THA Honors Sen. Turner for Contributions to Health Care

HOUSTON (March 17, 2008) – State Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Houston) was honored with the Texas Hospital Advocacy Tribute award at a special March 17 reception at Spring Branch Medical Center in Houston. Texas Hospital Association President/CEO Dan Stultz, M.D., FACP, FACHE, presented the award to Rep. Turner in recognition of his legislative accomplishments on behalf of health care during the 80th Texas Legislature last year. 

Turner consistently uses his influence to protect the health of Texans by focusing on budgetary issues for Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and hospitals, noted Stultz. 

“Of the multitude of bills filed this session by legislators to restore budget cuts from 2003, Rep. Turner’s CHIP restoration bill was the only one to survive the gauntlet in the House and Senate and make it to the governor’s desk for his signature,” Stultz said. “Without his perseverance, it is very possible some 127,000 children in Texas would still be without health insurance.”

Turner serves as speaker pro tempore of the House and is a member of the Appropriations, Calendars and Regulated Industries committees. He also served on the budget conference committee.

“Rep. Turner has made a career of taking a stand on policies and issues that affect the common citizen, and he is considered one of hospitals’ staunchest allies in addressing the health care needs of Texas citizens,” Stultz said.

THA created the Texas Hospital Advocacy Tribute award in 1997 to honor state legislators and other public officials who demonstrate leadership on issues important to hospitals and health systems. Turner is one of nine recipients chosen from the 2007 legislative session.


Founded in 1930, the Texas Hospital Association is the leadership organization and principal advocate for the state’s hospitals and health care systems. Based in Austin, THA enhances its members’ abilities to improve accessibility, quality and cost-effectiveness of health care for all Texans. One of the largest hospital associations in the country, THA represents more than 85 percent of the state’s hospitals and health care systems, which employ some 340,000 health care professionals statewide.