CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 13, 2003 Happy and Decent Life Which Was Denied to Community Health Centers
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E464 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks March 13, 2003 happy and decent life which was denied to Community Health Centers. At a time when A TRIBUTE TO DOROTHY M. Shlomo Argov. the number of uninsured Americans continues COHEN, 29TH CONGRESSIONAL I’m sure the sympathies of all of us who to increase and federal and state governments DISTRICT WOMAN OF THE knew him go out to his family. I am inserting are facing budget shortfalls, community health YEAR—2003 a copy of Mr. Argov’s obituary that appeared centers continue to provide vital services at in the Washington Post. reasonable cost to millions of Americans. This HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF [From the Washington Post, Feb. 24, 2003] bipartisan initiative calls for doubling the cur- OF CALIFORNIA ISRAELI DIPLOMAT SHLOMO ARGOV DIES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES rent level of funding for the consolidated JERUSALEM.—Shlomo Argov, 73, the former Thursday, March 13, 2003 Israeli ambassador to Britain who was para- health centers program by 2006. The addi- lyzed during an assassination attempt by tional funds would double access to com- Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Palestinian militants that triggered Israel’s prehensive health care for the millions of honor Women’s History Month. Each year, we invasion of Lebanon in 1982, died Feb. 23. Americans who currently are without health in- pay special tribute to the accomplishments He has been in Jerusalem’s Hadassah hos- made by our nation’s most distinguished surance. pital since the shooting. Hospital officials women during the month of March. It is my said he died from complication from wounds Community health centers are local, non- great honor to recognize extraordinary women that left him completely paralyzed and on profit, community-owned health care providers who are making a difference in my district. life-support machines. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon an- serving low-income and medically underserved I stand today, to pay special recognition to nounced at the start of Sunday’s weekly urban and rural communities. Health centers Ms. Dorothy Cohen, an outstanding woman of Gabinet meeting that ‘‘this morning, before have a proven 30-year track record of pro- California’s 29th Congressional District. Over the years, Dorothy has been an outspoken ad- dawn, Ambassador Shlomo Argov died.’’ viding cost-effective, comprehensive, quality Gunmen from the Abu Nidal guerrilla fac- vocate for the residents of the city of South tion, which has ties to Libya, Syria and Iraq, care. Past investment in community health Pasadena, California. shot Mr. Argov after a diplomatic meeting centers has resulted in improved health and Ms. Cohen has been a member of the outside London’s Dorchester Hotel. Three quality of life for many Americans, as well as South Pasadena City Council since 1994, Abu Nidal members were convicted in the a reduction in over all national health care serving as Mayor for two terms. Some of her shooting. The shooting was Israel’s stated pretext spending. greatest accomplishments on the Council in- for invading Lebanon four days later and clude the re-opening of City Hall five days a Community health centers provide health week, repainting the city’s historic water tower, laying siege to Beirut for three months until care services to uninsured and low-income in- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and his advocating for a quarterly city newsletter and fighter were forced out of the country. The dividuals in medically underserved areas. serving as its editorial advisor for seven years, invasion also marked the start of an 18-year They are vital to the fabric of health care in adoption of the tiger lily as the city flower, and Israeli military presence in south Lebanon, our country. This year, more than 1,000 health her efforts to preserve the quality of life for the which ended with Israel’s withdrawal in May centers will serve nearly 14 million children citizens of South Pasadena. 2000. and adults in 3,400 communities across the Dorothy is a fourth generation Californian Reuven Merhaz, a former colleague of Mr. and a forty-one year resident of South Pasa- Argov, said Sharon, who was defined min- country. Of these, 5 million are uninsured; dena. Prior to her marriage in 1950 to Jerry ister at the time, had planned the Lebanon 750,000 are homeless; 850,000 are migrant Cohen, a reporter and features writer for the invasion, well before Argov was shot. and seasonal farmworkers; 5.4 million are ‘‘The war plan was ready,’’ Merhav told Los Angeles Times, she was a reporter and Israel Radio on Sunday. ‘‘He [Sharon] made residents of rural areas; and nearly 9 million television columnist for the San Diego Union no secret of it. He had presented the plan to are people of color. Tribune. While raising her children, she the Americans some months earlier.’’ Community health centers are vital in my worked part-time for fourteen years for the Mr. Argov, who was born in Jerusalem, South Pasadena Unified School District. Dur- studied in Washington and London and congressional district. Health Centers have joined Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in significantly increased the use of preventive ing that time, she actively participated in the South Pasadena Parent Teacher Association 1959. He served as ambassador to Mexico and health services such as Pap smears, mammo- and the Girl Scouts of America. the Netherlands before assuming his position grams, and glaucoma screening services as ambassador to Britain in 1979. A long-time supporter of public libraries, Ms. The Jerusalem Post described Mr. Argov as among the populations they serve. Health Cohen was a cofounder of the Friends of the ‘‘brilliant and suave’’ and ranked him with Centers have increased substantially the num- South Pasadena Public Library Bookstore in orator and historian Abba Eban, Israel’s first ber and proportion of immunized children, and 1984. She currently serves as the chair of its ambassador to the United Nations, who died have made significant strides in preventing Steering Committee and volunteers weekly in in November. the bookstore. She is past president of the Victor Harel, a deputy director general at anemia and lead poisoning. Furthermore, the Israeli Foreign Minister, said that at the Health Centers contribute to the health and Friends of the Library, Library Board of Trust- time of the shooting. Mr. Argov was in his well-being of their communities by reducing ees and the League of Women Voters. Dorothy has participated in numerous city physical and intellectual prime, jogging the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, every day and conversing in fluent English task forces over the years, such as the Down- and Spanish in addition to his native He- keeping children healthy and in school, and town Revitalization Task Force, the General brew. helping adults remain productive and on the Plan Advisory Committee, and the Mission While he remained lucid after the shooting, job. Street Specific Plan Committee. Most recently, he was emotionally devastated by the aware- she co-chaired the Gold Line Railway Station ness of his disability, Harel told the radio. Expanding community health centers is a ‘‘He was fully conscious for the first two or proven, viable, and cost-effective way to bring Art and Design Advisory Committee. I ask all Members of Congress to join me three years.’’ he said ‘‘But he couldn’t do health services to uninsured populations and today in honoring a remarkable woman of anything on his own. The paralysis was underserved communities. The bipartisan total. He also got more and more medica- California’s 29th Congressional District, Doro- tion, so visiting him became harder and REACH Resolution would enable health cen- thy M. Cohen. The entire community joins me harder.’’ ters to serve 20 million Americans, including 9 in thanking Ms. Cohen for her continued ef- Mr. Argov’s survivors include three chil- million individuals without health insurance. As forts to make the 29th Congressional District dren. Cover the Uninsured Week comes to a close an enhanced place in which to live. f and with 41 million Americans living with no f RESOLUTION TO EXPAND ACCESS insurance we need to find ways to address THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE UNITY TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS this crisis. The REACH Resolution is a step in ACT OF 2003—H.R. 997 the right direction. The resolution would send HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO a clear message that Congress supports ef- HON. STEVE KING OF MASSACHUSETTS forts to provide critical health care to low- and OF IOWA IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES moderate-income urban and rural commu- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Thursday, March 13, 2003 nities. I urge my colleagues to support this im- Thursday, March 13, 2003 portant legislation. Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Mr. KING of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I have intro- introduce the Resolution to Expand Access to duced legislation to make English the official VerDate Jan 31 2003 07:19 Mar 14, 2003 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A13MR8.046 E13PT1 March 13, 2003 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E465 language of the United States Government. English has resulted in very serious con- (The Providence (RI) Journal-Bulletin, Apr. The English language is the carrier of liberty sequences. 5, 2002, originally reported by Alisha A. Pina) and freedom throughout history and the world. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor The LINGUISTIC GHETTO HITS PROFESSIONALS For centuries, our common tongue, English, English Language Unity Act of 2003 in the Even though many immigrants to the U.S. has been the uniting force in this great nation, 108th Congress so that we can ensure that all bring impressive resumes and skills, the lan- knocking down ethnic and religious barriers to Americans have the opportunity to attain the guage barrier sidelines thousands.