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Congresswoman Veronica Escobar (TX-16) announced the inclusion of $2.1 million in federal funding for two El Paso health technology projects in the Fiscal Year 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Appropriations bill.

Specifically, the Committee approved $1.2 million in federal funding to support the expansion of medical robotics in the University Medical Center of El Paso (UMC) with the purchase of the Da Vinci Single Port (SP) robot, and $925,000 to support needed technology upgrades for Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe’s Electronic Health Records (EHR) system. 

“UMC and Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe are critical to providing the highest quality of care to improve the health of El Pasoans, especially some of the most vulnerable, and I am proud to support them through the FY22 appropriations process,” said Congresswoman Escobar. “With these important investments in health technology, we are one step closer to expanding UMC’s service offerings, allowing La Fe to better communicate and care for El Pasoans, and making our community healthier.” 

"We are excited that our community project has moved one step closer to being funded,” said Jacob Cintron, President and CEO of UMC. “By funding SP robot, UMC will introduce a new, innovative tool that will expand our minimally invasive surgeries while providing our community the level of care they need and deserve. The surgical robot also brings the opportunity for our medical residents to train by using state of the art equipment/technology. We are thankful to Congresswoman Escobar and her staff for their continued advocacy in advancing healthcare in our region."

“Now, more than ever, technology and quality health care go hand-in-hand,” said Salvador Balcorta MSSW, CEO of Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe. “Centro De Salud Familiar La Fe is deeply grateful to Congresswoman Escobar for standing up for us, for our community, and for our families’ technology needs. Thanks to her support, this funding means better equipment in our exam rooms, better technology infrastructure throughout our El Paso County clinic network, and stronger resources for La Fe’s doctors, nursing teams, and frontline medical personnel. ¡Mil Gracias!”

The FY22 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill is expected to advance to the floor for a vote by the full U.S. House of Representatives this week. The legislation must pass both chambers of Congress and be signed by President Joe Biden before funds can be distributed.

More information about the Community Project Funding requests to the Appropriations Committee and Congresswoman Escobar submitted requests can be found here.