[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 139 (Friday, August 25, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING TERESITA BATAYOLA, AAPCHO AND NACHC LIFETIME ACHIEVMENT 
                            AWARD RECIPIENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ADAM SMITH

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 25, 2023

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Teresita 
Batayola for receiving lifetime achievement awards from the Association 
of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) and the 
National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC).
  Over the years, I have had the immense privilege of witnessing 
Teresita's tireless work to improve health outcomes for refugee, 
immigrant, and underserved communities in Washington's Ninth District 
and across the Puget Sound region. Teresita's career as the President 
and CEO of the International Community Health Services (ICHS) was 
remarkable. She helped transform ICHS from just 2 clinics into a 
growing regional health care network that continues to provide 
comprehensive care to over 27,000 patients.
  Teresita's work went beyond just leading ICHS for 18 years. During 
her tenure at ICHS, she also took on leadership roles at the local and 
national level to help expand access to health care and other services 
for those that need it most. Her dedication to expanding health care 
access in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander 
communities led her to serve on the AAPCHO's Board of Directors for 
well over a decade. Her years of steadfast leadership has been 
instrumental in advancing the resources and capacity of community 
health centers across the country, building a legacy that communities 
will continue to benefit from for decades to come. These lifetime 
achievement awards from AAPCHO and NACHC are a well-deserved testament 
to that legacy and to Teresita's exemplary service.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Teresita for her visionary leadership, and I 
congratulate her on these achievements.

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