[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 27188]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING BINATIONAL HEALTH WEEK COMMITTEE: COUNTIES OF FRESNO, MERCED, 
                            TULARE AND KERN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 15, 2007

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the Binational 
Health Week Committee for the Counties of Fresno, Merced, Tulare, and 
Kern upon their diligent work and commitment to bring Binational Health 
Week to their community.
  Binational Health Week, BHW, began in 2001 with seven California 
cities, 98 activities, and 115 agencies involved. There were an 
estimated 18,720 people that were reached. This service has grown 
tremendously over the last six years. In 2006 those numbers grew to 
include: 31 states, 42 California cities, 1,014 activities, with about 
3,000 agencies involved and an estimated 300,000 people reached. This 
year the event will take place throughout 31 states in the United 
States and three provinces in Canada. BHW has extended its outreach to 
include participation from 46 Mexican, 11 Guatemalan and 15 Salvadoran 
consulates.
  With the efforts of all participating parties, BHW has become one of 
the largest mobilization efforts in the Americas to improve the health 
and well-being of an underserved population, including immigrants and 
migrants of Mexican and Central American descent. It encompasses an 
annual week long series of health promotion and health education 
activities that include workshops on health care and health insurance 
referrals, health education and health promotion by encouraging healthy 
behaviors and routine health care. They also provide information about 
local social services and clinics. The success of BHW is due to the 
thousands of organizations and volunteers dedicated to a common cause.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate the 
Binational Health Week Committee for the counties of Fresno, Merced, 
Tulare and Kern on their success in bringing the Binational Health Week 
to their counties. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing the 
committee many years of continued success.

                          ____________________