III

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 179

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

AUGUST 3, 2001

Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the establishment of a National Health Center Week to raise awareness of health services provided by community, migrant,

public housing, and homeless health centers.

Whereas community, migrant, public housing, and homeless

health centers are vital to many communities in the

United States;

Whereas there are more than 1,029 such health centers serving nearly 12,000,000 people at 3,200 health delivery

sites, located in all 50 States of the United States, the
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District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin

Islands;

Whereas such health centers have provided cost-effective,

quality health care to poor and medically underserved

people in the United States, including the working poor,

the uninsured, and many high-risk and vulnerable populations;

Whereas such health centers help reduce health disparities,

meet escalating health care needs, and provide a vital

safety net, in the health care delivery system of the

United States;

Whereas such health centers provide care to 1 of every 9 uninsured Americans, 1 of every 8 low-income Americans,

and 1 of every 10 rural Americans;

Whereas the people to whom such health centers provide care

would otherwise lack access to health care;

Whereas such health centers and other innovative programs

in primary and preventive care serve 600,000 homeless

persons and more than 650,000 farm workers in the

United States;

Whereas such health centers make health care responsive and

cost-effective by integrating the delivery of primary care

with aggressive outreach, patient education, translation,

and other enabling support services;

Whereas such health centers increase the use of preventive

health services, including immunizations, pap smears,

mammograms, and glaucoma screenings;

Whereas in communities served by such health centers, infant

mortality rates have decreased between 10 and 40 percent;
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Whereas such health centers are built through community

initiative;

Whereas Federal grants assist participating communities in

finding partners and recruiting doctors and other health

professionals;

Whereas Federal grants constitute, on average, 28 percent of

the annual budget of such health centers, with the remainder provided by State and local governments, medicare, medicaid, private contributions, private insurance,

and patient fees;

Whereas such health centers are community-oriented and patient-focused;

Whereas such 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 such health centers contribute to the health and

well-being of their communities by keeping children

healthy and in school and helping adults remain healthy

and productive;

Whereas such health centers encourage citizen participation

and provide jobs for 50,000 community residents; and

Whereas the establishment of a National Community Health

Center Week for the week beginning August 19, 2001,

would raise awareness of the health services provided by

such health centers: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—
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1 (1) there should be established a National Com2 munity Health Center Week to raise awareness of

3 health services provided by community, migrant,

4 public housing, and homeless health centers; and

5 (2) the President should issue a proclamation

6 calling on the people of the United States and inter7 ested organizations to observe such a week with ap8 propriate programs and activities.

Passed the House of Representatives August 2,

2001.

Attest: JEFF TRANDAHL,

Clerk.