Press Releases

Newly introduced bill will deliver additional federal resources for Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, the first teaching health center in the nation

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, applauded the introduction of the Leading Infrastructure For Tomorrow’s (LIFT) America Act, Chairman Frank Pallone’s (NJ-06) sweeping infrastructure package that invests in protecting public health, combatting climate change, expanding broadband access, and more. The legislation includes a bill introduced by Trahan to improve infrastructure in community-based care facilities and support teaching health centers like Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC) in cities and towns across the nation.

“As Congress prepares to craft a legislative package that makes long overdue investments in upgrading our nation’s infrastructure, we cannot overlook the need for federal support for our health care infrastructure. That’s especially true for behavioral health centers and teaching health centers like Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, which are doing double duty responding to the COVID-19 pandemic while also training medical professionals who will go on to serve the most vulnerable in our community. I’m grateful to Chairman Pallone for his leadership on the LIFT America Act and for including my legislation that will ensure that these critical facilities receive the investments needed to maintain their physical infrastructure and continue serving their patients,” said Congresswoman Trahan.

Specifically, Trahan’s bill would establish a pilot grant program under the Department of Health and Human Services to improve community-based care infrastructure at qualified teaching health centers and behavioral health centers, which includes both substance abuse and mental health care facilities. To support the newly established program, the bill authorizes $500 million to be appropriated for grants. Additionally, the greater LIFT America Act package requires that facilities receiving federal investments ensure that their respective projects to improve community-based care increase energy efficiency, energy resilience, or the use of renewable energy.

“Greater Lawrence Family Health Center is grateful to Congresswoman Trahan for her leadership and support of community health centers like GLFHC. We appreciate her efforts to establish a future funding stream that is focused on health care infrastructure. This legislation will provide much needed funding for our Community Health Center, as well as our nationally recognized Lawrence Family Medicine Residency program. Federal investments like this will help to ensure our ability to provide the best possible facilities for our staff, residents, and patients in a comfortable, friendly, and energy efficient manner for a long time to come,” said John Silva, President and CEO of Greater Lawrence Family Health Center.

During her time in Congress, Trahan has been a strong supporter of community health centers and teaching health centers. During a visit to GLFHC last week, she highlighted key wins in President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan for these facilities as they continue working to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and distribute vaccines to traditionally underserved and more vaccine-hesitant communities. The relief package, which Trahan will vote in favor of this week, provides $27 billion to address health disparities and protect vulnerable populations for the duration of the pandemic. That includes $7.6 billion in funding to further support COVID-19 response efforts at community health centers.

Given GLFHC’s status as a Teaching Health Center – the first of its kind in the nation – it also stands to receive additional American Rescue Plan investments from the $330 million allocated for Teaching Health Centers to continue training medical professionals who serve the most vulnerable in communities like Lawrence, Haverhill, and Methuen.

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