[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 18822-18824]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THERE SHOULD BE 
          ESTABLISHED A NATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER WEEK

  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 240) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that there should be established a National Community 
Health Center Week to raise awareness of health services provided by 
community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health centers, and 
for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 240

       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, spanning 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, 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 increase 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 empowering 
     communities to find partners and resources and to recruit 
     doctors and needed health professionals;
       Whereas Federal grants on average contribute 25 percent of 
     such 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, working 
     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 establishment of a National Community Health 
     Center Week for the week beginning on August 10, 2003, would 
     raise awareness of the health services provided by these 
     health centers: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that--
       (1) there should be established a National Community Health 
     Center Week to raise awareness of health services provided by 
     community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health 
     centers; and
       (2) the President should issue a proclamation calling on 
     the people of the United States and interested organizations 
     to observe such a week with appropriate programs and 
     activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Shays) and the gentlewoman from the District of 
Columbia (Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on the legislation under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Connecticut?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 240, introduced by my distinguished 
colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), commends the 
invaluable work of community health centers across the country.
   As the text of this resolution states, there are over 1,000 health 
centers in the U.S. that provide outstanding health-related services to 
primarily low-income individuals. The vast majority of these care 
centers welcome all patients, regardless of their health coverage or 
ability to pay. Patients pay what they can afford at these facilities, 
and virtually no one in need is ever turned away. Those who seek help 
receive first-rate care at a fraction of the standard cost.
  In addition to patient fees, community health centers are supported 
by Federal grants and contributions from State and local governments, 
Medicare, and private interests.
  On behalf of the House, I want to join with the gentleman from 
Illinois and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) 
in praising the compassionate work of the thousands of employees and 
volunteers at community health centers across our great Nation. These 
care givers help so many, and this resolution intends to recognize 
their selfless efforts.

[[Page 18823]]

   In addition, I hope the House's consideration of House Resolution 
240 today will raise awareness of the services provided by the 
community health centers to all Americans who seek high-quality health 
care.
   Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Illinois for 
introducing House Resolution 240. I urge all Members to support its 
adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to join my good friend, the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Shays), in speaking strongly for this measure 
introduced by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).
   As we have discussed prescription drugs for our seniors on the House 
floor, some of the main points of discussion have been issues like 
affordability, accessibility, and who is being served. Just as the bill 
that was passed last Congress and this Congress, there will be 
individuals who cannot afford their prescriptions or some who will not 
have access to them. Fortunately, I know that there are community 
health centers available throughout the Nation to help those in need or 
who become displaced by health care legislation.
   Community health centers have been the safety net within the health 
care system, caring for one out of every five low-income babies born in 
America; one out of every eight uninsured individuals; one out of every 
nine Medicaid beneficiaries; one out of every nine persons of color; 
one out of every 10 rural Americans; almost 750,000 homeless; and 
nearly 850,000 farm workers. Community health centers are established 
in almost every corner of our Nation representing every aspect of every 
congressional district, whether it be assisting the working poor and 
the inner city or in the rural farm land, migrant workers, or even 
those who have insurance but do not have access to any other health 
care facilities.
  By establishing a week to raise awareness of community health 
centers, we will also be highlighting each year the great 
accomplishments of these nonprofit, community-owned and -operated 
health providers. With recent numbers indicating that the Nation's 
uninsured population is even higher than we once thought, a startling 
60 million, if our Nation will not realize the need for universal 
health care, we need to at least realize the importance and the need to 
better fund our community health centers.
   In addition, health centers provide approximately 60,000 jobs to the 
residents in the communities of the centers.
   Mr. Speaker, community health centers are the safety net that is 
committed to serving all individuals with the mission that everyone 
deserves quality health care service regardless of where one resides. 
Even if the person can pay or has insurance, these centers are 
available. They are vital in ensuring that America's forgotten are 
being kept healthy.
   Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I have no further speakers, but I would like to make a few additional 
comments.
   I strongly support community health centers, and I have always been 
impressed with the work performed by these centers and have found it 
very effective for us to support increasing the resources available to 
them. These centers have made wonderful contributions to the urban 
areas in, for instance, Connecticut's Fourth Congressional District, 
which I represent.
   The care they provide is as good or better than care many patients 
with more comprehensive coverage receive. These community health 
centers served over 12 million people in the United States in 2001, 66 
percent of whom lived below the poverty level and approximately 5 
million of whom lack any health insurance.
   There are over 3,000 centers in rural and urban communities 
throughout the country which provide quality, cost-effective primary 
and preventative care for low-income, uninsured and underinsured 
patients. By preventing costly hospitalizations and less frequent use 
of emergency care for routine services, it is estimated health centers 
save the health care delivery system over $6 billion annually in 
reduced use of costly hospital emergency room, specialty, and inpatient 
care.
  Last year, Congress, and I think this is very important, reauthorized 
the community health center program. The legislation we passed aimed to 
add another 1,200 new and expanded centers over the next 5 years and 
doubled the number of patients who receive care in these clinics. This 
directly addresses the challenge of providing health insurance to the 
41 million Americans who lack it, allowing the program to serve 
approximately one-fourth of that number, 10 million uninsured people.
   So by passing H.R. 2660, the fiscal year 2004 Labor-Health and Human 
Services-Education Appropriations Act 2 weeks ago, Congress continued 
working towards the program's doubling.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member wishes to add his strong 
support for H. Res. 240, expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that there should be established a National Community 
Health Center Week to raise awareness of health services provided by 
community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health centers.
  This Member would like to commend the distinguished gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), the Chairman of the House Government Reform 
Committee, and the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. 
Waxman), the ranking member of the House Government Reform Committee, 
for bringing this important resolution to the House Floor today. This 
Member would also like to commend the distinguished gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) for sponsoring H. Res. 240 and for his personal 
interest in protecting and strengthening access to health care services 
for all under-served Americans.
  On June 18, 2003, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
notified this Member that the Peoples' Health Center of Lincoln, 
Nebraska, has been awarded a $650,000 grant to establish a Federally 
Qualified Community Health Center. This will be the first Community 
Health Center in the First Congressional District of Nebraska.
  This Member's congressional district has not had a Community Health 
Center for far too long and I believe one is essential as residents of 
this locality are in great need of access to comprehensive preventive 
and primary health care services.
  This Member and his staff have been working for more than one year 
with the Peoples' Health Center Steering Committee to obtain funding 
for the Community Health Center, which will serve a significant number 
of residents of Lincoln and Lancaster County. This Member requested 
support for the Health Center from the Health Resources and Services 
Administration and subsequently testified before the Labor, Health and 
Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee to express 
his strong support for an appropriation of $830,000 to support the 
construction of the Peoples' Health Center.
  Construction of the Peoples' Health Center will take place in two 
phases: Phase I (a west building) and Phase II (an east building). 
Phase I is being funded entirely with local funds. The funding this 
Member requested from the Subcommittee would be used for Phase II which 
will allow for the construction of an 8,300 square foot building which 
will be attached to the current Phase I building. Three dental 
operatories and expanded dental staff areas will be included in Phase 
II of the building. Space for a small radiology room, expanded offices 
for mental health and substance abuse counselors, as well as expanded 
conference and training space for health education and promotion is 
also planned for the Phase II building. Expanded medical services will 
be provided by moving existing administrative staff from the Phase I 
building into the Phase II building. This will result in approximately 
2,500 new dental patients, 1,800 new behavioral health patients, and 
2,500 primary medical patients.
  The People's Health Center would not have happened without the 
leadership of the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department under the 
direction of Mr. Bruce Dart. Mrs. Judy Halstead, of the Lincoln-
Lancaster County Health Department, has been instrumental in leading 
the `Peoples' Health Center Steering Committee. Additionally, Ms. 
Charlotte Liggett from St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center and Mr. 
Brad Sher of BryanLGH HealthSystem have served on the Peoples' Health 
Center Executive Committee and

[[Page 18824]]

helped secure the significant hospital contributions for the Health 
Center. Numerous other individuals and organizations spent a 
significant amount of time and energy on the project. This Member 
commends all involved in the project for their extraordinary efforts 
and dedication to providing uninsured and underinsured with access to 
health care services.
  This Member has met with the Steering Committee several times in the 
past year to discuss their plans. Certain members of the Steering 
Committee also visited his Washington office to show him the plans, and 
accompanied this Member's staff to an urban Community Health Center in 
Washington, DC. Mr. Craig Kennedy and Ms. Lisa Cox of the National 
Association of Community Health Centers were most helpful in planning 
this visit. A staff member of this Member's Washington, DC. office, Ms. 
Michelle Spence, has played a very important role in assisting the 
Lincoln effort and in promoting their case successfully within the 
Federal agency, and this Member commends her for her outstanding 
effort.
  The Peoples' Health Center will be built on 27th and Y streets in 
Lincoln. The buildings that existed on that land have been demolished 
and a shell for the health center currently exists. Construction and 
dry walling has just begun. It is expected that the Health Center will 
open on September 30, 2003.
  The proposed target population will include approximately 47,000 
Lincoln and Lancaster County residents, including more than 50 percent 
with incomes below 200 percent of the Federal poverty level, 36 percent 
uninsured, and 24 percent minority residents. It is anticipated that 
the patients using the health center will include 40 percent Medicaid 
eligible, 40 percent uninsured/sliding fee, 10 percent Medicare, and 10 
percent other third party pay.
  The resolution before us today expresses the sense of the House of 
Representatives that there should be established a National Community 
Health Center Week to raise awareness of health services provided by 
community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health centers; and 
the President should issue a proclamation calling on the people of the 
United States and interested organizations to observe such a week with 
appropriate programs and activities.
  It is this Member's hope that the establishment of the Peoples' 
Health Center of Lincoln will raise awareness of the Health Centers 
program to Nebraska residents and that this Center would participate in 
National Community Health Center Week if one were established.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, this Member urges his colleagues to support 
H. Res. 240.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 
240 to establish a National Community Health Center Week. I am pleased 
that we take this time to acknowledge the important services offered by 
community, migrant, public housing, and homeless community health 
centers.
  At a time when over 40 million Americans lack access to comprehensive 
health care, community health centers across the country are left to 
fill the growing void in health service provision. The existing gap in 
health coverage has placed considerable demands on local health centers 
to extend health coverage far beyond their financial and logistical 
means. Unfortunately, the other party's tax cuts have continued to hurt 
the funding of these health centers and their ability to extend 
services.
  These health centers have made patient care their highest priority 
and are therefore dedicated to providing affordable care without 
sacrificing the quality of health services. Community health centers 
generally provide comprehensive primary health care for adults, 
children, and families, living in both rural and urban areas. The 
centers serve those who experience financial, geographic, and/or 
cultural barriers to care. Migrant health facilities attempt to offer a 
broad range of health services to migrant and seasonal farm workers and 
their dependents. Public housing centers offer preventative and primary 
health care services to improve the status of residents in the public 
housing system. Homeless health centers provide outreach and case 
management services, along with medical, dental, mental health, and 
substance abuse counseling and treatment to homeless individuals. These 
local and community health centers work tirelessly to ensure patient 
satisfaction through vigilant awareness of community and patient needs 
and full utilization of community partnerships and resources.
  Community health centers across the country are not only to be 
commended for the quality of the services they provide but for their 
willingness to operate in under-served communities. In such 
communities, resources are often limited and staff responsibilities 
often exceed realistic expectations. For instance, those who work in 
health centers for the homeless, in addition to providing a haven for 
persons without residence, are likely to fill the role of substance 
abuse counselors and mental health support workers for this 
marginalized population. Community health providers wear these multiple 
hats not because they have been told to do so, but because they in fact 
recognize the multiple burdens that plague many of our low-income 
populations.
  Millions of Americans rely on the services provided in our local 
health centers. Therefore, it is critical that we not forget the 
immense work being done on the ground to secure the health and well 
being of the poor and under-served in our districts. It is for this 
reason that I am an ardent supporter for the establishment of a 
National Community Health Center Week. I urge my colleagues to also 
extend their support for H. Res. 240 on behalf of the courageous, 
civic-minded work being done in our local communities. Thank you, Mr. 
Speaker.
  Mr. SHAYS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Shays) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 240.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________