Carson Community Health Fair Provides Free Health Screenings and Flu Shots INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis residents today joined Congressman André Carson for his first annual Community Health Fair, presented in cooperation with the Minority Health Coalition of Marion County. The event took place at the Chase Near Eastside Legacy Center, where participants received free health screenings and educational workshops. A limited number of flu shots were also provided.
The event was open to the public, and Congressman Carson was on hand to highlight critical enhancements to preventive care provided by the Affordable Care Act. To date, more than 54 million Americans have taken advantage of newly covered preventive health care services, and the law has invested more than $30 million in local community health centers. The Congressman also shared information regarding benefits provided to seniors, Americans with preexisting conditions, and for young people now receiving insurance coverage from their parents.
“We must make public health a priority in this community and throughout the nation, while also finding ways to lower costs long-term,” said Congressman André Carson. “The Affordable Care Act does this by focusing on preventive care, promoting wellness, and putting people ahead of profits.”
Congressman Carson went on to say, “In addition to sharing valuable information, today’s Community Health Fair brings critical services directly to our community, highlights significant enhancements to our health care system, and takes steps to make Indianapolis stronger and healthier for generations to come.”
Participants received a variety of services, including free blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose screenings. Services were provided by Citizens Health Center, Wishard Health Services, HealthNet, Jane Pauley Center, Raphael Health Center, and Shalom Health Care Center. | |
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Local Organizations to Offer Free Health Screenings and Workshops at Carson Community Health Fair
INDIANAPOLIS – Several local organizations will provide free health screenings and informational workshops at the 2012 Community Health Fair on Friday, October 26th, at the Chase Near Eastside Legacy Center.
The Community Health Fair, hosted by Congressman André Carson in cooperation with the Minority Health Coalition of Marion County, will provide blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose screenings, and a limited number of flu shots will also be given. Attendees may also participate in workshops regarding the Affordable Care Act, nutrition and diabetes, and heart disease.
WHO: Congressman André Carson
Minority Health Coalition of Marion County
Citizens Health Center
Wishard Health Services
HealthNet
Jane Pauley Center
Raphael Health Center
Shalom Health Care Center
WHAT: 2012 Community Health Fair
WHEN: Friday, October 26th, 10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M
*Congressman Carson will provide brief remarks at 10:00 A.M and will be available for interviews after.
WHERE: Chase Near Eastside Legacy Center
727 N. Oriental Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202 | |
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September 25, 2012 Congressman Carson Seeks to Expand Year-round Access to Healthy Food for Low-Income Families WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman André Carson this week proposed the creation of a new grant program aimed at improving access to locally grown fruit and vegetables for low-income families.
The Preserving Healthy Food for the Hungry Act provides federal funding to eligible small farms, cooperatives and urban gardens that wish to utilize state-of-the-art freezing technologies to preserve their harvest. By encouraging the year-round consumption of locally grown fruits and vegetables, this common-sense, deficit-neutral legislation builds upon the critical efforts of food banks and food pantries to improve low-income families’ access to affordable, nutritious food.
This legislation also draws upon the expertise and resources of land grant institutions like Purdue University to provide access to “quick” and “flash freeze” equipment and technical assistance for eligible producers. This initiative builds upon these institutions’ ongoing efforts to promote healthy eating habits, sustainability and the development of urban gardens in underserved neighborhoods.
“All over our city, families face food deserts, areas that lack convenient access to supermarkets or grocery stores,” said Congressman Carson. “Consequently, families find themselves relying instead on convenient stores and fast food restaurants for snacks and meals.”
Studies have shown that diets high in calories, sodium and saturated fats increase the incidence of diabetes and obesity, which drive up the cost of health care and lower life expectancy. The Preserving Healthy Food for the Hungry Act will empower more communities to support local farms, coops and urban gardens and encourage Indianapolis residents to begin growing their own produce.
Congressman Carson went on to say, “Many Members of Congress talk about the need for low-income families to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and focus on self-improvement. This legislation does just that. The Preserving Healthy Food for the Hungry Act is a common-sense initiative that empowers underserved communities, improves nutrition, benefits local producers, and it does not add one penny to the deficit.” | |
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September 20, 2012 Congressman Carson Focuses in on Higher Education, Introduces Legislation and Announces New Congressional Caucus WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman André Carson (IN-7) today zoned in on issues of higher education, introducing legislation that would clarify college employment placement statistics and announcing the creation of the Congressional Higher Education Caucus to encourage more intentional assessment of higher education challenges in America.
The Higher Education and Employment Transparency Act, introduced in the House today, seeks to empower college-bound individuals as they make decisions regarding which college or university they will attend. This legislation requires that the Department of Education (via the College Navigator website) and all institutions receiving federal student aid dollars provide a link to up-to-date information on Occupational Employment Statistics, data that shows recent employment trends in major occupations by geographic regions. This information is critical for current and prospective students to properly assess job outlook following graduation.
In addition, the bill directs the Department of Education to create clear guidelines for institutions reporting job placement rates, so they indicate if jobs require post-secondary education and whether or not the position is paid or unpaid.
“College-bound individuals rightly ask if they are making a wise investment. But the answer is often unclear because they must wade through a lot of information when deciding where they will pursue their education. Too often, what they receive only scratches the surface of how well a school will prepare them to achieve their selected career,” Congressman Carson said. “This bill will make that search easier and require institutions to be more transparent about how their graduates will fare in an increasingly competitive job market.”
Congressman Carson went on to say, “My goal is to give students access to all the information they need to pick the school that will best help them reach their career goals without the burden of crippling debt.”
Additionally, Congressman Carson today announced the creation of the Congressional Higher Education Caucus, which will provide a forum for robust discussion and strategic planning on how Congress can better address the challenges facing our system of higher education.
“Members of Congress talk a lot about the problems facing students, but it is rare to come together and discuss real solutions. My hope is that the Higher Education Caucus will encourage open, honest, bipartisan conversations about these critical issues.” | |
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September 14, 2012 Congressman Carson’s Statement on Rosh Hashanah WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman André Carson today released the following statement on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. This weekend, my Jewish friends in the great Hoosier state and throughout the world begin their celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. For well over 5,000 years, Jewish communities have used this time of year to celebrate their proud history and rich, time-honored traditions. I encourage Hoosiers, and all peoples of faith, to join me this week in celebrating our nation’s unique and proud history of religious freedom. And to all those celebrating Rosh Hashanah this Sunday: L’Shanah Tova. | |
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Honoring the Life of Rev. Boniface Hardin -- March 28, 2012 |
HONORING THE LIFE OF REV. BONIFACE HARDIN On March 24, 2012, Reverend Boniface Hardin, one of the luminaries of the civil rights movement from the 7th District of Indiana, passed away. His commitment to education, compassion, and brotherly love left an indelible mark on the City of Indianapolis. It is with a heavy heart and profound sense of sadness that I express my condolences to the family and friends of Father Hardin. I want my constituents to know and those that knew Father Hardin that my thoughts and prayers are with you. Rev. Hardin became a Benedictine monk in 1953 at the young age of twenty, was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1959, and received a master of divinity degree in 1960. While serving as an associate pastor at the Holy Angels Catholic Church in Indianapolis, he soon became a vocal advocate for racial and socio-economic equality during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. His spiritual commitment and dedication to self-improvement led to the foundation of the Martin Center in 1969 and later the Indianapolis Sickle Cell Center in 1977. Under his leadership, the Martin Center College became Martin University, a fully accredited institution offering undergraduate and graduate degrees to low-income and minority adult learners. Rev. Hardin was designated a “Living Legend” in 2002 by the Indiana Historical Society. The City of Indianapolis is lucky to have had such a caring, giving person in our midst. | |
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Congratulating the Indiana Blood Center on Its 60th Anniversary -- March 23, 2012 |
Congratulating the Indiana Blood Center on its 60th Anniversary On its sixtieth anniversary, I am proud to honor an organization that has helped save hundreds of thousands of lives through volunteer blood donations and blood component distribution to more than 60 hospitals across the state. Indiana Blood Center was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in my district in Indianapolis. This esteemed non-profit community service organization delivers more than 700 components of blood each day and provides other vital assistance to modern medicine through specialized blood typing for organ transplants, viral marker testing, transfusion recipients, and the National Marrow Donor Program. The Center also serves as a vital link in the state’s life science and healthcare infrastructure in the areas of prostate cancer treatment, pharmaceutical research, stem cell and bone marrow donation. It is the largest independent blood center in the state and ranks among the top 20 nationally. Indiana Blood Center is a member of America’s Blood Centers, North America’s largest network of community-based, independent and non-profit blood centers – which, coincidentally, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Every two seconds, someone, somewhere will need a transfusion and one out of every seven patients entering a hospital will need blood. Indiana Blood Center depends on the good people of Indiana and the nearly 4,000 organizations that host blood drives annually to meet the constant demand to serve the citizens of Indiana. I would like to recognize this valuable contribution to our community and congratulate Indiana Blood Center for its 60 years of faithful and dedicated stewardship of Indiana’s blood supply. | |
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Recognizing Gilbert Holmes, Executive Director of the ACLU of Indiana, For a Life of Public Service -- March 22, 2012 |
STATEMENT FOR THE RECORD
RECOGNIZING GILBERT HOLMES, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ACLU OF INDIANA, FOR A LIFE OF PUBLIC SERVICE On the occasion of his retirement, I would like to congratulate Gilbert Holmes for a lifetime of trailblazing leadership and devoted public service. Upon leaving the service, Gil applied his organizational acumen with venerable Hoosier organizations, including the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Methodist Hospital, and Lincoln National Corporation. From 1989 to 1996, Gil rendered distinguished public service as Commissioner of the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, and later, as President and CEO of IndyGo. Gil’s career culminated in his selection as executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, where he served ably for three years as both steward and advocate. Gil has spent his life combating prejudice, proving skeptics wrong, and empowering those with whom he works to achieve great things. On March 31, 2012, Gil will retire, leaving behind a legacy of lives bettered by his mentorship and leadership. On behalf of the 7th Congressional District of Indiana, I wish him well in his retirement and extend to him our gratitude for his commitment to the advancement of civil rights for all and to his fellow Hoosiers. | |
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Honoring the Life of Congressman Donald Payne -- March 6, 2012 |
STATEMENT HONORING THE LIFE OF CONGRESSMAN DONALD PAYNE From my first days in Congress, I always considered Donald Payne to be a mentor and friend. He took me and others under his wing and showed us what it means to truly be a Member of Congress—not just a politician. He showed me, like he showed so many in this Chamber, how much more we accomplish through humility and cooperation than through bravado and partisanship. He was brilliant and put thought into every word that he said—and because of that, Madam Speaker, his words carried weight on both sides of the aisle and in both chambers. Most recently, I was privileged to serve under his leadership on the board of the Congressional Black Caucus. I was able to see up close how he brought together the diverse personalities and opinions of our caucus to achieve a greater purpose. Donald Payne made our caucus strong and united and while we will attempt to fill the gap he leaves behind, I know we will never have another leader like him. Madame Speaker, learning to serve in the House is truly an honor—but it is also a challenge. As a young member, I am continuing to grow and find my place amongst my distinguished colleagues. But I feel just a little more confident because I had a mentor and a role model in Donald Payne. And as long as I am given the privilege to serve in this House, I look forward to carrying the legacy that he started—to fight for the underprivileged, to bring attention to critical issues that don’t make the front page. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to his family and to his staff, who know, like I do, how great a Member and how great a man he truly was. I’m reminded of a passage of a conversation that Jesus had with his disciples in the Book of Matthew, and they were dealing with this notion of leadership. And Jesus said very succinctly and very clearly and very wisely, and prophetically to them, when he said: ‘‘He who wishes to be chief among you shall first be your servant.’’ Let us remember and honor Donald Payne, a true public servant. | |
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Protecting Medicare Beneficiaries -- February 14, 2012 |
Mr. Speaker, In 2010, the Affordable Care Act delivered a $250 check to seniors in my District who were struggling to cover the gap between the cost of their prescription drugs and their Medicare coverage. In 2011, these same seniors benefitted from an average savings of $648 on their medications. For my Republican colleagues who say health reform is hurting Medicare beneficiaries, I ask them to imagine spending 2 and 3 times that amount on prescription drugs per month. For most seniors, $648 is significant savings—and it is just the beginning. The Affordable Care Act will provide more efficient care by bundling Medicare services, investing in our health care workforce, and focusing on quality. Replacing Medicare with vouchers would erase the progress we’ve already made toward prescription drug coverage and lead to fewer choices for beneficiaries. I encourage my colleagues to work with me on solutions that guarantee continued access to health care for our seniors.
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