Recognizing the National Association of Community Health Centers

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. KING. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the National Association of Community Health Centers, NACHC, for their hard work and dedication to providing Americans with the care they need and deserve. The association is celebrating 50 years of providing support through health centers across the Nation. A series of events will be held during National Health Center Week, scheduled for August 9 through August 15, to recognize the importance of health care and to celebrate 50 years of support.

The NACHC was organized in 1965 and held demonstration programs under the Federal Office of Economic Opportunity to help Americans receive medical support regardless of their income. Also during this time, the first four health care centers opened in Massachusetts, Mississippi, Colorado, and New York. Since 1965, the NACHC has worked to address our Nation's widespread lack of access to basic health care services.

Devoted to the mission of, ``promoting the provision of high quality, comprehensive and affordable health care that is coordinated, culturally and linguistically competent, and community directed for all medically underserved populations,'' the NACHC helps educate Americans on the importance of health care. The NACHC also provides health centers with a unified voice and a common source for research, information, training, and advocacy.

Maine currently has 19 organizations that run 135 health center sites. The 19 federally-funded health center organizations in Maine serve 184,546 patients, 17.8 percent of whom are uninsured, and create over 200 jobs. Mr. President, 89 percent of people relying on these centers live in extremely rural areas of the State. These Mainers would not be able to access adequate health care services if these sites did not exist. The work that has been done in Maine continues to help the State become healthier and smarter.

The theme for this year's National Health Center Week is ``America's Health Centers: Celebrating Our Legacy, Shaping Our Future.'' This theme showcases the numerous ways in which America's health centers are driving and empowering healthier communities and Americans. With more than 9,000 delivery sites throughout the Nation, health centers employ hundreds of thousands of individuals nationally which, in turn, powers local economies.

During the National Health Center Week, health centers in all 50 States will be hosting a variety of public events to highlight their work in local communities and to honor the elected officials who have supported the work of the health centers. I would like to join the National Association of Community Health Centers in highlighting the success that has been demonstrated over the last 50 years by local health centers throughout the Nation.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source