WACO – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) announced today at Family Health Center that various entities in Waco so far have been allocated $78,483,865 in federal coronavirus relief resources from Congress. While there he thanked local health care employees for their work during the coronavirus pandemic and saw firsthand how the CARES Act, a coronavirus relief bill he supported in March, is helping them combat the pandemic in Waco.
Following his visit with health care workers, Sen. Cornyn toured the facility with Family Health Center CEO Dr. Jackson Griggs and learned about the ways the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) has utilized funding from the CARES Act to help those in the region.
After the tour, Sen. Cornyn held a socially-distanced joint press conference with Dr. Griggs, Mayor Pro Tem Andrea Barefield of Waco, Judge Scott Felton of McLennan County, President Dr. Linda Livingstone of Baylor University, and Chief of Staff Kyle DeBeer of Waco ISD, who each spoke to how they have used CARES Act funds to benefit the Waco community.
Thus far, Sen. Cornyn has worked to secure $78 million in funding for the Waco area, including:
- City of Waco: $7.7 million
- Waco Police Department: $161,078
- PPE, thermometers, and related supplies
- Waco Police Department: $161,078
- McLennan County: $2,383,865
- Waco ISD: $5.9 million
- 1,725 Chromebooks
- 1,100 mobile hotspots
- Instructional materials for at-home learning
- Equipment for curbside meal distribution
- Social distancing signage
- Public Transportation: $8 million
- Waco Regional Airport: $18,091,301
- Job retention, improved infrastructure, renovations
- Waco & McLennan County Rural Transit Systems: $7,950,262
- Supports annual ridership of more than 1.2 million
- Waco Regional Airport: $18,091,301
- Waco Airport: $18.1 million
- Local Health Care Facilities: $20.7 million
- Heart of Texas Community Health Center, Inc.: $3,087,882
- Outdoor clinics for testing and treatment, including 6,703 COVID tests
- PPE, including 13,500 gowns, 3,500 surgical masks, 13,050 N95 masks, 130,050 face shields, 27,000 gloves
- Enhanced IT infrastructure for telehealth capacity at 15 sites
- Fulfillment of 10,000 prescriptions by mailing or contactless pharmacy services
- 10,854 hours of paid COVID leave for vulnerable or exposed staff
- Heart of Texas Community Health Center, Inc.: $3,087,882
- Local Colleges & Universities: $15.7 million
- Baylor University: $10,777,489
- Provided 2,697 students with $5,394,000 in CARES Act Emergency Aid
- Baylor University: $10,777,489
Participants included:
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
Andrea Barefield, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Waco
Scott Felton, County Judge, McLennan County
Dr. Linda Livingstone, President, Baylor University
Kyle DeBeer, Chief of Staff, Waco ISD
Dr. Jackson Griggs, CEO, Waco Family Health Center