[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 240 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
July 21, 2003.
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 13,000,000 people
at more than 4,000 health delivery sites, spanning urban and rural
communities in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico,
Guam, and the Virgin Islands;
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 1 of every 5 low-income babies born
in America, 1 of every 8 uninsured individuals, 1 of every 9 Medicaid
beneficiaries, 1 of every 9 people of color, and 1 of every 10 rural
Americans, and these Americans would otherwise lack access to health
care;
Whereas these health centers and other innovative programs in primary and
preventive care reach out to almost 750,000 homeless persons and nearly
850,000 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 contribute 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
60,000 community residents; and
Whereas the establishment of a National Community Health Center Week for the
week beginning on August 10, 2003, would raise awareness of the health
services provided by these 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 Community Health Center
Week to raise awareness of 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.
Attest:
Clerk.