Washington, D.C. – Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded more than $2.5 million to four health centers located in Oklahoma’s Third Congressional District in response to the COVID-19 pandemic:

“Our health centers are the backbone of our rural communities. Often on the frontlines of caring for the sick and protecting the health and well-being of our neighbors, Oklahoma’s community health centers are now playing a critical role by delivering essential services, serving as community testing and screening sites, and alleviating the burden currently felt at emergency rooms and hospitals,” said Congressman Lucas.

“I thank the Trump Administration and Secretary Alex Azar for acting swiftly to help our community health centers secure the resources needed to keep Oklahomans safe from the coronavirus. As we continue to practice social distancing, playing our own part in protecting the health of our communities, I will continue to fight for the resources needed in order to support our health care workers and their patients.”

Background:

Community health centers receiving funding in Oklahoma’s Third Congressional District include:

• Fairfax Medical Facilities, Fairfax- $646,445
• Great Salt Plains Health Center, Inc., Cherokee- $728,165
• Panhandle Counseling and Health Center, Inc., Guymon- $568,550
• Shortgrass Community Health Center Inc., Hollis- $587,345

Funding provided to the community health centers was appropriated by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump on March 27th, the CARES Act included $1.32 billion in supplemental funding to America’s community health centers to support health centers’ ability to detect, prevent, diagnose, and treat COVID-19.

###