From his seat on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, over the weekend, U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, D-Fla., announced two grants totaling almost $690,000 to Pinellas County and the Community Health Centers of Pinellas from the Department of Health and Human Services.
The new grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)–which come to $689,094–will help Community Health Centers with COVID-19 testing. Earlier this summer, Crist announced $1.1 million for Pinellas County and Community Health Centers of Pinellas for COVID-19 testing.
“While COVID-19 positivity rates are declining in Pinellas, the virus is very much still with us – with the worst impacts disproportionately impacting low-income communities and people of color,” said Crist on Saturday.
“Community Health Centers are responding to this disparity by providing COVID-19 tests free of charge to all who need them. I am grateful to announce another $689,094 to the Community Health Centers of Pinellas and Pinellas County so we can continue to fight the virus and re-open our community safely,” Crist added.
First elected to Congress in 2016, Crist represents parts of Pinellas County. Crist faces Republican Anna Paulina Luna, an Air Force veteran and conservative activist, and write-in candidate Jacob Curnow in November.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
