A trio of Texas officeholders lifted a grant moratorium on an embattled State agency.

On Wednesday, Governor Rick Perry, Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, and Speaker Joe Straus authorized the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas to resume grant operations and finalize remaining contracts.

The decision came after a strict review of the agency’s processes and the passage of major reforms to the agency during the 83rd Regular Session.

The moratorium has been in place since December 2012.

A hold was placed on all CPRIT grants activities following concerns about the processes and operations of the agency.

Earlier this year, Perry signed Senate Bill 149, which set forth checks and balances and introduced major reforms to the agency, including a new CPRIT Oversight Committee.

“With the new oversight committee and critical reforms in place, CPRIT can continue its lifesaving work with greater transparency, accountability, and integrity,” said Perry.

CPRIT was created by the Legislature and approved by voters in a Texas Constitutional amendment, which authorized the state to issue $3 billion in bonds to fund the research and prevention programs.

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