A resolution designating the week of August 8 through August 14, 2004, as "National Health Center Week".

        [Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 357 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 357

Designating the week of August 8 through August 14, 2004, as ``National
Health Center Week''.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 12, 2004

Mr. Campbell (for himself, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Bond, Mr. Hollings, Mr.
Kerry, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Biden, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Lincoln, Ms. Landrieu,
Mr. Grassley, Mr. Domenici, Ms. Collins, Mr. Burns, Mr. Inhofe, Mr.
Talent, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Lugar, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Crapo,
Mr. Daschle, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Kennedy, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr.
Cochran, Mr. Smith, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Allen, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Enzi, Mr.
Lieberman, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Dodd, Ms. Stabenow, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Hatch,
Mr. Sununu, Mrs. Boxer, Mrs. Dole, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mrs.
Clinton, Mr. Bingaman, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Chambliss, and Mr. Specter)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary

June 18, 2004

Reported by Mr. Hatch, without amendment

July 6, 2004

Considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Designating the week of August 8 through August 14, 2004, as ``National
Health Center Week''.

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 15,000,000 people
in over 3,500 communities in every State and territory, spanning urban
and rural communities in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto
Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands;
Whereas these 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 individuals in the United States
who would otherwise lack access to health care, including 1 of every 8
uninsured individuals, 1 of every 9 Medicaid beneficiaries, 1 of every 7
people of color, and 1 of every 9 rural Americans;
Whereas these health centers and other innovative programs in primary and
preventive care reach out to over 621,000 homeless individuals and more
than 709,000 migrant and seasonal farm workers;
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 that empowers communities to find
partners and resources and to recruit doctors and needed health
professionals;
Whereas Federal grants on average form 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
over 70,000 community residents; and
Whereas designating the week of August 8 through August 14, 2004, as ``National
Health Center Week'' would raise awareness of the health services
provided by health centers: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates the week of August 8 through August 14,
2004, as ``National Health Center Week''; and
(2) requests that the President issue a proclamation
calling upon the people of the United States to observe the
week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
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