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

Statement

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

Source