[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16221]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



     IN RECOGNITION OF THE COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL OF SOUTH TEXAS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2001

  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to recognize the 
important contributions of the Community Action Council of South Texas 
(CACST) to the improvement of the general quality of life of the 
citizens of South Texas. CACST is a private, nonprofit corporation that 
provides high quality comprehensive primary health care to the 
medically underserved residents in Duval, Jim Hogg, Starr, and Zapata 
Counties in South Texas. These counties are currently medically 
underserved due to geographic isolation, financial barriers, and an 
insufficient number of health care providers.
  The CACST has made great strides in the South Texas health care 
system, specifically by empowering communities to develop programs to 
meet their specific needs. This has strengthened the local communities 
and enhanced opportunities for children and families. In addition, the 
CACST has maintained a high standard of accountability and provided 
health care services in accessible low-cost environments.
  They have worked to improve access to quality health care by 
providing trained professionals in areas that had previously been 
underserved and promote individual responsibility and health awareness 
in the communities. It is critical that the CACST remain a provider of 
primary health care and their host of support services, including 
transportation, case management, outreach, and eligibility assistance. 
Their presence in the South Texas community has been a tremendous 
benefit to the individuals that reside there. I commend their efforts 
to help achieve primary health care for everyone and end health 
disparities.

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