Contact: Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Monday, August 20, 2001

ST. LOUIS - Senator Kit Bond kicked off a three-city tour through Missouri today to celebrate National Community Health Centers’ Week.

“Access to health care is our nation’s most challenging health-care problem. More than 42 million Americans lack health insurance, and millions more do not have a health-care provider even though they have insurance,” said Bond.

Bond discussed his efforts to increase funding for community health-care in Missouri and across the nation while visiting the Grace Hill Health Center in St. Louis, the first stop in a tour that includes Columbia and Kirksville. Out of nationwide funding increases made possible by Bond’s efforts, in 2001 Missouri health centers received grants totaling $4.7 million more than last year – nearly a 19 percent increase. Last year, Bond noted that Missouri was not fully sharing in the nationwide increases in funding for health centers, and pledged to make sure that the state got its fair share in the future. Bond has led the national fight to increase access to health centers. As the primary author of the bi-partisan REACH Initiative – the Resolution to Expand Access to Community Health Centers – Bond has worked to double access to health centers over the next five years by doubling funding for health centers over that period. The first year of the REACH Initiative was capped with success when Congress provided a $150 million increase – 14.7 percent – for health centers in late 2000. President Bush, campaigning in Missouri at Grace Hill last fall, promised his full support for doubling funding for community health-centers.

The new grants will allow health centers throughout Missouri to expand access to the medically-underserved in a variety of ways, including new health centers; expanded health-care services to the homeless; and expanded dental, substance abuse and mental health services.

Proud of the increase in funding for the state Bond said, “Missouri is finally getting its fair share.” He added, “I pledge to continue to work to help health centers – both in Missouri and nationwide – expand their efforts to provide health centers to medically-underserved Americans.”