Supporting the goals and ideals of National Health Center Week in order to raise awareness of health services provided by community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health centers, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, as one who began much of what I would call my public career working in community health centers, I worked at the Martin Luther King Community Health Center, and I worked at the Miles Square Community Health Center, I was around during the days when we decided to organize a National Association of Community Health Centers and ultimately had the pleasure of serving as its president.

And so, Mr. Speaker, I rise today as the proud sponsor of this resolution to establish a national community health center week.

I would like to thank the cochairs of the Community Health Care Center Caucus, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis), the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Bonilla), and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano), for their constant voice to better community health centers.

I would also like to thank the gentleman from New Hampshire (Mr. Bradley) for joining the cochairs of the caucus as a main sponsor of this legislation.

As we continue to discuss health care, and as we continue hopefully to move towards enactment of a national health plan that covers everyone without regard to their ability to pay, we can take greet pride in some of our accomplishments in health care. One of the most important and effective accomplishments since the enactment of Medicare and Medicaid has been the development of community health centers.

The community health center network is available throughout the Nation to help those in need, such as those who get displaced by job status or other economic conditions. Community health centers have become the safety net within the health care delivery system, serving more than 15 million people in over 3,600 communities.

They care for one out of every seven uninsured individuals, one out of every nine Medicaid beneficiaries, one out of every seven people of color, and one out of every nine rural Americans. In addition they reach out to over 621,000 homeless persons and more than 709,000 migrant and seasonal farm workers.

Community health centers are established in almost every corner of our Nation, representing every aspect of any congressional district, whether it is assisting the working poor in the inner city, or in the rural farmland, migrant workers or even those who have insurance but do not have access to any other health facilities.

One of the most amazing and important aspects of community health centers is the involvement of the community. Each center tailors its services to best meet the needs and priorities of the communities in which they reside. Citizens in these communities become active participants in their communities' health care decision-making.

Health centers even provide approximately 100,000 jobs to the residents in communities of these areas. These health centers provide high-quality, cost-effective health care as they continue to meet escalating health needs and assist in reducing health disparities.

With the weakened economy and soaring number of uninsured Americans, our Nation's health centers will continue to feel the brunt of increasing numbers of patients.

By establishing a week to raise awareness of community health centers, we will also be highlighting each year the great accomplishments these nonprofit community-owned and -operated health centers offer to many communities throughout the Nation.

With recent numbers indicating that the Nation's uninsured population is even higher than once thought, possibly as high as 60 million, if our Nation will not realize the need for universal health care, we need at least to realize the importance of funding our community health centers.

The United States spends nearly $100 billion per year to provide uninsured residents with health services, oftentimes for preventable diseases that physicians could treat more efficiently with early diagnosis.

Community health centers are one of the keys to such earlier diagnosis and crucial to lowering the overall cost of health care on the uninsured throughout the country.

Therefore, I am pleased with the significant increase in the fiscal year 2006 budget that our community health centers will receive so that they can continue to serve their patients and expand their services.

Mr. Speaker, community health centers are indeed the safety net which is committed to serving all individuals with the mission that everyone deserves quality health care services regardless of where they reside, whether or not they can pay, or whether or not they have insurance.

They are vital to ensuring that even the poor and disadvantaged in this country have the greatest opportunity to be healthy. These centers are indeed a hallmark of our Nation's health care delivery system.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that I can stand and be a part of promoting the awareness or their existence and the accomplishments which they have achieved.

I urge my colleagues to stand beside me in supporting this resolution, and I want to thank especially the gentleman from Virginia (Chairman Davis) the ranking member; the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman); and the Speaker, the gentleman from

Illinois (Mr. Hastert), for helping to make sure that this resolution got to the floor before August, because that is the time that we celebrate the initiation and institution of these centers throughout the country.

I also want to commend Tom Van Coverden, who is the president, and Mr. Hawkins, two individuals that I worked with when I used to work in the community health centers. They have both stayed all of that time. Tom is now the president and Dan Hawkins is the vice president. And I commend them for their longevity and great service.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the goals and ideals of National Health Center Week. I also wish to recognize the Will County Community Health Center which is one of Illinois' largest and most comprehensive public health agencies. The Will County Community Health Center has served Will County in my 11th Congressional District since 1942 and became a Federally Qualified Health Center in 1997. They annually care for more than 48,000 medically underserved county residents.

On July 25, 2005, House Resolution 289, of which I am co-sponsor, passed the U.S. House of Representatives. House Resolution 289 reads as follows:

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 servicing more than 15,000,000 people in over 3,600 communities;

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;

Whereas these health centers provide care to 1 of every 7 uninsured individuals, 1 of every 9 Medicaid beneficiaries, 1 of every 7 people of color, and 1 of every 9 rural Americans, all of whom would otherwise lack access to health care;

Whereas these health centers are engaged with other innovative programs in primary and preventive care to reach out to over 621,000 homeless persons and more than 709,000 farm workers;

Whereas these health centers make health care responsive and cost- effective by integrating the delivery of primary care mammograms, and glaucoma screenings;

Whereas in communities served by these health centers, infant mortality rates have been reduced over the past 4 years even as infant mortality rates across the country have risen;

Whereas these health centers are built by community initiative, and run by the patients they serve;

Whereas Federal grants provide seed money empowering communities to find partners and resources to recruit doctors and needed health professionals;

Whereas Federal grants on average contribute 25 % 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 there are more than 100 health centers that receive no Federal grant funding, yet continue to serve their communities regardless of their patients' ability to pay;

Whereas health centers tailor their services to fit the special needs and priorities of their communities, working together with schools, businesses, churches, community organizations, foundations, and State and local governments;

Whereas 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 health centers encourage citizen participation and provide jobs for nearly 100,000 community residents; and

Whereas National Health Center Week raises awareness of the health services provided by health centers: Now, therefore be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) supports the goals and ideals of 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.

Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to identify and recognize Health Departments in their own districts whose actions have so greatly benefitted and strengthened America's families and communities.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 289, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Health Center Week. From August 7-13, numerous organizations will collectively promote quality and preventative medical care through local health centers.

It has become increasingly apparent that our healthcare system is not only lacking, but also failing those it is meant to serve. There are currently an estimated 45 million uninsured individuals living in America. This group not only includes 8.4 million children, but also homeless and migrant populations across the country. Of those that do have health coverage, studies have estimated that as many as 65 million individuals remain underinsured. Countless others lack easy and affordable access to quality care providers.

Health centers are an indispensable component of the continuing effort to secure medical care for underserved individuals. These community-based, non-profit organizations bring health services to impoverished areas, which are disproportionately affected by these ever-present health care disparities. Through partnerships with churches, businesses and other community initiatives, health centers are able to touch those that are typically unreachable or marginalized by existing healthcare conglomerates.

Health centers have become American institutions and fundamental elements our daily lives. These organizations, operating with minimal resources and small, committed staffs are able to serve hundreds within their communities. In the state of Florida alone, approximately 500,000 residents are annually served through local health centers.

Mr. Speaker, this weeklong celebration of health centers brings recognition to the unsung heroes of the healthcare industry. By raising awareness we are not only showing our appreciation to those that contribute to these efforts, but we are also bringing attention to the healthcare alternatives that are available to our communities. I urge my colleagues to lend their support to this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H. Res. 289 designating the week of August 7 as ``National Health Center Week''. Community Health Centers provide primary health services to low income, working poor, Medicaid and Medicare enrollees and uninsured individuals.

Community Health Care Centers provide a larger range of services including primary care, cancer screenings, pre-natal care and emergency medical services in medically underserved communities without regard to the patient's ability to pay for the services. This past year almost 35% of all Illinois health center patients were uninsured. Throughout the state of Illinois over 40 percent of those seeking services at community health centers are Medicaid eligible and health care centers are often the only medical support offered to homeless individuals.

The first district in Illinois, which I have the honor and privilege to represent, has ten facilities as part of a statewide network of 250 primary health care delivery sites that will serve 850,000 patients this year. My Illinois colleague, Representative Danny Davis, who introduced this resolution, credits the health centers for contributing to the health and well being of minority communities by keeping children healthy and providing preventive health care so that parents and adults can remain employed.

These centers have significantly increased the availability of preventive health care for minorities, migrant and homeless individuals and families. I am glad to join my colleague in support of this resolution to recognize the efforts of the community based organizations in providing these important services.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 289) supporting the goals and ideals of National Health Center Week in order to raise awareness of health services provided by community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health centers, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I will be brief, because, in fact, the minority member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) who is managing this, is the author of this bill.

This bill, House Resolution 289, honors our Nation's community health centers and their invaluable contributions to thousands of Americans, perhaps millions of Americans, in need. Health centers provide primary and preventative medical, dental, and pharmaceutical services; and their work acts as a vital safety net in the health care delivery system.

Mr. Speaker, I urge that we give this resolution immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I just want to take a moment to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for offering this important legislation and speaking so eloquently on it.

The gentleman's passion for these important centers is evident in the words he said here today.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.