Fund Community Health Centers Long Term - End Uncertainty

I’m writing to urge you to support long-term, sustainable funding for Community Health Centers (CHCs). While I appreciate Congress's recent passage of a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund CHCs through September 30, 2025, this short-term solution does not address the underlying issues facing these vital healthcare providers. Community Health Clinics are the front line for many communities, and yet they are not being adequately supported by the Republican Congress. While the recent bill funded the programs, it’s yet another stop-gap, short term effort. Proper support for health care requires continuous commitment in funding, especially in light of cuts to Medicare and Medicaid for all kinds of health care providers, and the burden falls on the patients. As you know, since 2023, CHCs have been operating under a cloud of uncertainty due to short-term funding extensions. This instability has created significant operational challenges for these essential community resources. The statistics are alarming: nearly half of health centers are operating with unsustainable margins, and 42% have only 90 days or less of cash reserves. This precarious financial situation threatens the ability of CHCs to provide crucial healthcare services to our most vulnerable populations. The recent CR extends both mandatory and discretionary funding, While but it’s not enough to ensure the long-term viability of CHCs. There is strong bipartisan support for increased, long-term funding for CHCs. In fact, three bipartisan bills were introduced in the 118th Congress to provide stability: H.R. 5378 (Lower Costs More Transparency), S.2840 (Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act), and a bipartisan compromise bill. I urge you to support and prioritize the passage of comprehensive, long-term funding legislation for CHCs. I look forward to hearing about your commitment to securing long-term funding for Community Health Centers. Thank you for your attention to this crucial issue.