III
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 179
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
AUGUST 3, 2001
Received and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the establish-
ment of a National Health Center Week to raise aware-
ness of health services provided by community, migrant,
public housing, and homeless health centers.
Whereas community, migrant, public housing, and homeless
health centers are vital to many communities in the
United States;
Whereas there are more than 1,029 such health centers serv-
ing nearly 12,000,000 people at 3,200 health delivery
sites, located in all 50 States of the United States, the
HCON 179 RFS
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin
Islands;
Whereas such health centers have provided cost-effective,
quality health care to poor and medically underserved
people in the United States, including the working poor,
the uninsured, and many high-risk and vulnerable popu-
lations;
Whereas such health centers help reduce health disparities,
meet escalating health care needs, and provide a vital
safety net, in the health care delivery system of the
United States;
Whereas such health centers provide care to 1 of every 9 un-
insured Americans, 1 of every 8 low-income Americans,
and 1 of every 10 rural Americans;
Whereas the people to whom such health centers provide care
would otherwise lack access to health care;
Whereas such health centers and other innovative programs
in primary and preventive care serve 600,000 homeless
persons and more than 650,000 farm workers in the
United States;
Whereas such health centers make health care responsive and
cost-effective by integrating the delivery of primary care
with aggressive outreach, patient education, translation,
and other enabling support services;
Whereas such health centers increase the use of preventive
health services, including immunizations, pap smears,
mammograms, and glaucoma screenings;
Whereas in communities served by such health centers, infant
mortality rates have decreased between 10 and 40 per-
cent;
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Whereas such health centers are built through community
initiative;
Whereas Federal grants assist participating communities in
finding partners and recruiting doctors and other health
professionals;
Whereas Federal grants constitute, on average, 28 percent of
the annual budget of such health centers, with the re-
mainder provided by State and local governments, medi-
care, medicaid, private contributions, private insurance,
and patient fees;
Whereas such health centers are community-oriented and pa-
tient-focused;
Whereas such 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;
Whereas such health centers contribute to the health and
well-being of their communities by keeping children
healthy and in school and helping adults remain healthy
and productive;
Whereas such health centers encourage citizen participation
and provide jobs for 50,000 community residents; and
Whereas the establishment of a National Community Health
Center Week for the week beginning August 19, 2001,
would raise awareness of the health services provided by
such health centers: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—
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(1) there should be established a National Com-
munity 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 inter-
ested organizations to observe such a week with ap-
propriate programs and activities.
Passed the House of Representatives August 2,
2001.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.