Together, we will defeat this.
Greetings,
This week, upon completing my self-quarantine out of an abundance of caution, I returned to Washington, D.C. While at home in Texas and this week in our nation’s capital, I have been actively working with the administration, my colleagues, state and local officials, and industry leaders to combat the spread of COVID-19 and protect human life.
We are facing a serious public health challenge, which is why I've called on federal officials to focus on four immediate priorities to detect, treat, and prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep Texans and all Americans healthy, all of which will help prevent further economic harm.
Those priorities include:
- Making testing more accurate and widely available.
- Ensuring we have enough of the essential medical supplies for first responders and healthcare professionals.
- Creating more capacity and providing critical resources for hospitals and medical facilities.
- Working quickly to develop and approve vaccines and cures.
This week, Congress passed and President Trump signed a second relief package. The legislation made progress toward addressing two of the four priorities I’ve laid out by ensuring greater access to COVID-19 testing and supporting our first responders and healthcare professionals. While Congress has passed two significant funding packages and is working on a third proposal, we still have much more work ahead of us.
To address the other critical priorities, I introduced three pieces of legislation this week:
1.) Creating Capacity for Communities in Need Act, which would allow physician-owned hospitals to expand their facilities, beds, and surgical rooms and provide much needed relief for the medical facilities overwhelmed by the surge in patients as a result of coronavirus.
2.) Pandemic Healthcare Access Act, which would expand access to Health Savings Accounts to anyone with a health plan for the duration of this public health crisis.
3.) RESULTs for Coronavirus Patients Act, which would fast-track approval for certain drugs and devices to combat COVID-19 pandemic.
I’ve also called on Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to use the significant powers of the Defense Production Act to immediately order the production and distribution of ventilators, which are critical to treating individuals infected by COVID-19.
Going forward, we need to work quickly and be guided by the facts and medical science – not panic, hysteria, or partisan games. That’s what I am committed to doing each and every day.
Together, we can fight this pandemic, and we will ultimately defeat it.
Keep Texas Strong,
Ted Cruz
Additional Updates from Sen. Cruz
For more information and additional resources, visit www.cruz.senate.gov/coronavirus/. Please read below for an update from this last week.
#TexansHelpingTexans: Texas Communities Working Together to Combat Coronavirus
As coronavirus continues to spread across the United States and throughout Texas, Texans from all walks of life are working together to meet the needs of their neighbors, friends, and communities. Sen. Cruz highlighted Texas' communities and businesses working together in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Read more…
Sen. Cruz to HHS: ‘Time Is of the Essence’ to Ensure Hospitals, Health Care Facilities Have Ventilators Critical to Treating COVID-19
Sen. Cruz sent a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar urging him to immediately use the powers delegated to him by President Trump to order the production and distribution of ventilators, which are critical to treating individuals infected by COVID-19. Read more…
Sen. Cruz Introduces Legislation to Increase Healthcare Capacity & Access, Speed Up FDA Approval for Certain Vaccines & Cures
As the spread of coronavirus continues to affect more communities across the country, Sen. Cruz introduced legislation focused on increasing access to healthcare and expediting the approval for vaccines and treatments already approved in other countries. Read more…
Sen. Cruz Votes in Favor of Second Coronavirus Relief Package
Sen. Cruz issued the following statement after voting in favor of the second coronavirus relief proposal. Read more…
Sen. Cruz in Houston Chronicle: ‘Together, We Can Fight this Pandemic, and We Will Ultimately Defeat It’
In his new op-ed in the Houston Chronicle, Sen. Cruz offers an inside-look into his 10-day self-quarantine, the steps he took out of an abundance of caution to protect the health and welfare of his family, constituents, staff, and colleagues in Congress, and his efforts to coordinate a national response to COVID-19 from home. Read more…
Sen. Cruz: Without Panic, Hysteria, or Partisan Games, We Can Curb This Outbreak and Stop It in Its Tracks
Sen. Cruz issued a statement upon the completion of his voluntary self-quarantine. Read more…
To Combat Coronavirus, Sens. Cruz, Cornyn Urge FEMA, SBA to Coordinate with State, Local Officials
Following President Trump's national emergency declaration, Sens. Cruz and John Cornyn (R-Texas) sent him a letter urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to work closely with State of Texas emergency management officials and the Small Business Administration (SBA) to increase awareness of the many financial tools available to assist Texans experiencing the economic impact of the coronavirus. Read more…
Sen. Cruz on COVID-19: ‘As A Country, We’ve Endured Enormous Challenges & We Will Overcome This One As Well’
After calling on federal officials to take four immediate steps to detect, treat, and prevent the spread of COVID-19 on Friday, Sen. Cruz called into ABC News Live with Diane Macedo. On Saturday, Sen. Cruz spoke with WFAA Dallas' Jason Whitely, KXAS Dallas' Katy Blakey, and KTRK Houston's Tom Abrahams. Read more…
