Authorizes $7M Each Year in Public Health Grants for Border Communities
Mega Doctor News
As originally published by Mega Doctor News newsprint edition March 2020
Washington – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Border Health Security Act, which would strengthen multi-national cooperation to support vital public health initiatives in border communities.
“In Texas, we know what happens at our border – both good and bad, – affects the entire country,” said Sen. Cornyn. “Improving public health initiatives along our border will benefit not just those that live and work in South Texas, but all Americans who benefit from trade and travel across our southern border.”
Background:
The Border Health Security Act would require the U.S.-Mexico Border Health Commission to cooperate with the Canada-U.S. Pan-Border Public Health Preparedness Council to recommend and implement initiatives to address border health issues. It would also authorize $7 million each year in grants to implement these recommendations and improve and protect the health of border area residents, focusing on areas such as:
- infectious disease testing, monitoring, and surveillance;
- public health and public health infrastructure;
- health conditions with a high prevalence;
- medical and health services research;
- health care infrastructure;
- health disparities;
- environmental health;
- epidemiology and health research; and
- workforce training and development.
This bipartisan bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Martha McSally (R-AZ), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Tom Udall (D-NM). It has been endorsed by the American Public Health Association and the National Rural Health Association.
