H. Res. 289

In the House of Representatives, U.S., 

July 25, 2005.

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

Whereas such health centers are found in 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; 

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; 
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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 with aggressive outreach, patient education, transportation, 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 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 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 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 or-
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ganizations, foundations, and State and local governments; 

Whereas health centers contribute to the health and wellbeing 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. 

Attest:

Clerk.