[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15101-15103]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON ESTABLISHING NATIONAL COMMUNITY HEALTH 
                              CENTER WEEK

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 646) 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.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 646

       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 15,000,000 people in over 3,500 urban and rural 
     communities in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, 
     Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands;

[[Page 15102]]

       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 individuals in 
     the United States who would otherwise lack access to health 
     care, including 1 of every 8 uninsured individuals, 1 of 
     every 9 Medicaid beneficiaries, 1 of every 7 people of color, 
     and 1 of every 9 rural Americans;
       Whereas these health centers and other innovative programs 
     in primary and preventive care reach out to over 621,000 
     homeless persons and more than 709,000 migrant and seasonal 
     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 form 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 over 70,000 community residents; and
       Whereas the establishment of a ``National Health Center 
     Week'' for the week beginning August 8, 2004, would raise 
     awareness of the health services provided by 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 Health Center 
     Week'' to raise awareness of the 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 gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Mrs. Miller) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller).


                             General Leave

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the 
resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  House Resolution 646 supports national community health centers and 
their invaluable work in numerous American communities. The great 
Americans that work at these centers serve the unfortunate and, as the 
resolution states, their service acts as a vital safety net in the 
Nation's health delivery system. Their work is so very important to the 
welfare of many, many men, women and children who have a variety of 
health and wellness needs.
  Community health centers and public housing provide food, shelter and 
care to the Nation's needy.

                              {time}  1430

  And I am so pleased to join the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis), 
my distinguished colleague on the Committee on Government Reform, in 
support of this legislation. I hope its adoption today raises important 
awareness of the compassionate contributions to society provided by 
community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health centers. The 
concerned men and women who provide these centers' health services 
deserve our gratitude. I congratulate the gentleman from Illinois for 
advancing House Resolution 646.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my colleague from Michigan in 
consideration of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the proud sponsor of this resolution to 
establish a National Community Health Center Week. As we continue to 
discuss health care and as we continue hopefully to move towards 
enactment of a national health plan which covers everyone without 
regard to their ability to pay and as we continue to discuss access, 
affordability, and strategic deployment of services, we can take pride 
in some of our accomplishments in health care; and one of the most 
important and effective accomplishments since the enactment of Medicare 
and Medicaid has been the development of community health centers.
  Fortunately, community health centers are available throughout the 
Nation to help those in need or those who get displaced by job status 
or other economic conditions. Community health centers have become the 
safety net within the health care system, caring for one of every eight 
uninsured individuals, one of every nine Medicaid beneficiaries, one of 
every seven people of color, and one of every nine rural Americans, as 
well as reaching out to over 621,000 homeless persons and more than 
709,000 migrant and seasonal farm workers.
  Community health centers are established in almost every corner of 
our Nation representing every aspect of any congressional district, 
whether it be assisting the working poor in the inner city or in the 
rural farmland, migrant workers, or even those who have insurance but 
do not have access to any other health facilities.
  These health centers provide high-quality, cost-effective health care 
as they continue to meet escalating health needs and assist in reducing 
health disparities as they provide high levels of quality care. With 
the weakened economy and unemployment reaching its highest point in 
almost a decade, our Nation's health centers are feeling and will 
continue to feel the brunt of increasing volume of patients, especially 
the uninsured. So by establishing a week to raise awareness of 
community health centers, we will also be highlighting each year the 
great accomplishments these nonprofit community-owned and -operated 
health providers offer to many communities throughout the Nation.
  With recent numbers indicating that the Nation's uninsured population 
is even higher than once thought, at 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.
  So I am pleased to note the significant increase in the fiscal year 
2005 budget that our community health centers that are in great need 
are receiving in order to continue and expand these services as well as 
construction for new and expanded facilities.
  One of the most amazing and important aspects of community health 
centers is the involvement of the community. Each center tailors their 
services to best meet the needs and priorities of the communities in 
which they reside. Citizens in these communities become active 
participants in their community's health care decision-making. Health 
centers even provide approximately 70,000 jobs to the residents in 
communities of these areas.
  Mr. Speaker, community health centers are indeed the safety net which 
is committed to serving all individuals with the mission that everyone 
deserves quality health care services regardless of where they reside, 
if they

[[Page 15103]]

can pay or whether or not they have insurance. They are vital to 
ensuring that even the poor and disadvantaged in this country have the 
greatest opportunity to be healthy. These centers are indeed a hallmark 
of development of our Nation's health care delivery system.
  I am pleased that I can stand and be a part of promoting the 
awareness that they exist and the accomplishments which they have 
achieved.
  Mr. MATHESON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support 
for House Resolution 646, legislation expressing the sense of the House 
that a week in August should be set aside to promote public awareness 
of the many health services provided by community, migrant, public 
housing, and homeless health centers.
  Every day our Nation's health centers provide high quality, 
affordable primary care and preventive health services to people who 
might not otherwise have access to health care. Through their cost-
effective, community-based approach, health centers serve a very 
important role in our efforts to ensure that all Americans have access 
to health care.
  I am very pleased with the work of Utah's community-based health 
centers. In 2002, Utah's Health Centers provided comprehensive health 
care services for over 93,000 Utahns, and they are working to expand 
their services to meet the needs of Utah's working poor, homeless, 
elderly, minority, and rural populations. I have long supported the 
community health center program and am proud of the efforts of Utah's 
Community Health Centers to increase access to health care and 
preventive health services in a community-oriented fashion.
  I believe it is very fitting that we recognize the commitment of our 
Nation's health centers with National Community Health Center Week and 
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this important 
resolution.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I certainly urge all Members to 
support House Resolution 646. I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 646.
  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.

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