In Recognition of the 40th Anniversary of the American Community Health Center Movement

IN RECOGNITION OF THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER MOVEMENT -- (Extensions of Remarks - November 17, 2005)

* Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of the 40th Anniversary of the American Community Health Center Movement which began in Dorchester, Massachusetts in my home district with the founding of the Columbia Point Community Health Center in 1965.

* Development of health centers in the mid 1960s was fueled by the lack of primary care doctors practicing in urban and rural areas across the country. In 1961 more than 60 percent of Boston physicians had their offices located in hospitals. As a result, two Boston-based physician-activists, H. Jack Geiger and Count Gibson of Tufts Medical School, were determined to address both the lack and nature of primary care in Boston's neighborhoods. Working with residents in the Columbia Point neighborhood of Dorchester, these pioneering physicians helped to organize a new community-based model of primary care. Today this site is known as the Geiger-Gibson Community Health Center and still provides over 6,000 residents of Harbor Point and Dorchester with access to world-class health care.

* Since the 1960s, community health centers have grown into the largest unified primary care network in the United States. Today, we have over 1,000 community health centers nation-wide, with a total of 53 in Massachusetts alone. In my own district, I am honored to represent 12 community health centers that ably serve the families of the Ninth Congressional District of Massachusetts.

* Mr. Speaker, community health centers are pioneers in working to reduce health disparities among racial minorities and in recognizing the primary socio-economic factors that help determine health status: the lack of educational and economic opportunity, and substandard housing. They continue this work today, serving 677,000 patients in Massachusetts and 15 million nationally.

* The community health center model was revolutionary in another aspect of its mission: community governance. The belief that community members could play a direct role in improving their life circumstances, including health status, was the basis of what we call the ``American Community Health Center Movement.'' The early health centers sprung from ``kitchen table discussions'' among mothers and fathers and community members about the need for primary care in their neighborhoods. In 2005, health center boards of directors continue to be driven by community members who use their local community health center.

* Mr. Speaker, today in this country, we have over 45 million individuals without any sort of health insurance living in both rural and urban areas; accordingly, we need Community Health Centers and the essential services they provide now more than ever. I ask that my Colleagues in the House of Representatives join me in congratulating the entire Community Health Center Movement on 40 years of helping to reduce health disparities among our most vulnerable populations through the provision of high quality, compassionate and cost-effective primary health care.

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