[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 136 (Thursday, September 24, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   A TRIBUTE TO CLINICA MSR. OSCAR A. ROMERO ON THE OCCASION OF THE 
                    ORGANIZATION'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY

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                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 24, 2009

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Clinica 
Msr. Oscar A. Romero, a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles 
County that provides quality and affordable health care, health 
education, and advocacy to the uninsured and underserved communities of 
Greater Los Angeles.
  Named after Archbishop Romero of El Salvador, the organization was 
founded in 1983 by a coalition of Salvadoran civil war refugees and 
local volunteer health professionals who wanted to address the unmet 
health care needs of thousands of Central American refugees arriving in 
Los Angeles in the early 1980s.
  During its 25 years of service, Clinica Romero has grown from a very 
small operation to a $9.2 million Federal 330 Community Health Center, 
with two clinics in Pico-Union/Westlake and a third clinic in Boyle 
Heights.
  In the past year alone, Clinica Romero has reached notable 
milestones.
  The organization completed its $6 million Capital Campaign, which was 
essential to the purchase and renovation of its main clinic at 123 
South Alvarado Street in Pico-Union/Westlake. When the work concludes, 
Clinica Romero will be based out of its first permanent medical home in 
its history.
  Equally significant, on June 15, Clinica Romero opened a new 
Children's Clinic located just two blocks from its main site. Renovated 
with the assistance of a $1.2 million grant from the St. Vincent 
Medical Center on behalf of the Daughters of Charity, this ``Clinica 
Infantil'' is dedicated to serving the health care needs of children 11 
years and younger.
  As a way of including the entire community in the celebration of its 
25th anniversary, Clinica Romero will hold its 1st Annual Health Walk 
on October 3--a fun-filled and innovative way to promote the health and 
well being of the families it serves.
  Clinica Romero's 1st Annual Health Walk (Camine, Sonria y Vive con 
Clinica Romero) is expected to include 2,000 participants who will meet 
at its 123 South Alvarado Street clinic. They will then walk three 
kilometers through the local community to the new Vista Hermosa Natural 
Park, where they will be invited to enjoy a picnic lunch, live 
entertainment and a community health fair.
  Madam Speaker, during my years in Congress, I have had the privilege 
of working closely with the community health centers in my district and 
have seen firsthand the important role that clinics such as Clinica 
Romero play in improving the health of our communities, especially 
among Latinos. I especially enjoyed partnering with Clinica Romero in 
securing federal funds to bolster its successful diabetes care program 
and I pledge to continue to fight for increased federal funding for all 
of our community health clinics through comprehensive health care 
reform.
  In recognition of Clinica Romero's ongoing and tireless role as a 
health provider and educator in the 34th District, I ask my colleagues 
to join me in recognizing its 25th anniversary. I also commend Clinica 
Romero's Board Chair, Carlos Vaquerano, its Executive Director, Albert 
Pacheco, and all of the many dedicated people who make Clinica Romero 
the health care safety net that it is today, especially for the most 
hard to reach and at-risk patients. Clinica Romero provides resources 
that enable our community members to stay healthy and strong, and I 
wish everyone involved with this fine organization many more years of 
continued success.

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