[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 125, 112th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
Proclamation 8698 of August 5, 2011

National Health Center Week, 2011
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Across our Nation, over 19 million Americans look to community health
centers for medical checkups, education, advice, and critical services
that keep them healthy. Throughout National Health Center Week, we
recommit to supporting this vital resource for underserved communities,
and we recognize the critical role community health centers play in our
health-care system.
Every day, men, women, and children find help at community health
centers. These centers lead the way in providing high-quality services
at an affordable cost, while lifting up the quality of life for their
patients. We see the results among Medicaid beneficiaries--those
receiving care from a health center are less likely to be unnecessarily
hospitalized or visit an emergency room. We also see the effects in
rural areas with community health centers, where hospitals see fewer
uninsured emergency room visits. These health centers are easy to
access--Americans can find a health center near them by using the ``Find
a Health Center'' tool at www.HRSA.gov.
My Administration continues to support these centers. Between the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Affordable Care Act, new
funding has been committed to support technology and infrastructure
updates to existing centers, as well as the construction of new ones.
These laws also provided for important new initiatives that will

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benefit all Americans. The Affordable Care Act provided for the Health
Centers Advanced Primary Care Practice demonstration project, which will
use community health centers to test the impact of team-based treatment
approaches on the care of elderly patients.
Across our vast and diverse land, Americans have always made it their
duty to serve their neighbors in need. It is the common interest and
purpose of building a stronger, healthier Nation that drives the work of
community health centers and fuels our efforts to improve our health-
care system. During National Health Center Week, we celebrate the
contributions of community health centers, and we rededicate ourselves
to advancing the well-being of all our people.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of
America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim the week of August 7
through August 13, 2011, as National Health Center Week. I encourage all
Americans to celebrate this week by visiting their local community
health center, meeting local health center providers, and exploring the
programs they offer to help keep their families healthy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of
August, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-
sixth.
BARACK OBAMA