Congresswoman’s Commitment to High Quality Health Care Recognized by National Association of Community Health Centers

Washington, D.C. – Representatives from the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers presented U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz with the 2011 Distinguished Community Health Defender Award from the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). Schwartz was selected for this prestigious honor in recognition of her leadership on health care policy. In particular, the NACHC recognized Schwartz’s commitment to preserve, strengthen, and expand access to high quality care for millions of Americans served by community health centers during the 111th Congress.

“I am honored to have received the Distinguished Community Health Defender Award,” Schwartz said. “Community health centers provide essential health care services for millions of Americans, including more than 700,000 Pennsylvanians. They serve as a vital safety net, and we must ensure that they can continue to meet the needs of underserved populations, especially children and seniors. I want to thank the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers and the National Association of Community Health Centers for this significant award, and for their continued leadership in ensuring that all Americans have access to affordable quality health care.”

“The Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers presents this award to Rep. Schwartz in recognition of her unwavering support of community health centers and the hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians and the millions of our nation’s most vulnerable individuals who would not have access to health care without their local health center,” said Cheri Rinehart, CEO of the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers.

U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz meets with representatives from the Pennsylvania Association of Community Health Centers (PACHC) to receive the 2011 Distinguished Community Health Centers Defender Award. (From left to right: James P. Kelly, CEO of Southeast Lancaster Health Services; Cheri Rinehart, CEO of PACHC; Phyllis B. Cater, CEO of Spectrum Health Services; Alexandra Sange MPP, National Association of Community Health Centers; and Edward P. Michael, President of Rural Health Corporation of Northeastern PA)

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