IV 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 474 
Recognizing the invaluable service of our Nation’s public hospitals and health 
systems. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 14, 2006 
Mr. BILIRAKIS submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Recognizing the invaluable service of our Nation’s public 
hospitals and health systems. 
Whereas since the establishment of the first public hospitals 
in the United States in the early 1700s, America’s public 
hospitals and health systems have been a vital part of our 
Nation’s health care delivery system; 
Whereas whether they are owned and operated by cities, 
counties, States, universities, or nonprofit organizations, 
public hospitals and health systems provide care to all, 
regardless of ability to pay; 
Whereas public hospitals lead the way in caring for America’s 
46 million uninsured, providing more than $6 billion in 
uncompensated care each year; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
05:45 Sep 15, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC474.IH
HC474
pwalker on PRODPC60 with BILLS
•HCON 474 IH 
Whereas public hospitals provide essential services such as 
trauma care, burn care, and neo-natal intensive care; 
Whereas public hospitals are major providers of ambulatory 
care, with 29 million non-emergency department visits in 
2004 in hospital and community-based settings; 
Whereas public hospitals are an important part of the emer-
gency response systems in the communities in which they 
are located; 
Whereas public hospitals contribute to the local economy as 
major employers and purchasers of goods and services; 
Whereas public hospitals are recognized for their excellence in 
managing chronic illnesses; 
Whereas public hospitals provide culturally-competent care to 
diverse populations with a workforce that reflects this di-
versity; 
Whereas public hospitals have a rich tradition of conducting 
world-class medical research on critical health shortages, 
including the development of the treatment and cure for 
tuberculosis; 
Whereas public hospitals annually train more than 11,000 
medical professionals; 
Whereas the National Association of Public Hospitals and 
Health Systems (NAPH) was formally incorporated in 
November 1980, and opened for business early the fol-
lowing year; 
Whereas a quarter-century later, NAPH has grown to rep-
resent 120 of the Nation’s most important public hos-
pitals and health systems; and 
Whereas since its inception, NAPH has worked closely with 
the Congress, the Executive Branch, and many State and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
05:45 Sep 15, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HC474.IH
HC474
pwalker on PRODPC60 with BILLS
•HCON 474 IH 
local governments to advance the needs of public hos-
pitals and their patients and highlight the importance of 
the Medicaid program to their ability to deliver critical 
health care services: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That— 
(1) the Congress extends its appreciation for 
the quality health care delivered every day at public 
hospitals throughout the country; and 
(2) offers its congratulations to the National 
Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems 
for a quarter century of service to its member hos-
pitals, their communities, and the patients they 
serve. 
Æ 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
05:45 Sep 15, 2006
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HC474.IH
HC474
pwalker on PRODPC60 with BILLS