(WASHINGTON D.C.) – Sen. Orrin Hatch along with Sen. Ted Kennedy were among 73 Senators who helped pass a bill to reauthorize the federal health care centers. Hatch said the bill will provide funding for health centers to meet the needs of the nation’s medically underserved populations. He said that 96% of patients at Utah health centers have incomes 200% below the federal poverty level and in rural areas, health centers are often the only health care provider. Hatch stated the bipartisan bill will help fulfill Pres. Bush’s goal of having 1200 new or expanded community health centers. The Senate’s passage of the Health Care Safety Act of 2007 reauthorizes funding for the program for five more years. A similar bill was approved by the House of Representatives on June 4, 2008.