Chairman. I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2418. the health services amendments. This important bill extends authorizations for the Community and migrant health Centers Programs through fiscal year 1988. and repeals the authorization for the primary care block grant. The Community Health Centers Program provides vital health services to low income. needy individuals throughout the country. There is an urgent need for Congress to pass this legislation and repeal the primary care block grant. and replace it with the Community Health Centers Program. This is because the primary care block grant has been implemented in only one State for only 1 year (fiscal year 1983). At present. the Community Health Centers Program is operating in all States. and there are no States currently receiving primary care block grants. An examination of the Community Health Centers and Migrant Health Centers Programs reveals that they have had a significant impact in providing much needed health care to a large segment of our population that would otherwise go without basic health services. I think it is obvious that the program has worked well and the primary care block grant is not a feasible alternativeas indicated by the fact the primary care block grant has only been implemented by one State and in only 1 year. It is clear that the States do not have the resources or the ability to effectively implement the primary care block grant. and it is also clear the Community Health Centers Program has worked and has been an effective program throughout the United States.
Keywords matched
migrant Migrant