Washington, D.C. – Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will release more than $1.3 million in Capital Improvement Program grants to three community health centers in Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District.  These funds will be made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).   
   
         “I am extremely pleased that community health centers in Missouri are benefiting from the Recovery Act passed by Congress.  This grant will address immediate and pressing health center facility and equipment needs and increase access to health care for Missourians,” said Skelton.       

         The three community health centers in Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District to receive funding from the Recovery Act include:
     
         Community Health Center of Central Missouri, Jefferson City, $369,595; 
         Katy Trail Community Health, Sedalia, $425,805;
         Richland Medical Center, Inc., Richland, $578,440.

         Capital Improvement Program grants will support the construction, repair, and renovation of over 1,500 health centers nationwide.  Grants will also support the purchase of new equipment and health information technology systems.  Health centers across the nation provide health care at more than 7,000 sites, ranging from large medical facilities to clinics and mobile vans.  In 2007, health centers served 16.1 million patients, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.

         More information about the Health and Human Service’s Recovery funding is available online by visiting the HHS's website and by visiting Recovery.gov.

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Congressman Ike Skelton (D-MO) serves as Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee . For further information, please contact Rebecca Loving or Whitney Frost at 202-225-2876, or check Congressman Skelton’s website at http://www.house.gov/skelton.