[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24336]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC OLE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 14, 2007

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
Community Health Clinic Ole for its efforts to bring healthcare to the 
underserved communities of Napa County. By providing the highest 
quality medical and dental services, Clinic Ole has become an essential 
part of the health and well-being of Napa County residents.
  In the early 1970s, 13 percent of Napa County's population was 
Mexican American but few had health insurance or access to adequate 
medical care. At a meeting of Napa Valley Latinos, a farmworker named 
Placido Garcia asked, ``Why don't we have a health clinic in Napa?'' 
Inspired by this question, a committed group of community members began 
working together and, just a few months later, Clinic Ole opened its 
doors for the first time on September 17, 1972, in a small building in 
Rutherford. It was the first clinic in the county to provide healthcare 
to the local and migrant agricultural workers of the Napa Valley 
community.
  The clinic has since grown by leaps and bounds. It began with only a 
few volunteer staff and physicians, but today has over 115 employees 
providing the highest quality medical and dental care to over 20,000 
patients annually in the Napa Valley. They remain committed to their 
original goal of providing affordable healthcare and, although 70 
percent of their patients earn incomes below the Federal poverty level, 
they are proud to say that no one is denied care at the clinic because 
of an inability to pay.
  Madam Speaker, it is fitting at this time that we thank the Community 
Health Clinic Ole for their tireless efforts to ensure that high 
quality healthcare is accessible to all members of our community. Its 
growth from a small clinic to a pillar of the Latino community is a 
testament to the talents and dedication of the staff and volunteers, 
and I look forward to seeing it continue to thrive for many years to 
come.

                          ____________________