FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

March 5, 2025

MEDIA CONTACT: 

e: jessica.myers@mail.house.gov

c: 202.913.0126

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement regarding the passing of the Honorable Congressman Sylvester Turner of Houston, Texas:

“I’m heartbroken to have learned of the passing of my friend and colleague, the good Congressman Sylvester Turner. Sylvester was a career public servant in the great state of Texas, who championed progress for decades in its House of Representatives and for 8 years as mayor of Houston. Throughout his political career, he stood tall as a stalwart advocate for our nation’s most vulnerable peoples and the causes that mattered most to them. Whether you were an immigrant, a woman, a Black American fighting for your right to prosper, or a gay American fighting for your right to love, Sylvester Turner was proudly and resolutely in your corner. Truly, his name will stand among the annals of Texas’ greatest leaders.

“During their season of bereavement, my condolences are with Congressman Turner’s family and loved ones, as well as the countless others he inspired over his lifetime of service and advocacy. My heart also goes out to the people of Houston, who only months ago said goodbye to another of their most dedicated public servants, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. May the leader who follows in their footsteps share the compassion, commitment, and drive of these two true giants of Texas’ history. And may Congressman Turner rest in power and rest in peace.”

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