[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 155 (Saturday, September 27, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2087]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HEALTH CARE SAFETY NET ACT OF 2008

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                               speech of

                           HON. BOB ETHERIDGE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 25, 2008

  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
1343, Health Centers Renewal Act of 2008. This bill fulfills America's 
promise to its citizens by protecting access to high quality health 
care.
  Health Centers Renewal Act of 2008 will continue Congress's 
commitment to our Nation's 1,200 community health centers that provide 
high quality, affordable primary health care to more the 18 million 
Americans in over 7,000 communities nationwide. Numerous studies have 
shown that health centers are particularly effective because they 
remove barriers to care and deliver services in a manner adapted to the 
patients of individual communities. Health centers improve outcomes and 
mitigate health disparities, resulting in better health care for their 
patients and savings for the health care system. In fact, there is 
evidence that people who get most of their primary care from a health 
center have 41 percent lower overall health care costs than others, 
saving Federal taxpayers $10 to $17 billion in 2007 alone. The 
Community Health Centers program has been consistently rated as one of 
the most effective programs in the Department of Health and Human 
Services by the Office of Management and Budget.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 1343 will ensure that the millions of Americans 
who rely on health care centers continue to have access to high quality 
and affordable health servIces.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for H.R. 1343.

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