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 oper-
ated health providers and are vital to the Nation’s com-
munities;
Whereas there are more than 1,000 such health centers serv-
ing 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 medi-
cally underserved (including the working poor, the unin-
sured, 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 unin-
sured individuals, 1 of every 9 Medicaid beneficiaries, 1
of every 9 people of color, and 1 of every 10 rural Ameri-
cans, and these Americans would otherwise lack access to
health care;
•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 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, trans-
lation, 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, in-
fant mortality rates have been reduced between 10 and
40 percent;
Whereas these health centers are built by community initia-
tive;
Whereas Federal grants provide seed money empowering
communities to find partners and resources and to re-
cruit doctors and needed health professionals;
Whereas Federal grants on average contribute 25 percent of
such a health center’s budget, with the remainder pro-
vided by State and local governments, Medicare, Med-
icaid, private contributions, private insurance, and pa-
tient fees;
Whereas these health centers are community oriented and pa-
tient focused;
Whereas these health centers tailor their services to fit the
special needs and priorities of communities, working to-
gether with schools, businesses, churches, community or-
ganizations, foundations, and State and local govern-
ments;
•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 produc-
tive 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 Represent-
atives that—
(1) there should be established a National Commu-
nity 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 call-
ing on the people of the United States and interested or-
ganizations to observe such a week with appropriate pro-
grams and activities.
Attest:
Clerk.