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Do not fill this in! ===Health care=== A supporter of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA), Turner voted against joining the Interstate Health Care Compact, an alternative to traditional ACA participation,<ref>{{cite web|title=HB 5 β Interstate Health Care Compact β Key Vote|url=http://votesmart.org/bill/13575/35609/8018/interstate-health-care-compact#.VY17PflViko|website=Vote Smart}}</ref> and introduced legislation that would expand Medicaid in Texas pursuant to the ACA.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Aaronson|first1=Becca|title=House Panel Debates Medicaid Expansion Proposal|url=http://www.texastribune.org/2013/04/16/house-panel-considers-medicaid-expansion-proposal/|website=The Texas Tribune|date=April 16, 2013}}</ref> Turner warned fellow legislators about the potential backlash from constituents if the state chose not to expand Medicaid, which promised a significant return on the state's investment.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hearing highlights Medicaid expansion rift|url=http://www.statesman.com/news/news/hearing-highlights-medicaid-expansion-rift/nWmg8/|website=The Statesman|access-date=July 12, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924155016/http://www.statesman.com/news/news/hearing-highlights-medicaid-expansion-rift/nWmg8/|url-status=dead}}</ref> One of his major accomplishments in the House was legislation that expanded access to the children's health insurance program, which was passed in 2007.<ref name="The Honorable Sylvester Turner"/> Turner also passed legislation in 2015 that will free up funding for medical trauma care centers, which have not received the full amount of funds designated to be spent specifically on trauma centers. The legislation will bring $25 million to the Greater Houston area over the next two years, including $11 million to Ben Taub and $10 million to the Memorial Hermann.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Honorable Sylvester Turner|url=http://www.house.state.tx.us/news/member/press-releases/?id=5192|website=The History Makers|access-date=July 12, 2015|archive-date=July 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705212649/http://www.house.state.tx.us/news/member/press-releases/?id=5192|url-status=dead}}</ref> During the 84th Legislature, Turner introduced legislation that would provide care under Medicaid for people with severe and persistent mental illness and who are transitioning from an institution to the community, and who are at risk of institutionalization or re-institutionalization. Turner is a regular attendee of various public health programs, including contributions to [[COVID-19]] safety and community-based health care.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rozen |first=Sierra |date=December 13, 2021 |title=Texas Children's Hospital to partner with city of Houston for COVID-19 vaccine event |url=https://communityimpact.com/houston/heights-river-oaks-montrose/coronavirus/2021/12/13/texas-childrens-hospital-to-partner-with-city-of-houston-for-covid-19-vaccine-event/ |access-date=June 15, 2022 |website=impact |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |last=Management |first=Karya Property |date=May 18, 2021 |title=Houston Officially Welcomes the Karya Kares Clinic |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/05/18/2231947/0/en/Houston-Officially-Welcomes-the-Karya-Kares-Clinic.html |access-date=June 15, 2022 |website=GlobeNewswire News Room |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |last=Management |first=Karya Property |title=Karya Kares Donates Millions in Rental Assistance and PPE Funds to those Affected by COVID-19 |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/karya-kares-donates-millions-in-rental-assistance-and-ppe-funds-to-those-affected-by-covid-19-301058726.html |access-date=June 15, 2022 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref> ====Abortion==== Turner has long been an advocate for abortion rights. He voted against a measure requiring doctors to perform a sonogram on women seeking an abortion at least 24 hours before the procedures.<ref>{{cite web|title=HB 15 β Requires an Ultrasound Prior to an Abortion β Key Vote|url=http://votesmart.org/bill/12859/34871/8018/requires-an-ultrasound-prior-to-an-abortion#.VY2DxflViko|website=Vote Smart}}</ref> He has also fought to protect funding for family planning programs and Planned Parenthood.<ref>{{cite web|title=SB 7 β Health Care β Key Vote|url=http://votesmart.org/bill/13545/35505/8018/health-care#.VY1_pflViko|website=Vote Smart}}</ref> Turner also voted against a Senate version of a measure that banned abortions after 20 weeks and tightened standards on abortion clinics,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Grissom|first1=Brandi|title=Abortion, Protests, Transportation as Session Nears End|url=http://www.texastribune.org/2013/06/24/abortion-protests-redistricting-special-session-ne/|website=The Texas Tribune|date=June 24, 2013}}</ref> and also authored an amendment to the bill that would have required the state to pay the costs abortion clinics would incur on the measure to retrofit facilities so they could be certified as surgical centers.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tuma|first1=Mary|title=Anti-Abortion Bill Officially Advanced by House|url=http://www.sacurrent.com/Blogs/archives/2013/07/09/anti-abortion-bill-officially-advanced-by-house|website=San Antonio Current}}</ref> In 2013, the El Paso Times described Turner as a "lion of pro-abortion rights."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Schladen|first1=Marty|title=Texas state rep Bryan Hughes focused on abortion message|url=http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_23701512/state-rep-focused-pro-life-message|website=[[El Paso Times]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102041556/https://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_23701512/state-rep-focused-pro-life-message/ |archive-date=November 2, 2013 |date=July 12, 2013 |access-date=November 8, 2023}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. 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