Plans in works to strengthen community health centers.

• Position: On First Reading

Although it reads like a local-federal partnership, there's a vital role for state governments in President George Bush's Initiative to Expand Health Centers.

Even with severe budget constraints, Congress has approved a $122 million increase for community health centers for FY 2004. But the feds are going to need state, local and private help to keep the system going.

"One of the legislature's roles is to promote and provide start up money to help community planning for these projects," says Michigan Representative Julie Dennis.

Since federal grants do not include capital construction money, this one-time cost is also borne by the health centers with help from state and local governments and private foundations.

Looking at the grim demographics of 44 million Americans who do not have health insurance, President George Bush launched this ambitious five-year plan to create new or expand existing health centers in 1,200 communities and increase the number of patients served annually to more than 16 million by 2006.

For the past 35 years, a national network of centers and clinics has provided family health care for those who cannot afford it. A total of 750 health centers served more than 10 million patients in 2001. In addition, the medical facilities provided jobs for 60,000 people. About 40 percent of...