Friday, September 16, 2011

Pallone Announces Funding to Expand Community Health Center Services in NJ

Washington, D. C. – Congressman Pallone Friday announced grant awards totaling $10 million to help 129 organizations across the country become community health centers. In New Jersey, the Jewish Renaissance Foundation in Perth Amboy and the Saint Peter’s Healthcare System in New Brunswick each received $80,000 to support the transition to becoming a community health center.

“Community health centers attend to the unique health needs of hard-to-reach populations and have a significant impact improving health in our communities,” said Pallone. “New Brunswick residents will benefit from better access to the low-cost, preventive and primary health care services that will be offered at a new location.”

In addition to providing important health care services, creating new community health centers will also create jobs. Since the beginning of 2009, health centers across the country have added more than 18,600 new full-time positions in many of the nation’s most economically distressed communities. In 2010, they employed more than 131,000 staff and new funds made available by the Department of Health and Human Services will help create more jobs nationwide.

Over the past year, Republicans have threatened funding for community health centers across the country which would force many of them to shutter. Pallone remains committed to making sure community health centers continue to be available for those who rely on them.

“Closing community health centers is an unacceptable option, especially when big corporations continue to receive millions in tax cuts. I will continue fighting to preserve community health centers and to expand accessibility to these vital services.”

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Looks like many of these "health centers" will cater to towns with a high percentage of illegals. Thus keeping untaxable illegals healthy enough to pro-create & do the "work we don't want to do". I commend Pallone, although would prefer anything he decides to fund with our money helps US citizens that need it.