Expressing support for the designation of the first week of August as "National Community Health Center Week", and encouraging all Americans to participate by visiting their local community health center and celebrating the important partnership between health centers and the communities they serve.

119th Congress Introduced by Jake Auchincloss and 14 co-sponsors

Designates the first week of August as National Community Health Center Week and urges Americans to visit local CHCs to honor their role in community health.

Submitted in House

Bill Overview

Bill: H.R. 1475

Session: 119th Congress, 2nd Session

Title: Expressing support for the designation of the first week of August as “National Community Health Center Week,” and encouraging all Americans to participate by visiting their local community health center and celebrating the important partnership between health centers and the communities they serve.

Sponsorship: Introduced August 3, 2026. Multiple primary and co-sponsors (including Mr. Valadao, Mr. Balderson, Mr. Auchincloss, Ms. Norton, Mr. Carson, Mr. Bergman, Mr. Bilirakis, Mrs. Bice, Mr. Doggett, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Fong, and others).

Purpose and Intent

Expresses support for designate the first week of August as National Community Health Center Week.

Encourages all Americans to participate by visiting local community health centers.

Highlights the role and impact of community health centers (CHCs) in the U.S. health system and their partnership with the communities they serve.

Key Provisions and Provisions’ Effects

Formal designation: The resolution designates the first week of August as National Community Health Center Week.

Civic participation: Encourages Americans to visit their local CHCs during the designated week to celebrate and recognize the centers’ contributions.

Policy emphasis: Emphasizes the value of CHCs as a large, community-governed network delivering comprehensive primary care and related services.

Note: As a non-binding House resolution, the bill does not create new mandatory programs or appropriations. Its primary effect is ceremonial recognition and a call for public participation.

Who and What Would Be Affected

Primary beneficiaries/targets:

Community health centers (CHCs): Acknowledgment of their role and impact.
Patients and communities served by CHCs: Encouraged engagement and celebration of the CHC–community partnership.
General public: Encouraged to visit CHCs during National Community Health Center Week.

Broader impact:

Raises awareness of CHCs’ contributions to primary care access, preventive services, and integrated care (behavioral health, dental, vision, pharmacy, etc.).
Highlights CHCs’ economic footprint and community governance (patient-majority boards) as part of the health system’s strength.

Substantive Context and Rationale (from the bill text)

CHCs are described as the country’s largest network of primary care and as critical access points for rural, suburban, island, frontier, and urban communities.

The bill cites CHCs’ roles in:

Expanding access to nutrition services and lifestyle counseling.
Reducing emergency room visits and hospitalizations.
Providing integrated services (behavioral health, dental, vision, etc.).
Generating substantial economic activity and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs.
Serving a large share of rural populations and medically underserved areas.

Emphasizes CHCs’ governance by patient-majority boards and their nonprofit, locally operated model.

Overall Assessment

H.R. 1475 is a ceremonial, non-binding resolution intended to honor and promote National Community Health Center Week.

It seeks to recognize CHCs’ contributions, encourage public engagement, and reinforce the perceived partnership between CHCs and the communities they serve.

No new funding, regulatory requirements, or programmatic mandates are created by this resolution.

Bill