Senator Cornyn

In Abilene, Cornyn Announces $34 Million in Relief Funding for the Region So Far

August 17, 2020

ABILENE –U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) announced today at Hendrick Health System that various entities in the Abilene region so far have been allocated $34,244,861 in federal coronavirus relief resources from Congress. While there he thanked local health care employees for their work during the coronavirus pandemic and highlighted how the CARES Act, a coronavirus relief bill he supported in March, has benefitted the Abilene community.

After thanking health care workers, Sen. Cornyn held a joint socially-distanced press conference with Mayor Anthony Williams of Abilene, President Dr. Phil Schubert of Abilene Christian University, Superintendent Dr. David Young of Abilene ISD, and President & CEO Brad Holland of Hendrick Health System, who spoke to how they have used CARES Act funds to help COVID-19 prevention, testing, and treatment in Abilene.

Thus far, Sen. Cornyn has worked to secure $34 million in funding for the Abilene area, including:

  • Abilene Christian University:  $2,982,741
    -$2.4 million in aid for 667 students
    -Personal protective equipment
    -Testing for students and faculty
    -Room & Board refunds for students
    -Curriculum redevelopment for flexible learning environment
  • Abilene Regional Airport: $1,504,738 million 
  • Abilene CityLink Transit: $5,139,361
  • City of Abilene: $6,764,945
    -$142,431 on medical service and supplies
    -$30,798 on cleaning supplies and PPE
    -$14,862 on contact tracing and quarantine assistance
    -$20,178 on telework capabilities
  • Hendrick Hospital System: $14 million
    -Provided care for 229 COVID patients
    -Funded testing expansion to cover the entire community, including more than 9,300 COVID tests
    -Procured PPE supplies, including 6 million gloves, 500,000 masks, and 75,000 gowns
    -Purchased two new ventilators
    -Retrofitted 109 rooms with negative air pressure equipment 
    -Continued pay and benefits for 3,600 local workers
    -Provided cross-over training for nurses to tend to COVID patients
  • Abilene ISD: $3,853,076
    -Provided Chromebooks and mobile hotspots for remote learning
    -Aided students in remote learning by purchasing math and english language arts software
    -Procured PPE supplies such as hand sanitizer and masks
    -Assisted in paying teachers’ salaries

Participants included:

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) 

Anthony Williams, Mayor, City of Abilene

Brad Holland, President & CEO, Hendrick Health System

Dr. Phil Schubert, President, Abilene Christian University

Dr. David Young, Superintendent, Abilene ISD