January 19, 2022 -- During a news conference hosted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C. today, Mayor Sylvester Turner called for passage of the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
The entire news conference may be viewed here, and Mayor Turner's remarks begin at the 13:52 mark.
"We recognize that as mayors, we represent everyone in our cities, and we recognize the bedrock of democracy is the sacred right to vote," said Mayor Turner. "We can talk about infrastructure, homelessness, public safety, and the economy, but the fundamental right to vote is at the heart of all those issues. This is the moment, and this is the time, and I ask the U.S. Senate to protect voting rights."
Last week, the U.S. Conference of Mayors sent a letter, signed by 151 bipartisan mayors, to Senate leaders urging immediate action on the pending voting rights legislation. The letter stressed that American democracy is stronger when eligible voters participate in elections, yet voting rights are under historic attack and our very democracy is threatened.
Mayor Turner serves as a USCM trustee and is at the organization's 90th winter gathering to meet with key administration officials as the federal government is working to allocate billions of dollars to cities and states passed by Congress. Racial equity, infrastructure, pandemic relief, climate change, affordable housing are some of the issues that will be discussed.
"It is important that the City of Houston is represented in those conversations," said Mayor Turner.