Speech #900275326

In so doing. we helped set in motion the means to achieve significant advances in the prevention. diagnosis. and treatment of these three disease groups which exact such a staggering toll on human life and suffering. I rise today to support a bill I am introducing as an endorsement to an Identical bill which the Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee recently reported out. Extending for another 2 years the regional and migrant medical programs and allowing community mental health centers to treat alcoholics and narcotics addicts is the essence of this legislation. There is no doubt in my mind that regional medical programs offer the most promising approach to federally assisted health care in the Nation today. That is one reason I am so enthusiastic about this bill and the promise it offers to better the health and wellbeing of countless thousands of Americans. Extending the program another 2 years by supporting this legislation is a vote to improve further the health. medical education. and distribution of medical care that is presently being given to our citizens. Perhaps one of the most pressing health care needs met by this legislation is the extension of the regional medical programs to migrant workers. I can say. without hesitation. that without the clinics provided under this program. migrant workers would be without any health care at all. Yet. their health care needs are proven to be greater than that of the general populace. I do not see how we can deny this often neglected segment of our laboring population the medical attention they deserve. That Is why we cannot. and must not. fail to support the 2year extension of grants providing clinical care for migrant laborers that this bill extends. Another important section found in the legislation is innovative and long overdue. To me It makes a lot of sense to extend the facilities and services of the community mental health center to alcoholics and narcotics addicts. as this bill does.