South King News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.) today issued the following statement after introducing the Grant Assistance and Technical Education (GATE) Act, which would provide community-based health organizations with assistance navigating the federal grantmaking process and create grant opportunities for these organizations. Community-based organizations are crucial to closing health equity gaps in communities across the country, but often lack the experience and capacity to apply for and obtain grant funding.

“Community-based organizations work to ensure everyone, specifically the most marginalized members of our communities, have access to quality health care and important public health information. Our nation’s public health system relies on these organizations, and we should do everything we can to ensure they have the resources they need to continue and expand on their important work,” said Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash). “That’s why I’m reintroducing the GATE Act, which would help community-based organizations access federal funding and create more grants for these organizations. This legislation will enable community-based organizations to connect more individuals and families to vital services and further reduce health care disparities in Washington’s Ninth and across the country.” 

Background

The GATE Act would:

• Create the position of Outreach Coordinator in the Office of Minority Health of the Department of Health and Human Services to focus on assisting community-based organizations navigating the federal grantmaking process; and
• Provide grants to state and local public health entities for the specific purpose of directing those funds to build capacity in local community-based organizations focused on addressing health inequities. Funneling funding through state and local public health entities will help reduce the burden on community-based organizations of applying for funding directly to the federal government.

The GATE Act is endorsed by Somali Health Board and Refugees Northwest Counseling.

A fact sheet of the GATE Act can be found here. The bill text can be found here.

Original source can be found here.