[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 21551-21553]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   EXTRAORDINARY PUBLIC SERVICE STAFF

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, over the August recess, I had the 
opportunity to visit the newly opened community health centers of 
Southern Iowa, located in Leon, IA. I had been fortunate to secure 
$300,000 for renovations and equipment at the facility, and I was eager 
to see how these resources are being put to use.
  As I toured the facility and talked with staff, I was freshly 
reminded of the extraordinary public service rendered by community 
health centers all across the United States. But the center in Leon is 
truly exceptional. The facility itself is welcoming, modern,

[[Page 21552]]

and well equipped. And the staff members--from physicians to nurses to 
custodians--are truly an inspiration. They clearly have a special 
passion for their work, and they take pride in the fact that they are 
providing first-rate health care in one of the most underserved areas 
of my State.
  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., used to say that ``Life's most 
persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?'' Let 
me tell you, the dedicated professionals at the community health 
centers of Southern Iowa have answered that question in powerful ways. 
They have committed themselves to providing high-quality health care to 
all comers, regardless of ability to pay. All are welcomed equally. All 
are served with excellence.
  This is why, as ranking member on the education and health 
appropriations subcommittee, I am 100 percent committed to securing 
appropriate funding for community health centers. One thing I know for 
certain: Every dollar Congress appropriates for centers like the one in 
Leon is a dollar spent wisely and frugally. It never ceases to amaze me 
how their staffs are able to do so much--and to serve so many people--
with such modest resources.
  I daresay that nobody in the health care profession faces greater 
challenges than those who choose to work in community health centers--
challenges including chronic illness, cultural and linguistic 
differences, geographical barriers, homelessness, and on and on. 
Nothing stops these superb professionals.
  And one more thing: Community health centers have a well-deserved 
reputation for caring and kindness. In some ways, their physicians and 
nurses are a throwback to another era. They offer a direct and personal 
style of health care. They follow up. They care about prevention and 
wellness.
  So I am deeply grateful to executive director Gary Rees, to medical 
director, Dr. Patricia Magle, and to all the wonderful staff and board 
members at the community health centers of Southern Iowa. They work 
their hearts out to provide the very best health care in a part of my 
State that has been neglected for too long. I deeply appreciate their 
passion, their compassion, and their dedication to public service.
  Mr. President, in late August, I had the pleasure of attending a 
ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new United Community Health 
Center in Storm Lake, IA. Having secured funding for the center, which 
actually opened its doors last March, I was eager to meet with the 
staff and assess their progress.
  I was incredibly impressed by all that this facility has been able to 
accomplish with relatively modest resources. I call it ``the little 
community health center that could.'' The facility is welcoming, 
modern, and well equipped. And the staff members are truly an 
inspiration. They have a special passion for their work, and they take 
pride in the fact that they are providing first-rate health care to 
underserved communities.
  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., used to say that ``Life's most 
persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?'' Let 
me tell you, the dedicated staff members at the United Community Health 
Center have answered that question in powerful ways. They have 
committed themselves to providing high-quality health care to all 
comers, regardless of ability to pay. All are welcomed equally. All are 
served with excellence.
  This is why, as ranking member on the education and health 
appropriations subcommittee, I am 100 percent committed to securing 
appropriate funding for community health centers all across America. 
One thing I know for certain: Every dollar Congress appropriates for 
centers like the one in Storm Lake is a dollar spent wisely and 
frugally. It never ceases to amaze me how their staff members are able 
to do so much--and to serve so many people--with such limited 
resources.
  I daresay that nobody in the health care profession faces greater 
challenges than those who choose to work in community health centers--
challenges including chronic illness, cultural and linguistic 
differences, geographical barriers, homelessness, and on and on. 
Nothing stops these superb professionals.
  And one more thing: community health centers have a well-deserved 
reputation for caring and kindness. In some ways, their physicians and 
nurses are a throwback to another era. They offer a direct and personal 
style of health care. They follow up. They care about prevention and 
wellness.
  So I am deeply grateful to executive director Renea Seagren, to board 
chair Mark Prosser, and all the other members of the staff and board at 
the United Community Health Center. And also to founding board member 
Larry Rohret, whose dedication to improving the lives of those in 
greatest need was instrumental in establishing the health center. I was 
saddened that Larry did not live to see the health center open its 
doors.
  These devoted people work their hearts out to provide the very best 
health care to some of our most needy citizens. I deeply appreciate 
their passion, their compassion, and their dedication to public 
service.
  Mr. President, earlier this year, I had the opportunity to visit the 
newly opened Community Health Center of Fort Dodge in north-central 
Iowa. I had been fortunate to secure $280,000 for planning and 
equipment at the facility, and I was eager to see how these resources 
are being put to use.
  As I toured the facility and talked with staff, I was freshly 
reminded of the extraordinary public service rendered by community 
health centers all across the United States. But the center in Fort 
Dodge is truly exceptional. Thanks to their new community health center 
designation, the folks, there, were able to transition from two free 
clinics operating very much part time, to a full-time, comprehensive 
primary care center serving all of Webster County.
  And the staff members--from physicians to nurses to custodians--are 
truly an inspiration. They clearly have a special passion for their 
work, and they take pride in the fact that they are providing first-
rate health care to some of the most underserved people in my state.
  Mr. President, several years ago, I encouraged leaders in the Fort 
Dodge community to apply to for community health center designation. I 
remember visiting a free clinic being operated by St. Mark's Episcopal 
Church back in 2003 and meeting a woman who was in such pain from a 
toothache that she had removed her own tooth with a hammer and 
screwdriver. No human being should have to resort to such a crude 
remedy--certainly not in the United States of America. And thanks to 
the new center in Fort Dodge, those kinds of desperate measures are a 
thing of the past.
  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., used to say that ``Life's most 
persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?'' Let 
me tell you, the dedicated professionals at the Community Health Center 
of Fort Dodge have answered that question in powerful ways. They have 
committed themselves to providing high-quality health care to all 
comers, regardless of ability to pay. All are welcomed equally. All are 
served with excellence.
  This is why, as ranking member on the education and health 
appropriations subcommittee, I am 100 percent committed to securing 
appropriate funding for Community Health Centers. One thing I know for 
certain: Every dollar Congress appropriates for centers like the one in 
Fort Dodge is a dollar spent wisely and frugally. It never ceases to 
amaze me how their staffs are able to do so much--and to serve so many 
people--with such modest resources.
  I daresay that nobody in the health care profession faces greater 
challenges than those who choose to work community health centers--
challenges including chronic illness, cultural and linguistic 
differences, geographical barriers, homelessness, and on and on. 
Nothing stops these superb professionals.
  And one more thing: community health centers have a well-deserved 
reputation for caring and kindness. In some ways, their physicians and 
nurses

[[Page 21553]]

are a throwback to another era. They offer a direct and personal style 
of health care. They follow up. They care about prevention and 
wellness.
  So I am deeply grateful to executive director Kathy Wilkes to Randy 
Kuhlman and Father Steve Hall, who spearheaded the CHC designation 
effort; to board chair Craig Johnsen and the other board members; and 
to all the wonderful staff members at the Community Health Center of 
Fort Dodge. They work their hearts out to provide the very best health 
care to all who pass through their doors. I deeply appreciate their 
passion, their compassion, and their dedication to public 
service.

                          ____________________