Whereas a community health worker is a frontline public health worker who is a trusted member of the community in which the worker serves and has an unusually close understanding of that community that enables the worker to build trusted relationships, serve as a liaison between health and social services and the community, facilitate access to services, improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery, build individual and community capacity, and increase health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy; Whereas community health workers are a unique workforce, recognized in 36 States with a professional certification; Whereas community health workers are a community-based workforce that builds relationships with those around them and helps build treatment capacity in underserved areas; Whereas community health workers are a historic and diverse workforce that goes back hundreds of years in the United States and reflects the diversity of the country; Whereas community health workers have been known by many different titles, including community health representatives, promotoras de salud, aunties, peers, and outreach workers; Whereas community health workers are a cross-sector workforce that connects community members to health care and other social services, reducing barriers to health and well-being; Whereas community health workers are a proven workforce with decades of research documenting effectiveness in maternal and child health, chronic disease interventions, immunization, oral health, HIV, primary care, and many other disciplines and have a documented return on investment for many programs; Whereas sustainable funding of community health workers supports fair market wages and enhanced recruitment and retention of the workforce