[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 113 (Friday, July 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          EARMARK DECLARATION

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                          HON. PETER J. ROSKAM

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 24, 2009

  Mr. ROSKAM. Madam Speaker, pursuant to Republican standards on 
disclosure for Member project requests, I am submitting the following 
information regarding projects I support for inclusion in H.R. 3293, 
the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010.
  Congressman Peter J. Roskam: H.R. 3293, Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, Training and Employment 
Services account for the Access Community Health Center Career 
Laddering Program. The entity to receive the $400,000 in funding for 
this project is the Access Community Health Network, 1501 S. California 
Avenue, Chicago, IL 60608. It is my understanding that the funding 
would be used to create an innovative career training and advancement 
framework for healthcare employees. ACCESS employs close to 450 entry 
level workers, the majority of whom have no college education and many 
of whom are recruited because their ``peer'' status is an asset in 
helping medically underserved patients enter and navigate the health 
system. ACCESS is proposing an integrated strategy for employee career 
advancement by deploying two tandem strategies: developing career 
ladders with internal training programs; and providing scholarships for 
employees that show educational promise, combined with mentoring to 
integrate educational attainment into career advancement at ACCESS. The 
majority of these 450 workers are minorities, many with families, and 
some who are single parents working two jobs to survive in the current 
economy. Most have not had the resources to consider pursuing their 
education, and for those who have had formal training (such as medical 
assistants), pursuit of a four-year degree has been beyond reach. This 
funding will bring practical relief and assistance to those served by 
ACCESS by empowering the employees to grow to be even better health 
professionals. In the midst of the current challenges in our healthcare 
system, and the debate over reform, we can all agree that a more 
educated and advancing healthcare workforce will better serve 
Americans.
  Congressman Peter J. Roskam: H.R. 3293, Department of Education, Fund 
for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education account for the Elgin 
Community College Health Careers Center of Excellence. The entity to 
receive the $100,000 in funding for this project is the Elgin Community 
College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, IL 60123. It is my understanding 
that the funding would be used for curriculum research and development 
and the acquisition of instructional equipment. Sixty percent of the 
nation's new registered nurses and the majority of allied health 
professionals receive their training through community colleges. ECC is 
graduating the future employees of hospitals, doctors' offices, nursing 
homes, schools and dentists' all across the Chicago region. As we 
debate health reform, we must also keep in mind that the nation faces a 
healthcare workforce shortage. The demand for healthcare job training 
is so high that ECC turns away more applicants every semester than it 
is able to enroll. Hospitals and healthcare providers across the 
country have staffing shortages, and ECC can help. This much-needed 
funding will help ECC meet the healthcare staffing needs burdening our 
current system.
  Congressman Peter J. Roskam: H.R. 3293, Health and Human Services, 
Health Resources and Services Administration account for the DuPage 
County Start the Heart Program. The entity to receive the $100,000 in 
funding for this project is the Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan 
Drive, Elgin, IL 60123. The entity to receive the $150,000 in funding 
for this project is the DuPage County Health Department, 111 N. County 
Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187. It is my understanding that the funding 
would be used to educate the public on how to reduce fatality rates 
from sudden cardiac arrest and expand access to AEDs throughout area 
communities. The leading cause of death in DuPage County is Heart 
Disease. While many of these deaths are attributed to chronic disease 
there is an opportunity to reduce deaths related to sudden cardiac 
arrest. Currently, one person dies every two minutes from sudden 
cardiac death, and the national survival rate is only 6% to 7%. Some 
areas of the country have seen positive trends increasing the survival 
rate, directly linked to public health campaigns that focus on 
increasing the numbers of individuals trained in CPR and creating 
greater access to Public Access Defibrillators (AEDs). Survival rates 
double in locations with access to AEDs. The Start the Heart Campaign 
is a collaborative, community-based partnership with the Midwest Heart 
Foundation (a group established by area physicians), local governments, 
education, and healthcare leaders. The goals are to increase the number 
of citizens who are trained in CPR and to increase the public access to 
AEDs. The healthcare costs related to survivors of delayed 
defibrillation are very high as these individuals require long 
rehabilitative therapy or long term skilled care. Costs related to 
families that lose mothers or fathers prematurely can be recognized in 
many social programs that support unplanned loss of income. This much 
needed funding will bring enhanced safety and health security to the 
people of DuPage County.

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