Governor Bob Riley and Congressman Artur Davis to Participate in a Black Belt Town Hall Meeting in Marion

Governor Bob Riley and Congressman Artur Davis to Participate in a Black Belt Town Hall Meeting in Marion

MARION - Governor Bob Riley and Congressman Artur Davis today announced that they will participate in a joint town hall meeting to discuss Black Belt health care issues in Marion on Tuesday, May 31 at 5:00 p.m. The town hall meeting will take place at the Fine Arts Building Auditorium on the campus of Judson College. The focus of the town hall meeting will be on the work of the Health Committee of Governor Riley's Black Belt Action Commission, which is being chaired by Congressman Davis.

"There are many challenges that face citizens in the Black Belt, and one of the most pressing is access to quality health care," Governor Riley said. "This town hall meeting is an opportunity to highlight some of the work that the Black Belt Action Commission is taking to improve health care access in the region and to provide citizens with a venue to discuss the health care needs in their area."

Congressman Davis said, "It is unacceptable that the quality of health care in the Black Belt is so different than the quality of health care in urban areas, and I compliment the Governor for committing to address this disparity."

On August 11, 2004, Governor Riley signed an Executive Order creating the Black Belt Action Commission. The Governor charged the Commission with proposing and working toward substantive solutions that will improve the quality of life in Alabama's Black Belt.

The Black Belt is a band of largely rural counties stretching across the south-central part of the state. It has long been characterized by high rates of poverty, illiteracy, illegitimacy and economic stagnation.

The Health Committee is one of the thirteen committees forming the Black Belt Action Commission. Members of the Health Committee include doctors, nurses, professors, health professionals, governmental officials, church leaders, representatives from non-profits organizations, and other citizens who want to make a difference.

For more information about the town hall meeting or the Governor's Black Belt Action Commission, please visit www.blackbeltaction.org or call 334-353-1540.

http://www.governorpress.alabama.gov/pr/pr-2005-05-24-02-arturdavis.asp