Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel announced a $500,000 federal grant for the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center to expand its school-based health care programs established by the Affordable Care Act.

Rep. Engel said, “In my district, school-based health centers are vitally important.  Even the high school from which I graduated, Evander Childs, has a wonderful center.  It is the kind of program that we should be promoting and replicating.

“This grant, from the Department of Health and Human Services, is part of a $95 million nation-wide program to add some 440,000 patients to the approximately 790,000 patients now being served in the program,” said Rep. Engel. “Locally the money will allow the Health Center to expand its current facilities or establish new sites. MVNHC provides services to over 110,000 residents in the Mount Vernon area.”

Carole Morris, Chief Executive Officer of the Mount Vernon Health Center, said, “I would especially like to thank Congressman Eliot Engel for his support and recognition of the critical health care needs of his constituents, and his determination to insure that available funds are channeled to areas of greatest need.  Thank you again Congressman Engel"

The grant is the initial part of the $200 million set aside by the Affordable Care Act to be appropriated to school-based health centers between 2010-2013. This funding is part of the first round of the grants program.

“This funding is an important step to providing quality health care for all Americans, regardless of economic standing,” Rep. Engel said. “The $95 million is being awarded to 278 school-based health center programs across the country.”

Rep. Engel fought repeated attempts by the Republican House majority to rescind the Affordable Care Act and its funding for the school-based health centers.

“Despite the early success of the Act, the Republican majority has voted to repeal it,” said Rep. Engel. “If they had their way, insurance companies could arbitrarily deny coverage to sick children, community health centers would be defunded, and people would have fewer options to prevent disease rather than having to treat serious illnesses after they are contracted.”

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