[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 18027-18028]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 195, S. Res. 
140.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 140) designating the week of August 
     10, 2003, as ``National Health Center Week.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution

[[Page 18028]]

be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 140) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 140

       Whereas community, migrant, public housing, and homeless 
     health centers are nonprofit, community owned and operated 
     health providers and are vital to the Nation's communities;
       Whereas there are more than 1,000 such health centers 
     serving 13,000,000 people at more than 4,000 health delivery 
     sites, in urban and rural communities in all 50 States, the 
     District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin 
     Islands;
       Whereas such health centers have provided cost-effective, 
     high-quality health care to the Nation's poor and medically 
     underserved (including the working poor, the uninsured, and 
     many high-risk and vulnerable populations), acting as a vital 
     safety net in the Nation's health delivery system by meeting 
     escalating health needs and reducing health disparities;
       Whereas these health centers provide care to 1 of every 5 
     low-income babies born in America, 1 of every 8 uninsured 
     individuals, 1 of every 9 medicaid beneficiaries, 1 of every 
     9 people of color, and 1 of every 10 rural Americans, and 
     these Americans would otherwise lack access to health care;
       Whereas these health centers and other innovative programs 
     in primary and preventive care reach out to almost 750,000 
     homeless persons and nearly 850,000 farmworkers;
       Whereas these health centers make health care responsive 
     and cost-effective by integrating the delivery of primary 
     care with aggressive outreach, patient education, 
     translation, and enabling support services;
       Whereas these health centers have increased the use of 
     preventive health services such as immunizations, Pap smears, 
     mammograms, and glaucoma screenings;
       Whereas in communities served by these health centers, 
     infant mortality rates have been reduced between 10 and 40 
     percent;
       Whereas these health centers are built by community 
     initiative;
       Whereas Federal grants provide seed money that empowers 
     communities to find partners and resources, and to recruit 
     doctors and needed health professionals;
       Whereas Federal grants on average contribute 25 percent of 
     a health center's budget, with the remainder provided by 
     State and local governments, medicare, medicaid, private 
     contributions, private insurance, and patient fees;
       Whereas these health centers are community oriented and 
     patient focused;
       Whereas these health centers tailor their services to fit 
     the special needs and priorities of communities, and work 
     together with schools, businesses, churches, community 
     organizations, foundations, and State and local governments;
       Whereas these health centers contribute to the health and 
     well-being of their communities by keeping children healthy 
     and in school, and helping adults remain productive and on 
     the job;
       Whereas these health centers engage citizen participation 
     and provide jobs for 60,000 community residents; and
       Whereas the designation of the week of August 10, 2003, as 
     ``National Health Center Week'' would raise awareness of the 
     health services provided by health centers: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of August 10, 2003, as ``National 
     Health Center Week''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe the 
     week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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