Laredo, TX-- Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) announced $529,219 in federal funding for the Gateway Community Health Center’s efforts to expand coronavirus testing. This funding, awarded through the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, will be used to increase testing capabilities to help track the spread and impact of the coronavirus in Webb and Zapata counties.

 “As we take steps to reopen Texas, it is critical that our health centers have the necessary resources to implement an aggressive testing strategy,” said Congressman Cuellar. “This federal investment will be used to support Gateway Community Health Center and their work to make COVID-19 testing easy and accessible throughout our community.”

“As a member of the Bipartisan White House Task Force, I will continue to fight for the necessary funding to combat this public health crisis and eventually, fully reopen the Lone Star State and the rest of the country. I would like to thank Elmo Lopez, CEO of Gateway Community Health Center, and the rest of his staff for their dedication to providing care during this unprecedented public health crisis.”

As a senior member of the Appropriations Committee, Congressman Cuellar helped secure $825 million for health centers funded by Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act. Gateway Community Health Center will use this funding to expand the range of testing and testing-related activities to best address the needs of their local communities, including the purchase of personal protective equipment; training, outreach, procurement and administration of tests; laboratory services; and the expansion of walk-up or drive-up testing capabilities.