President. in passing the Federally Supported Health Centers Assistance Act of 1992. the Senate responds to an unusual aspect of the crisis in maternal and child health care that threatens to leave large numbers of lowincome women and children without critically needed services. This measures enables community health centers to obtain malpractice insurance under the Federal Tort Claims Act. freeing up at least $30 million during the first year to expand critically needed services. Community and migrant health centers. the frontline providers of health care services for the poor. spend an incredible $60 million a year on malpractice insurance10 percent of their entire annual appropriation. The cost of malpractice insurance for some clinics has risen 30 to 40 percent in the last 2 years. and has increased fourfold in the last decade. even though many clinics have not paid a cent in malpractice claims. Under the Federal Tort Claims Act. the cost of malpractice will drop to about $10 million a year for these clinics.