In Amarillo, Cornyn Announces $64 Million in Relief Funding for the Region So Far

Statement

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
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

Source