107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 179
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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
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•HCON 179 EH
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
1
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—
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•HCON 179 EH
(1) there should be established a National Com-
1
munity Health Center Week to raise awareness of
2
health services provided by community, migrant,
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public housing, and homeless health centers; and
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(2) the President should issue a proclamation
5
calling on the people of the United States and inter-
6
ested organizations to observe such a week with ap-
7
propriate programs and activities.
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Passed the House of Representatives August 2,
2001.
Attest:
Clerk.
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 179
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the es-
tablishment of a National Health Center Week to
raise awareness of health services provided by
community, migrant, public housing, and home-
less health centers.