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 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 more than 15,000,000 people in over 3,600 commu-
nities; 
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 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; 
Whereas these health centers provide care to 1 of every 7 un-
insured individuals, 1 of every 9 Medicaid beneficiaries, 
1 of every 7 people of color, and 1 of every 9 rural Amer-
icans, all of whom would otherwise lack access to health 
care;
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Whereas these health centers are engaged with other innova-
tive 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, trans-
portation, 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, in-
fant 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 initia-
tive, 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 pro-
vided by State and local governments, Medicare, Med-
icaid, private contributions, private insurance, and pa-
tient 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 to-
gether with schools, businesses, churches, community or-
•HRES 289 EH 
ganizations, foundations, and State and local govern-
ments; 
Whereas 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 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.