H. Res. 240

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

July 21, 2003.

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 13,000,000 people at more than 4,000 health delivery

sites, spanning 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, meeting escalating health needs, and reducing

health disparities;

Whereas these health centers provide care to 1 of every 5

low-income babies born in America, 1 of every 8 uninsured individuals, 1 of every 9 Medicaid beneficiaries, 1

of every 9 people of color, and 1 of every 10 rural Americans, and these Americans would otherwise lack access to

health care;
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•HRES 240 EH

Whereas these health centers and other innovative programs

in primary and preventive care reach out to almost

750,000 homeless persons and nearly 850,000 farmworkers;

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 empowering

communities to find partners and resources and 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 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;
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•HRES 240 EH

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 60,000 community residents; and

Whereas the establishment of a National Community Health

Center Week for the week beginning on August 10, 2003,

would raise awareness of the health services provided by

these health centers: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that—

(1) there should be established a National Community Health Center Week to raise awareness of health

services provided by community, migrant, public housing,

and homeless health centers; and

(2) the President should issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States and interested organizations to observe such a week with appropriate programs and activities.

Attest:

Clerk.