[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 140 (Thursday, September 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1283]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING EL CONCILIO

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JEFF DENHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 15, 2016

  Mr. DENHAM. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to acknowledge and honor El 
Concilio, the Council for the Spanish Speaking, for their participation 
in the Sixteenth Annual Binational Health Week, taking place this 
October.
  Since October 2001, El Concilio has led the Binational Health Week of 
Stanislaus County in a collaborative effort with a number of partner 
organizations, including the Tzu Chi Foundation and the Health 
Initiative of the Americas. This unprecedented effort is overseen by 
multi-agency taskforces, and conducts health promotion and education 
activities for the Latino population in the United States. To date, 
over 1,000,000 people in our country have benefited from the health 
care activities provided during the Binational Health Week.
  Binational Health Week represents an international effort between the 
United States, Mexico, Canada, Guatemala, Honduras, Colombia, Ecuador, 
Bolivia, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Uruguay and Peru to improve the quality 
of life for members of underserved populations by expanding their 
access to health care, increasing their health insurance coverage, and 
addressing their unmet health needs.
  The Health Initiative of the Americas, and the consular network here 
in the United States, are coordinating the Sixteenth Annual Binational 
Health Week. Activities throughout the country will be centered on the 
communities that have a high level of need for accessible health care.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring and commending El Concilio 
upon their efforts to improve public health for the Latino community by 
participating in the Sixteenth Annual Binational Health Week.

                          ____________________