Honoring the life and legacy of Congressman Sylvester Turner, a tireless champion of Houston's diverse communities.

Whereas Sylvester Turner was born and raised in Houston, Texas, earning his Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Houston and later a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School;

Whereas, in 1989, Sylvester Turner was elected to the Texas House of Representatives, beginning a distinguished 27-year career in the Texas House of Representatives;

Whereas Representative Turner was named Speaker pro tem of the Texas House in 2003, a position he would hold for 6 years;

Whereas, in 2015, Sylvester Turner was elected the 62nd mayor of Houston;

Whereas, throughout Mayor Turner’s tenure in office, he worked unwaveringly to improve economic opportunity, critical infrastructure, and public safety in Houston;

Whereas Mayor Turner led Houston through both Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and the COVID–19 pandemic, 2 of the most challenging moments in the city’s history;

Whereas, in 2023, Mayor Turner was elected to the United States House of Representatives; and

Whereas Representative Turner represented Texas 18th Congressional District, a seat previously held by trailblazers including Barbara Jordan, Mickey Leland, Craig Washington, and Sheila Jackson Lee: Now, therefore, be it