Texas Border Business
HARLINGEN – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) announced today at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) that entities in the Rio Grande Valley so far have been allocated $530 million in federal coronavirus relief resources from Congress. After thanking front line health care workers and elected officials keeping Texans safe, Sen. Cornyn received a briefing at a roundtable with them on efforts to combat COVID-19, how the region has utilized federal resources from the CARES Act, and the Valley’s priorities for future coronavirus relief legislation.
In addition to the roundtable discussion, Sen. Cornyn hosted a lunch with children of local health care workers to express his appreciation for their families’ service to their community and to listen to their experiences during the pandemic.
Thus far, Sen. Cornyn has worked to secure $530 million in funding for the Rio Grande Valley, including:
- $97 million for health care facilities
- $133.6 million for public schools
- $179 million for local governments
- $4.8 million for public housing
- $68 million for colleges and universities
- $34,864,258 for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
- $3,608,280 for Texas Southmost College
- $20,022,398 for South Texas College
- $9,501,756 for Texas A&M International University
- $21.4 million for public transportation
- $7,599,697 for the City of Brownsville
- $3,717,342 for the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council Corporation – Harlingen UZA
- $10,119,614 for the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council Corporation – McAllen UZA
- $26.4 million for local airports
- $1,857,797 for Brownsville/South Padre Island International
- $30,000 for South Texas International at Edinburg
- $20,450,551 for Valley International
- $30,000 for Mid Valley Airport
- $4,016,251 for McAllen Miller International
- $20,000 for Port Isabel-Cameron County
Roundtable participants included:
U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
Brig. Gen. Tom Suelzer, Director, Joint Staff for the Texas Military Department
Dr. Nolan Perez, Regent, University of Texas System
Dr. Guy Bailey, President, UTRGV
Richard Cortez, Judge, Hidalgo County
Eddie Trevino, Judge, Cameron County
Rose Benavidez, Starr County Industrial Foundation President
Aurelio “Keeter” Guerra, Judge, Willacy County
Chris Boswell, Mayor, City of Harlingen
Manny Vela, CEO, Valley Baptist Health System
Todd Mann, CEO, South Texas Health System
Cris Rivera, CEO, Rio Grande Regional Hospital
Kane Dawson, CEO, Mission Regional Medical Center
Art Garza, CEO, Valley Regional Medical Center
Matt Wolthoff, CEO, Harlingen Medical Center
Dr. Robert Martinez, Chief Medical Officer, Doctors Hospital at Renaissance
Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, is a member of the Senate Finance, Intelligence, and Judiciary Committees.
