[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 142 (Friday, September 6, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1090]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF SALUD PARA LA GENTE

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                           HON. JIMMY PANETTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 6, 2019

  Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate 
the 40th Anniversary of Salud Para La Gente. Since 1978, Salud Para La 
Gente has provided comprehensive primary healthcare to low income 
community members of Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. This non-profit 
healthcare provider is dedicated to the values of service, dignity and 
equity. Salud Para La Gente provides excellent care by ensuring that 
patients are treated with respect, regardless of income. The 
organization started with a single free clinic, offering care primarily 
to farmworkers on the central coast of California. Since then, it has 
expanded to 11 clinic sites with over 90 providers serving nearly 
27,000 patients. Salud Para La Gente provides wide-ranging services 
including family health, reproductive health, pediatrics, dental, 
vision, wellness, counseling, and other types of specialty services.
  California's Central Coast produces much of our country's fruits and 
vegetables but suffers from poor health among its working community. 
Salud Para La Gente has tackled this problem by focusing on issues 
including poor nutrition, obesity and diabetes to ensure that 
farmworkers and other low-income families on the Central Coast can lead 
healthy lives. The clinics of Salud Para La Gente work under the motto, 
``even if you are unable to pay, you will not be turned away.'' This 
ensures that the most vulnerable residents of the Central Coast can 
receive quality healthcare. Salud Para La Gente focuses on all facets 
of care including testing, treatment, prevention and long-term 
treatment.
  I am also proud to recognize Salud Para La Gente as an exemplary 
women's healthcare provider. Their clinics in Santa Cruz County include 
family planning, pregnancy care, childbirth and breast cancer 
screening. With their two women's healthcare offices, Salud Para La 
Gente has reached many milestones. For example, in 2016, they 
established the first Santa Cruz County OBGYN Hospitalist Team, which 
provides around-the-clock care at Watsonville Community Hospital. 
Through this program, the team delivers roughly 90 newborn babies each 
month to low-income families.
  Salud Para La Gente is more than just a health care provider. From 
assisting patients with applying for CalFresh to providing mental 
health support and healthy diet counseling, it is a pillar of community 
well-being. Having made such incredible progress from their first free 
clinic in 1978, I am honored to recognize Salud Para La Gente and its 
important contributions to the health of residents on the Central Coast 
of California over the past 40 years. Madam Speaker, I ask that my 
colleagues join me in congratulating and thanking Salud Para La Gente 
for 40 years of service to our underserved communities.

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