Presidential Documents

43903 

Federal Register 

Vol. 86, No. 152 

Wednesday, August 11, 2021 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 10237 of August 6, 2021 

National Health Center Week, 2021 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

In 1965, our Nation launched its first community health centers to improve 

the lives and well-being of Americans regardless of their ability to pay. 

These health centers were a key component of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s 

‘‘Great Society’’ series of policy initiatives to eliminate poverty and racial 

injustice, and today serve as the bedrock on which our public health system 

was built. Today, health centers are one of the largest health care providers 

in the country and provide high-quality affordable, accessible, and valuebased primary health care services to 29 million Americans each year— 

approximately 1 in 11 people across the country. They have also been 

a vital part of our Nation’s response to the COVID–19 pandemic. Over 

the course of National Health Center Week, we recognize the importance 

of federally-supported health centers and the role they play as a beacon 

of strength, service, and care in our communities. 

Health centers integrate medical, dental, and behavioral health care services 

into a single ‘‘health home’’ and consistently yield strong patient outcomes. 

Health centers also play a critical role in reducing racial and ethnic, geographic, socioeconomic, and other health disparities in the United States. 

They are invaluable to ensuring that our Nation’s underserved populations, 

especially individuals and families living in poverty, rural communities, 

and communities of color are able to receive the care they need and deserve. 

Our Nation’s recovery from the COVID–19 pandemic is stronger because 

of our health centers, and the tireless, dedicated health center employees 

who continue to deliver critical services such as COVID–19 testing, treatment, 

and prevention services on the front lines. As we ramped up the distribution 

of COVID–19 vaccines over the past several months, health centers, through 

the Health Center COVID–19 Vaccine Program, have vaccinated and built 

vaccine confidence in millions of Americans from hard-hit and high-risk 

communities. Two-thirds of individuals vaccinated at health centers so far 

identify as racial and ethnic minorities. Health centers have also offered 

greater flexibility during the pandemic by expanding telehealth services 

to those in need. 

I believe that health care in America should be a right, not a privilege. 

No one should have to lay awake at night staring at the ceiling wondering 

what they are going to do to get the care they need or to pay the bills 

if a family member gets sick. That is why I will do everything in my 

power to ensure that all Americans have access to the quality, affordable 

health care they deserve—and the peace of mind it brings. 

In support of that goal, my Administration is committed to expanding health 

centers and increasing access to their life-saving services. That is why we 

invested more than $7.6 billion to help health centers prevent and respond 

to COVID–19 and improve health care services—including over $1 billion 

for major infrastructure and renovation projects at health centers across 

the country through the American Rescue Plan. I am also committed to 

doubling the Federal investment in community health centers to further 

expand access to care and make strides in our pursuit of health equity. 


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43904 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 152 / Wednesday, August 11, 2021 / Presidential Documents 

During National Health Center Week, we recognize the importance of health 

centers and their staff who heal and strengthen our local communities. 

We salute their dedication and service. As our Nation builds back better, 

we commit to working together to bring about a stronger, healthier Nation 

for all. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim the week of August 

8 through August 14, 2021, as National Health Center Week. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of 

August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fortysixth. 

[FR Doc. 2021–17252 

Filed 8–10–21; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3295–F1–P 


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