Today, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and Congressman Colin Allred (TX-32) led a letter with 10 of their colleagues to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra urging him to consider Texas as the location for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H).  Congress created ARPA-H to improve the U.S. government’s ability to accelerate biomedical and health research, and to speed research and drive breakthroughs in cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and more to improve the health of all Americans.

“As Members of Congress from Texas and as strong supporters of the Administration’s efforts to create the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), we write to request that as you determine where the agency will be located, you strongly consider the State of Texas,” the letter reads. 

“Texas is home to multiple world-class medical facilities including the largest medical center in the world, the largest military medical complex in the nation, and the only BSL-4 lab co-located with a national primate center,” the letter continues.  “Texas is well positioned to lead the way in medical innovation and stands ready to put its best and brightest minds in biotech research to work solving our biggest and most complex health care problems.”

In March, Congresswoman Fletcher voted for legislation to appropriate $1 billion to establish the new ARPA-H agency, which President Biden signed into law.  Last week, Congresswoman Fletcher voted to advance legislation out of the Energy and Commerce Committee to further define the scope and mission of ARPA-H, and ensure the agency is independent from the National Institutes of Health.   

To view the full text of the letter, click here.