[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 135 (Thursday, September 8, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S5463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




FIFTEENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FREE & CHARITABLE 
                                CLINICS

 Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. President, I wish to congratulate the 
National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics on their 15th 
anniversary and to recognize the outstanding work of our Nation's 1,200 
free and charitable clinics in providing vital medical services to low-
income, uninsured residents, including the eight clinics in my home 
State of West Virginia.
  West Virginia's free and charitable clinics, with the assistance of 
their more than 1,000 dedicated volunteer professionals, provide health 
care for over 42,000 working poor of West Virginia. These clinics focus 
on the overall needs of patients by providing medical, dental, 
pharmaceutical, behavior health, vision, and health education services 
and ensure a medical home for vulnerable at-risk West Virginians.
  Annually, America's 1,200 free and charitable clinics provide health 
care to 1.7 million people through 5.9 million patient visits. This is 
accomplished through a dedicated staff and over 160,000 volunteers, 
including 30,000 medical providers, 21,000 nurses, and almost 71,000 
nonmedical volunteers.
  Free and charitable clinics do not receive dedicated Federal funding. 
Instead, these clinics rely heavily on private donations from 
individual donors, foundations, grants, and volunteers, which allow 
them to keep their doors open and to deliver health care to those who 
need it the most.
  I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in Congress 
to better address the needs of the medically underserved and to 
increase awareness and understanding of the important work that free 
and charitable clinics do every day.

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