In a bipartisan display of unity, Harris County Commissioners voted unanimously today to place a $2.5 billion hospital bond measure on the November 7 ballot to expand access to healthcare for more than 1,175,000 uninsured residents. The funds will benefit Harris Health System, the county’s hospital district.

If approved by the voters, the bonds will fund the construction of a new Level I-capable trauma center outside the Texas Medical Center, replacing the current Harris Health Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) Hospital, adding new community-based clinics in high-need areas, and providing the necessary investments into Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital to extend its life span.

Bob Eury, Treasurer of Healthy Harris County, a new political action committee formed to pass the bond measure, said: “A vote FOR the bonds will mean major benefits for Harris County, including expanding access to high quality and affordable healthcare, thousands of new jobs, and hundreds of millions of dollars in positive economic impact.”

Election Day is November 7, 2023. Early voting runs from October 23 through November 3. Learn more at www.HealthyHarrisCounty.com. Follow Healthy Harris County on Twitter at @HealthyHCounty.

The hospital bond measure has already gained county-wide, bipartisan support:

County Commissioner Rodney Ellis said: “Harris Health System is a lifeline for our most vulnerable populations. By supporting the Harris Health bond initiative, we can ensure the continued success of facilities like the renowned Ben Taub Hospital, one of only two Level 1 trauma centers in our region.”

County Commissioner Adrian Garcia said: “As someone who was a public health baby, I’ve seen firsthand how access to care represents a critical element in the development of our younger generation to be a healthy part of our future economy. I urge everyone to vote in favor of the Harris Health Bond in this upcoming election.”

County Commissioner Lesley Briones said: “I’m proud to have voted in favor of placing the Harris Health Bond onto the November 7, 2023 ballot so that voters can have their voices heard on this measure. If approved, the bond would fund construction of a new LBJ hospital, renovations at the current LBJ and Ben Taub hospitals, and create three new outpatient care facilities.”

The Greater Houston Partnership said: “Since the LBJ and Ben Taub hospitals were completed over three decades ago, the population of Harris County has increased by more than 2 million. The Greater Houston Partnership supports the efforts of Harris Health to ensure residents continue to have access to quality care in the years to come at these facilities and throughout Harris Health’s network of care.”

The Houston Police Officers Union said: “The leadership of the Houston Police Officers’ Union (HPOU) fully supports and endorses Harris Health’s strategic facilities plan and bond proposal, a watershed moment for public healthcare in our community that will significantly impact the business and civic interests in our region for decades to come.”

The Harris County Medical Society said: “The Harris County Medical Society supports the $2.5 billion bond proposal for the Harris Health System. The Harris Health System’s Master Facilities Plan is an investment in the health and well-being of the entire Harris County Community.”

The Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce said: “The Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce fully supports and endorses Harris Health’s strategic facilities plan and bond proposal, to meet the growing demand of greater Houston, expected to grow to nearly 5 million residents including 1.5 million uninsured or underinsured, by 2050.

The Metropolitan Organization said: “The Metropolitan Organization (TMO) is a forty-year old coalition of congregations and community organizations which are located throughout Harris County and the Metro Houston area, and has long worked to improve access to healthcare for the hundreds of thousands of working people and their families who are uninsured or underinsured by their employers and in need of preventive, primary, emergency and hospital care from time to time. TMO fully supports and endorses Harris Health’s strategic facilities plan and bond proposal.”