005, more than 46 million persons were uninsured for the entire year. 
There are several reasons for the lack of health coverage for Americans 
among all uninsured persons under age 65, more than half were 
underprivileged and 34 percent lacked health coverage.
  Improving the health care system is a huge priority for Congress. The 
Institute of Medicine found that the insurance status of parents 
affects the amount of health care that their children receive. By 
amending the Public Health Service Act, this bill would provide 
eligibility to the District of Columbia for the State Loan Repayment 
Program. It is extremely important that underserved populations have 
access to primary health services regardless of their low-income 
status. I urge my colleagues to support this important measure.

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