AMARILLO – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) announced today at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Pharmacy School that various entities in the Amarillo region so far have been allocated $64,308,512 in federal coronavirus relief resources from Congress. While there he was joined by Texas Tech University (TTU) System Chancellor Dr. Tedd Mitchell and TTUHSC President Dr. Lori Rice-Spearman to see firsthand how the CARES Act, a coronavirus relief bill he supported in March, is helping them combat the coronavirus pandemic in Amarillo.
Sen. Cornyn first toured the viral transport media (VTM) lab where they produce VTM testing vials used for COVID testing before learning about other types of medical equipment the CARES Act helped TTUHSC purchase to help fight the pandemic.
After the tour Sen. Cornyn held a socially-distanced joint press conference with Chancellor Mitchell, President Rice-Spearman, Mayor Ginger Nelson of Amarillo, CEO Ryan Chandler of North West Texas Health System, CEO Bob Williams of BSA Health System, and President Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart of Amarillo College, who each spoke to how they have used CARES Act funds to benefit the Amarillo community.
Thus far, Sen. Cornyn has worked to secure $64 million in funding for the Amarillo area, including:
- Amarillo College: $4,797,394
- 43 employees kept on payroll
- 60,000 masks
- 4 thermal cameras to take temperatures
- City of Amarillo: $10,995,820
- Conducted 6,810 tests since March
- Helped establish 500,000 contact tracing connections
- Supported 103 clients in quarantine
- Provided $75,000 for emergency shelter support
- Funded $300,000 in rental assistance
- Amarillo Airport: $7,632,380
- Amarillo City Transit: $9,896,702
- Amarillo Health Care Facilities: $30,986,216
- BSA Health System: $24.6 million
- Served 418 COVID-19 patients
- Provided $1.4 million in PPE
- Funded $1.2 million COVID-related salaries, benefits, and contract labor
- Purchased 20 New Ventilators and 34 HEPA Air Purifiers
- Procured 2 New Electrostatic Disinfectant Sprayers
- Northwest Texas Healthcare System
- Purchased 6 Automated Temperature Screening Kiosks
- Funded 20 Portable HEPA Air Filters
- Procured Additional GlideScopes for Patient Intubation
- BSA Health System: $24.6 million
Participants included:
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
Dr. Tedd Mitchell, Chancellor, Texas Tech University System
Dr. Lori Rice-Spearman, President, TTUHSC
Ginger Nelson, Mayor, City of Amarillo
Ryan Chandler, CEO, North West Texas Health System
Bob Williams, CEO, BSA Health System
Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, President, Amarillo College