Rep. Calvert Secures Federal Funding for Local Healthcare and Homeless Projects
Today, Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) announced that, at his request, funding for 42nd Congressional District healthcare and homeless projects was included in the Fiscal Year 2022 Labor, Health, and Human Services Appropriations bill. The bill was advanced today by the House Appropriations Committee and will now head to the House floor for consideration. Funding included in the bill for local projects is allocated within their respective agency program accounts and does not raise the overall spending level of the bill.
The bill includes $700,000 for the City of Hope CT Scanner Acquisition project, which was requested by City of Hope, a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center with its main campus in Duarte and additional locations throughout Southern California, for its future state-of-the-art clinical network location in Corona. The requested funding would allow City of Hope to purchase a new CT scanner for radiation oncology support as part of a new facility in Corona. According to City of Hope, dedicated imaging for patients in preparation for undergoing radiation treatment is integral to providing radiation oncology services. The CT scanner will allow the site to evaluate the affected area and any positioning equipment prior to treatment. This is a different clinical application than the more widely used diagnostic CT modality, and one that is not commonly found in community provider settings, but one that is essential.
"City of Hope continues to be a leader in cancer treatment and the city of Corona is fortunate to be home to one of their facilities, where residents throughout Riverside County can receive treatment," said Rep. Calvert. "The addition of an updated CT scanner will provide patients with an enhanced level of care. Cancer impacts far too many lives, but thanks to advanced equipment and treatments developed by the talented and compassionate health care professionals at City of Hope, we can offer life-saving care to more patients in our community."
"City of Hope is grateful for Congressman Ken Calvert's leadership in fighting for California's cancer patients," said Harlan Levine, M.D., City of Hope's president of strategy and business ventures. "His support for federal funding for a CT scanner in our soon-to-open, state-of-the-art Corona facility will help cancer patients in the Inland Empire receive personalized treatment and help expand access to City of Hope's high-quality oncology services for all Inland Empire residents."
The bill also includes $600,000 for the Loma Linda Mobile Emergency Operations Trailer project, which was requested by the Loma Linda University Medical Center – Murrieta. The requested funds would enable Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta to purchase a new, mobile emergency operations trailer and associated medical and functional equipment. The emergency assets would help the region better respond to emergency situations, disasters and other significant crisis events. The emergency operations trailer could also be deployed onsite in the Loma Linda University Medical Center Murrieta parking lot during incidents of unusually high volumes.
"The Loma Linda Mobile Emergency Operations Trailer project will provide our region with an improved capacity to respond in a time of crisis," said Rep. Calvert. "The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of preparing for a wide range of emergency scenarios. I'm grateful for the foresight of the Loma Linda University Medical Center – Murrieta to plan for meeting those future challenges."
"The COVID-19 pandemic taught us that disaster can strike at any time, and preparedness is key," said Kerry Heinrich, CEO of Loma Linda University Health hospitals. "This funding will strengthen our emergency management operations and disaster preparedness for the region. As we work to protect public safety, a new Mobile Emergency Operations Trailer will enable Loma Linda University Health to respond even more rapidly in the face of crises."
The bill also includes $500,000 for the Southwest Riverside County Regional Homeless Services project, which was requested by the city of Murrieta. The cities of Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, and Wildomar have joined together in a Regional Homeless Alliance. The requested funds will enable the Regional Homeless Alliance to provide additional case management and homeless outreach assistance.
"The Southwest Riverside County Regional Homeless Services project is a regional approach to addressing our homeless challenge and a proactive step by our local officials that is worthy of support," said Rep. Calvert. "The cities of Murrieta, Temecula, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, and Wildomar understand neither our community nor the homeless are well served when individuals or families are living on our streets or encampments. By addressing the unique mental health, drug abuse, and economic challenges of individual homeless people, and providing them with the corresponding assistance and services they need, we can make a positive impact."
"This potential funding would bring more than $1 million to our community to support essential services that address homelessness and emergency preparedness," said Murrieta Mayor Scott Vinton. "We are grateful to Congressman Calvert's office for this important work."