Laredo, TX– Today, Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced $39,141,025  in federal funds for the State of Texas to assist in efforts to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. This funding, awarded through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, will be used to pay for additional resources and support  efforts to fight COVID-10 in Texas, including enhanced contact tracing, data surveillance, and increase testing capacity.

“As we take steps to reopen Texas, it is critical that we implement an aggressive tracing, surveillance, and testing strategy,” said Congressman Cuellar. “This funding will help hospitals and health centers across the state expand and strengthen their testing, contact tracing and containment capabilities. As a member of the Bipartisan White House Task Force, I am committed to ensuring that we have the proper resources to fight the coronavirus pandemic and eventually, reopen the Lone Star State and the rest of the country.”

As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Congressman Cuellar helped secure $4.3 billion in the CARES Act for the CDC and its efforts to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. This funding can be used for a number of mitigating efforts, including:

• Establishing or enhancing the ability to aggressively identify cases, conduct contact tracing and follow up, as well as implement appropriate containment measures.
• Improving morbidity and mortality surveillance.
• Enhancing testing capacity.
• Controlling COVID-19 in high-risk settings and protect vulnerable or high-risk populations.
• Working with healthcare systems to manage and monitor system capacity.