Now that the elections are behind us, my hope is that all our newly-elected members of Congress will get on with an agenda to achieve affordable and accessible health care for everyone in need of it.

Fortunately, we have a good model already in place at our local Community Health Center. The federal program has a 40-year record of proven success reducing disease and keeping down health care costs. The program has unmatched bipartisan support and now serves nearly 16 million people across the country.

Claiborne County Family Health Center, Inc., provides a health care home to thousands of people right here in Port Gibson.

By being their regular source of care, this health center helps all its clients to lead healthy, productive lives and to stay out of overcrowded hospital emergency rooms. The new Congress has a chance to put politics aside and do something positive to meet the need for affordable and accessible health care.

Supporting health care centers offers Congress the chance to hit the ground running and join a bipartisan consensus around a proven solution in an otherwise contentious debate around health care.

All they have to do is help pass legislation that will increase funding for the program so it can reach more people.

Let’s hope the new Congress doesn’t waste time and does the right thing for everyone.