Letter to the Hon. Alex Azar, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Hon. Pete Gaynor, FEMA Administrator - Sens. Cornyn, Cruz Urge HHS and FEMA to Continue Federal Support for Testing Sites in Texas

Letter

Dear Secretary Azar and Administrator Gaynor:

Thank you for your efforts in establishing Community-Based Testing Sites (CBTS) in locations across the State of Texas. These testing sites have played an important role in supporting the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic as it works to reopen the economy. Maintaining the CBTS sties is critical to Texas' testing capacity. As the CBTS program is set to expire on June 30, I urge you to grant an extension of the program for the testing sites in Texas.

Texas is currently experiencing a rise in confirmed COVID-19 cases. In the last two weeks, daily new cases, the overall positivity rate, and hospitalizations in Texas have all increased. Some of the state's largest cities--where these CBTS sites are located--are experiencing single-day records of new cases.

Now is not the time to end a program that is working and successfully increasing testing capacity--especially for underserved communities in the state. Due to the recent rise of COVID-19 cases in Texas, cities need additional time to prepare for the transition to state and local control of the testing sites.

The administration has taken important steps to provide Texas with the support and resources it needs to combat this crisis. I respectfully request you to continue the CBTS sites in Texas as testing capacity remains a crucial component to reopening the economy and ultimately defeating this disease.

Thank you for your prompt consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

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