Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) announced her legislation to modernize clinical laboratories and increase the capacity for COVID-19 testing and response.  Fletcher’s bill, H.R. 1818, establishes a pilot program at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to award grants that support the improvement, renovation, or modernization of infrastructure at clinical laboratories and help laboratories meet the increased demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Houston is home to leading research and medical institutions.  We lead in scientific and medical innovation because of the work done here, and when the pandemic hit last year, these laboratories and the people who work there stepped up to conduct testing and response,” said Congresswoman Fletcher.  “As we look to improve our infrastructure as an opportunity to invest in our communities and help get people back to work, modernizing the infrastructure of clinical laboratories must be a priority.  I am glad to introduce my bill to make sure they are.”

Specifically, Fletcher’s legislation authorizes $4.5 billion to establish a pilot program to support the improvement, renovation, or modernization of clinical laboratory infrastructure that will help improve SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 testing and response activities.  Fletcher is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee.  The full text of the legislation is available here.