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Laredo, TX—U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced that the Gateway Mines Road Family Medicine Clinic will be receiving a $1,997,000 federal earmark to construct a new family medicine clinic. The clinic will be located in a historically underserved area of Laredo and will provide residents with critical access to healthcare services.

Many health barriers affect the Mines Road area of Laredo—including transportation issues and lack of insurance—making its residents more hesitant to seek and receive proper healthcare. The clinic will help alleviate the financial and communal health barriers that prohibit this community from accessing and receiving proper healthcare services.

“Gateway Community Health Center is the backbone to our health system,” said Congressman Cuellar, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. “These federal funds will work to improve efficiency in care delivery and quality of care with a new clinic in Laredo serving people who don’t currently have access to such care. This will lead to better overall health and well-being in the region. As a senior Appropriator, I will continue to ensure that health centers receive the necessary long-term funding to deliver the critical health care services that our community needs and deserves. I would like to thank Elmo Lopez, CEO of Gateway Community Health Center, and the rest of his staff for their constant commitment in continued care for patients across South Texas.”

“On behalf of our patients, staff and Board of Directors of Gateway Community Health Center, Inc., I would like to express our gratitude to Congressman Henry Cuellar for this $2,000,000.00 Federal Grant Award to build a state of the art medical clinic on the Mines Road in North West Laredo. Our Mines Road area  does not have any healthcare services for the our many thousands of citizens who live and work there. Gateway Clinics offer affordable, preventive healthcare to those families most in need in our community. Congressman Cuellar has always been a champion for Gateway and for accessible primary medical, dental, and behavioral health care for families in Laredo, Zapata, and Hebbronville, Texas. We thank Congressman Cuellar for his support.”

“This funding will ensure residents in this underserved area have access to medical and preventive care.  I want to thank Congressman Cuellar and Elmo Lopez for their dedication to serving the residents in West Laredo and Mines Rd (FM 1472),” said Laredo City Councilwoman Vanessa Perez.

The target area has a population of 67,981 residents.  Currently, only 5.26% of these residents are registered to receive health services at Gateway Community Health Center. Furthermore, about 34.6% of the area population are uninsured and living below the 200% poverty level. The area’s dire healthcare need is evident of that gap in health services that still persist in Laredo, Texas. 

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