For 60 years, community health centers have served as a cornerstone of America’s health care system, delivering comprehensive, high-quality primary care to rural and medically underserved communities.

Since the first center opened in Mississippi in 1965, these facilities have steadily expanded their reach and impact. Today, more than 1,500 health centers operate across 17,000 locations nationwide, providing care to nearly 34 million people—roughly 1 in every 10 Americans.

Notably, 40 percent of these centers are located in rural areas, where the nearest doctor or hospital may be nearly 50 miles away.

In my Florida district, which includes Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties, health centers like Premier Community HealthCare and Langley Health Services serve more than 70,000 of my constituents. These centers offer a wide range of critical services—including preventive, medical, behavioral, dental, vision and pharmacy care—at costs patients can afford.

I’ve had the opportunity to meet with the dedicated staff at these centers and have been deeply impressed by their commitment. More importantly, I’ve spoken with patients who rely on these facilities for care and who are overwhelmingly satisfied with the high-quality, affordable and accessible services they receive. 

It is clear that these centers are making a meaningful difference—not only by improving health outcomes, but also by creating good jobs and strengthening our communities.

Despite their vital role, health centers are facing a period of financial uncertainty, as their federal funding is set to expire on Sept. 30. The 18 health center delivery sites in my district depend on stable federal support to maintain access to care. Congress must act swiftly to pass long-term, reliable funding for these essential safety net providers. Renewing federal support is crucial to ensuring health centers can continue to meet the evolving needs of the communities they serve.

Throughout my time in Congress, I’ve been a strong and consistent advocate for accessible, high-quality health care, including robust funding for community health centers. Earlier this year, I led 287 of my colleagues in a bipartisan letter to the House Appropriations Committee urging robust funding for health centers in the fiscal 2026 budget. I’ve proudly worked across the aisle to extend and strengthen health center funding in the past, and I will continue to do so. I was also honored to be recently recognized as a Distinguished Community Health Center Champion by the National Association of Community Health Centers.

The value these centers provide to our health care system is undeniable. Last year, the Congressional Budget Office reaffirmed that the comprehensive, patient-centered model of care used by health centers significantly reduces long-term health care costs by lowering rates of preventable ER visits and hospital admissions. Few other parts of our health care system deliver such an exceptional return on investment. 

President Trump has also acknowledged the important role health centers play in addressing our nation’s growing chronic disease crisis. His fiscal 2026 budget rightly states that “health centers are at the forefront of efforts to Make America Healthy Again.” As Congress continues working to shift our health care system toward prevention—by increasing access to primary care, nutrition services and opportunities for exercise—Community Health Centers are the ideal partners.

We must ensure these centers have the resources they need to continue fulfilling their mission. That means extending their funding before the Sept. 30 deadline—so they can keep Americans healthy, productive and thriving for generations to come. I urge my colleagues to join me in this critical effort.

Bilirakis, a Republican, represents Florida’s 12th congressional district.