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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, By demonstrating strong and effective leadership, |
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Houston mayor Sylvester Turner has played a significant role in |
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guiding his community's response to Winter Storm Uri; and |
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WHEREAS, From February 14 through 19, 2021, Winter Storm Uri |
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brought heavy snow, ice, and bitterly cold temperatures to the city |
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of Houston; before the storm's arrival, Mayor Turner directed |
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resources toward preparing the city's infrastructure and conducted |
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daily news wire briefings from the Office of Emergency Management |
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with advice to citizens on how to protect themselves and their |
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property, and he converted a local convention center into a warming |
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shelter for people experiencing homelessness; while the storm |
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preparations and response were underway, Mayor Turner also |
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continued to lead the city's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and |
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provide guidance to the Houston Health Department's vaccination |
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program; and |
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WHEREAS, The winter storm resulted in massive power outages |
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that affected millions of households across the state, and in |
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Houston, a boil water advisory was issued due to water shortages and |
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low water pressure levels caused by the extreme weather; for |
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several days as the crisis continued, Mayor Turner organized the |
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distribution of nearly three million bottles of water, and he also |
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coordinated with the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities |
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and the Mayor's Health Equity Response Task Force to deliver food, |
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water, and other supplies to vulnerable individuals and families; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mayor Turner has used his platform to inform |
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Houstonians about the underlying causes of the disaster; he has |
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gone on to initiate a city council measure that would keep customers |
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from being hit with high water bills due to water leaks and burst |
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pipes, and he worked alongside Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo to |
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create the Houston Harris County Winter Storm Relief Fund, which |
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has raised more than $7 million to help cover the cost of repairing |
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damage to homes caused by the storm; and |
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WHEREAS, Mayor Sylvester Turner has set a commendable example |
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of public service during a challenging time for Texas' largest |
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city, and he is deserving of special recognition for all that he has |
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done to lessen the human impact and expedite Houston's recovery |
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from this historic weather event; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Mayor Sylvester Turner for his leadership |
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during Winter Storm Uri and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
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the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mayor Turner as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |