TheWeekInCongress_SRES357

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending July 9, 2004

Senate Resolution 357 designating the week of August 8 through August 14 as national Health Center Week.

BRIEF

The resolution recognizes and states that ‘community, migrant, public housing, and homeless health centers are nonprofit, community owned and operated health providers and are vital to the Nation's communities’ and that ‘there are more than 1,000 such health centers serving 15,000,000 people in over 3,500 communities in every State and territory, spanning urban and rural communities in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.’

‘(T)hese health centers,’ the resolution said ‘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’ and ‘provide care to individuals in the United States who would otherwise lack access to health care, including 1 of every 8 uninsured individuals, 1 of every 9 Medicaid beneficiaries, 1 of every 7 people of color, and 1 of every 9 rural Americans. ‘…these health centers and other innovative programs in primary and preventive care reach out to over 621,000 homeless individuals and more than 709,000 migrant and seasonal farm workers’

The resolution notes that ‘in communities served by these health centers, infant mortality rates have been reduced between 10 and 40 percent’ and ‘Federal grants provide seed money that empowers communities to find partners and resources and to recruit doctors and needed health professionals and, on average, form 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;

As it is that the centers provide jobs for over 70,000 community residents, too, then it is fitting to designate the week of August 8 through August 14, 2004, as ``National Health Center Week'' would raise awareness of the health services provided by health centers: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate-- designates the week of August 8 through August 14, 2004, as ``National Health Center Week''; and requests that the President issue a proclamation calling upon the people of the United States to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.’

Sponsor: Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO)

Vote: Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent (July 6, 2004)

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.