WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) is pressing the Biden Administration for a full audit of how COVID-19 vaccines are allocated to states and territories following reports that Texas is not receiving an adequate vaccine supply based on the state's population.
"Texas is getting shortchanged when it comes to vaccine allocation and it's unacceptable. We need answers and transparency, which is why I introduced legislation to obtain the formula being used to determine the allocation of COVID-19 vaccines. Unfortunately, House Democrats rejected that amendment, which is why I'm calling on the Biden Administration to provide this information immediately," said Crenshaw.
In a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Crenshaw requests the following information:
- Methodology the federal government is using to make direct allocations to the states and territories
- Vaccine allocations made directly to the states and territories under this methodology
- Comparison between total (to date) direct allocations to states and territories and total (to date) direct allocations to states and territories using the methodology prescribed by the federal government.
Click here to read the full letter.
Background
Crenshaw's letter comes following reports that outdated population data is being used to allocate COVID-19 vaccines to state's like Texas, which is improperly receiving less doses of the vaccine than it should be.
As the Houston Chronicle reported, Crenshaw "has repeatedly pushed for more transparency on how vaccine allocations are decided."
Crenshaw introduced an amendment during an Energy and Commerce markup on the COVID spending package to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to publish the formula the Secretary uses to determine the allocation of COVID-19 vaccines.
Every Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee rejected Crenshaw's transparency amendment during the markup.
Crenshaw has introduced legislation that is identical to the amendment. Crenshaw's legislation has not been scheduled for a vote or hearing from the Democrat majority.