Recognizing National Area Health Education Centers Week

Floor Speech

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Ms. LEE of Nevada. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the week of March 25th to March 29th as National Area Health Education Centers Week, or AHEC week.

Southern Nevadans are facing a dire shortage of health care providers, meaning longer wait times, fewer choices, and less access to quality care. To solve this crisis, underserved communities like ours need to expand the resources we offer so that medical providers can learn and grow their careers in southern Nevada.

AHECs are a part of that solution. These centers connect students to local populations, which helps facilitate future engagement and boosts care in our communities. That has been and will continue to be key as we fight to ensure every Nevadan has access to the health care they need.

In just the past five years, the AHEC program has already trained two million health care professionals. Across our state, from Elko to Reno to Las Vegas, the AHEC program is strengthening the future of our health care workforce which will help the collective health of all Nevadans.

That's why I'm proud to support this program and why, year after year, I've fought to secure essential federal investments in the national AHEC program.

On behalf of my constituents at the Nevada AHEC program, their national counterparts, and the thousands of Americans who benefit from the care fostered by AHECs, I am proud to recognize this National Area Health Education Centers Week.

I thank all of them for their dedication to keeping our communities healthy.

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