Emilia Strong Sykes

Rep. Sykes Helps Advance Bipartisan Transportation Reauthorization Through Two House Committees | U.S. Congresswoman Emilia Sykes

Position: Rep. Sykes voted to advance bipartisan transportation reauthorization legislation that includes rail safety improvements following the Norfolk Southern derailment, emergency response preparedness measures, and a feasibility study requirement for passenger rail expansion to the Akron-Canton region.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) voted in both the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology to advance critical transportation legislation, including many of her bills and priorities. H.R. 8748, the BUILD America 250 Act now heads to the full House for consideration. “In Ohio, we are affectionately known as the heart of it all, and a big reason why is our transportation network that connects us to the rest of the country,” said Rep. Sykes. “I am proud to have championed several key initiatives in this bill that will strengthen Northeast Ohio’s infrastructure by increasing rail safety standards, improving emergency response preparedness, and protecting our communities.” The legislation reauthorizes several critical transportation programs, and includes several rail safety priorities championed by Rep. Sykes following the 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The bill includes provisions to: Rep. Sykes also fought for several other key provisions of the bill to improve infrastructure for Northeast Ohio, including: Rep. Sykes also introduced an amendment, which was adopted, that would require the Federal Railroad Administration to conduct a feasibility study to expand passenger rail service to Akron and Canton. “For far too long, the Akron-Canton region has been left out of conversations about expanding passenger rail service, despite the enormous economic and transportation opportunities it could bring to our communities,” said Rep. Sykes. “Securing this feasibility study requirement is an important and long-overdue first step toward connecting our region to expanded intercity passenger rail service. Improved rail access has the potential to boost economic development, create jobs, increase tourism, and provide residents with more affordable and reliable transportation options. I have consistently fought to ensure Akron and Canton have a seat at the table in Ohio’s transportation future, and I will continue working alongside local, state, and federal partners to move this effort forward.” Currently, the announced Amtrak 3-C+D and Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit Corridor plans do not adequately serve Eastern Ohio, leaving behind a significant population that could benefit from the inclusion of passenger rail. The Akron-Canton region is the fourth largest region in Ohio and the only large metropolitan area without a proposed passenger rail line. This feasibility study is a big, long-awaited first step in what is required to bring passenger rail to the Akron-Canton region. Rep. Sykes has long fought for this feasibility study and advocated for the expansion of passenger rail to this region. In September, she sent a letter to Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Transportation Director Pamela Boratyn expressing concern for the lack of inclusion of a feasibility study of a passenger rail stop in the Akron-Canton region in the draft of the 2025 State of Ohio Rail Plan. Last May, Rep. Sykes questioned Matthew Dietrich, Executive Director of the Ohio Rail Development Commission, on this topic during a House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials titled “America Builds: Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Federal Rail Assistance.” During the 118th Congress, Rep. Sykes sent a letter to Congressional leadership in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives expressing strong support for the expansion of Amtrak service in the Akron-Canton Region. Rep. Sykes also led a letter in the 118th Congress that was signed by Ohio delegation members Reps. Marcy Kaptur (OH-11), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Dave Joyce (OH-14), Shontel Brown (OH-11), and Greg Landsman (OH-01) urging then-Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) Director Jack Marchbanks to include a passenger rail service development plan for a stop in the Akron-Canton Regional Airport (CAK) or another location in the Akron-Canton area in the 2024 State of Ohio Transportation Plan. Rep. Sykes offered an amendment to include her newly introduced Truck Stop Safety Act, legislation to expand access to critical safety information at truck stops and rest areas nationwide. The amendment was adopted. The bill applies to federally funded projects involving the construction, reopening, or improvement of roadside facilities. It requires clear, visible signage with information on human trafficking awareness — including warning signs and reporting resources — as well as suicide prevention support through the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, emphasizing that services are free, confidential, and available 24/7. Rep. Sykes offered the following amendments that were adopted: Additionally, Rep. Sykes offered the following amendments that were not adopted: Separately, Rep. Sykes led the research portions of the BUILD America 250 Act during markup in the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, where the legislation was approved and reported out of committee.

Rep. Sykes Votes Against Politicized Women’s History Museum Bill | U.S. Congresswoman Emilia Sykes

Position: Rep. Sykes opposed H.R. 1329 because House Republicans altered the bipartisan women's history museum bill to give executive control over museum content and location, undermining the museum's independence and breaking from the original bipartisan framework.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Vice Chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC), voted against H.R. 1329, the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum Act, after House Republicans undermined a years-long bipartisan effort to advance the museum. The bill failed by a vote of 204-216. “Women deserve to tell their own stories. For years, my DWC colleagues and I worked with Republicans on a bipartisan bill to get the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum across the finish line. This fight was rooted in the shared belief that women’s history and women’s stories are integral to who we are as a nation,” said Rep. Sykes. “But then, with no warning, Republicans completely changed the bill, throwing away years of bipartisan work and broad support. They amended the bill to give Trump and his allies unregulated power over what content and which women can be included in the museum, and the museum’s location. A museum about women, fought for and supported by women, should not be controlled by one man. “The fact that this bill was rejected by both Democrats and Republicans sends a powerful message: women’s history is American history and cannot be politicized. However, the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum is still long overdue. The bill must be restored to the bipartisan version we fought for so we can get the long-awaited museum on our National Mall.” In 2020, Congress authorized both the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum and the National Museum of the American Latino with broad bipartisan support. Since then, lawmakers from both parties have worked to advance legislation establishing museum sites and other key details, including the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act. The legislation had long enjoyed bipartisan support, but in March, House Republicans rewrote the bill in committee with a partisan amendment that changed its direction. The amendment added political restrictions, undermined the museum’s independence, and broke from the bipartisan framework that had guided the effort. Following those changes, Rep. Sykes and her DWC colleagues sent a letter to Speaker Johnson urging him to restore the original bipartisan bill and advance it alongside H.R. 1330, the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act.

Rep. Sykes calls for heightened training for ICE officers before they can be deployed | U.S. Congresswoman Emilia Sykes

Position: Rep. Sykes advocates for legislation requiring ICE officers to complete at least 67 days of training and annual scenario-based training in de-escalation, crisis intervention, and related areas before performing immigration enforcement duties.

WASHINGTON - Immigration officers would be required to complete annual scenario-based training in de-escalation, crisis intervention, and other areas, and meet minimum training requirements before they can undertake enforcement duties under a new legislative proposal from U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes. The Akron Democrat’s “Critical Operation Oversight of Law Enforcement Intervention and Training Act,” or the COOL IT Act, is a response to complaints that ICE dramatically shortened its training program for new recruits — from a previous standard of roughly 100 days down to 42 days — as the agency nearly doubled its officer corps to approximately 22,000 agents. Her legislation would also amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to require that “an immigration officer or employee shall be required to complete not less than 67 days of training” before performing immigration enforcement duties. ICE is reportedly preparing to end its shortened training program and return to a 72-day training regimen for new hires. Concerns about ICE officers’ training standards rose to the fore after high profile incidents during recent immigration crackdowns, including the January 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old Minneapolis woman, by an ICE agent during an enforcement operation. Sykes’ bill, which was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, would give the Secretary of Homeland Security 90 days from enactment to develop the training curriculum the law requires. The curriculum would be required to address improving community-police relations, officer safety, officer resilience, situational awareness, physical and emotional responses to stress, critical decision-making and problem-solving, de-escalation, use of force and deadly force, and crisis intervention. DHS would be required to consult with “relevant professional law enforcement associations, community-based organizations, and defense and national security agencies” in developing and disseminating the curriculum, and to provide technical assistance to agencies seeking to implement it. The department would also be required to “evaluate best practices of scenario-based training methods and curriculum content to maintain state-of-the-art expertise in scenario-based learning methodology” and to develop a certification process for officers who complete the training. A report to Congress would be due within 180 days of enactment covering the benefits and barriers to delivering the curriculum and recommendations for improving officer access to scenario-based training. “In high-pressure situations, proper training can make all the difference,” Sykes said in a statement accompanying the bill’s introduction. “This bill is about reducing unnecessary conflict, improving outcomes, and raising standards for everyone involved.” The bill received an endorsement from Third Way, a center-left think tank. “Americans deserve immigration enforcement that is serious, disciplined, and worthy of public confidence,” said Sarah Pierce, Third Way’s Director of Social Policy. “That starts with making sure every officer carrying out immigration enforcement — whether federal, state, or local — is trained for the actual situations they will face in the field.”

Ahead of RFK Jr. Visit to Northeast Ohio, Rep. Sykes Highlights Bipartisan Efforts to Improve Nutrition and Lower Health Costs | U.S. Congresswoman Emilia Sykes

Position: Rep. Sykes supports expanding access to nutritious foods through programs like food farmacies, protecting and expanding SNAP benefits, and addressing nutrition as a root cause of chronic disease. She opposes cuts to food assistance programs.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of a planned visit to Northeast Ohio by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) is highlighting her bipartisan work to expand access to healthy foods, lower costs, and address the root causes of chronic disease for Ohio families. “Making America healthy starts with making sure families can actually afford and access nutritious food,” said Rep. Sykes. “That’s why I’ve worked across the aisle to expand access to healthy meals, support local farmers, and tackle the root causes of chronic disease. While some are focused on rhetoric, I’m focused on results — lowering grocery costs, protecting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and investing in proven programs that prevent illness before it starts. Efforts to cut food assistance or ignore the role nutrition plays in health will only make families sicker and drive up costs. If we’re serious about improving health in this country, we need real solutions that meet people where they are, and that’s exactly what I’m doing for Northeast Ohio.” This includes ensuring families can afford and access fresh, nutritious foods like fruits and vegetables, rather than solely relying on cheaper, highly processed options that often dominate grocery shelves and contribute to long-term health challenges. Rep. Sykes has advanced practical, evidence-based solutions to improve health outcomes and lower costs. Her bipartisan Food Farmacy Act would expand access to healthy foods and nutritional guidance, helping prevent and manage chronic conditions. While serving in the Ohio State House of Representatives, Rep. Sykes secured state funding for the creation of a pilot program to establish food farmacies in Summit County, Ohio. The $1 million grant supported the creation of three food farmacies at Akron Children’s Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, and Summa Health System with the support of Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank. In 2024 alone, the Akron Children’s Hospital Food Farmacy provided more than 130,000 meals to more than 21,000 individuals. She is also a co-sponsor of the Restoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act, which would repeal harmful SNAP cuts included in Republicans’ “One Big Beautiful Bill” and help families afford groceries. Since the Big Ugly Bill was passed, SNAP participation in Ohio has declined from 1,389,247 in July 2025 to 1,292,669 in December 2025, a loss of nearly 94,000 residents receiving assistance during a period of continued high food costs. Rep. Sykes is also focused on strengthening food safety and transparency so families know what is in the food they are buying and can trust that it meets strong, consistent public health standards. During consideration of the Farm Bill, Rep. Sykes introduced amendments incorporating her Food Farmacy Act, INFANTS Act, Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act, and Feed Our Families Act to expand access to safe, affordable food, but House Republicans refused to allow them to be considered. Rep. Sykes also led a bipartisan letter calling for stronger federal coordination to address the link between diet and chronic disease. Rep. Sykes remains focused on delivering results for Northeast Ohio families by lowering costs, improving access to nutrition and care, and advancing bipartisan solutions to build healthier communities.

Rep. Sykes Announces Nearly $4.2 Million to Support Community Health in Summit and Stark Counties | U.S. Congresswoman Emilia Sykes

AKRON, OH - Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded a total of $4,178,319 to two health centers in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District. My Community Health Center in Canton will receive $983,333 and Axesspointe Community Health Center Inc. in Akron will receive $3,194,986. “Community health centers are essential for public health, especially in Northeast Ohio. As healthcare costs continue to rise, these organizations can be the difference between life and death for some families,” said Rep. Sykes. “Investing in these programs is vital to keep our communities strong.” “We are grateful for the continued commitment of Congresswoman Emilia Sykes in securing funding for our health center—an essential investment in the health and well-being of our community. This support helps ensure access to critical health services and allows individuals and families to receive timely, high-quality care when they need it most,” said Mark Frisone, Executive Director of Axess Family Services. This grant will help both organizations, as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), continue to provide quality, evidence-based care to individuals regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Both organizations as FQHCs are nonprofits, focusing on providing healthcare to people who would otherwise not be able to afford it. They offer essential services, including primary care, behavioral health treatment, and pharmaceutical care to over 40,000 patients combined.

U.S. Congresswoman Emilia Sykes

Position: Congresswoman Sykes supports advancing quantum technology applications in biomedical research and strengthening the quantum workforce through the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act, which includes her Quantum for Health Act and Support for Quantum Supply Chains Act.

This week, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology passed the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act, which includes two bills led by Congresswoman Sykes, focused on advancing healthcare innovation and strengthening the quantum workforce. The National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act includes Congresswoman Sykes’ Quantum for Health Act, which would expand the use of quantum technology in biomedical research and find new treatments, and the Support for Quantum Supply Chains Act, which would support the next generation of quantum workers. These bipartisan efforts are about making sure cutting-edge technology translates into real-world benefits for patients and families. Ohio is leading the way on quantum innovation and Congresswoman Sykes will keep working to ensure we build on that leadership and deliver results for our communities.

Family of Streetsboro teen lost to sextortion pushes Congress for 1st federal law | U.S. Congresswoman Emilia Sykes

Position: Rep. Sykes supports passage of The James T. Woods Act, bipartisan federal legislation that would criminalize sextortion, establish the first federal law against sadistic online exploitation, and strengthen laws addressing child sexual abuse material.

STREETSBORO, Ohio — We have a new update on a story we’ve been closely following for years. In November 2022, Tamia and Tim Woods’ lives forever changed when their son, James, took his life after they discovered he was a victim of sextortion. Since then, the couple has turned their pain into passion by starting a foundation in James’ honor and giving hundreds of presentations to schools and organizations to raise awareness and save lives. They even advocated for a state law passed in Ohio that now makes sextortion a crime. Now, the family wants to pass tougher federal laws. If passed, Tamia Woods said The James T. Woods Act would be the first federal law for sextortion, the first federal law for sadistic online exploitation and it would create stronger laws for children’s sexual abuse material. “It would be an amazing start to making sure that people are held accountable for exploiting our children especially online and through the online social media avenues,” said Tamia Woods. When it comes to James Woods, Tamia Woods said this fight is personal. “When James passed away, I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know how to feel. I lost my only child. I asked God to give me strength and understanding, and I always say, he told me he did one better. He gave me strength, understanding and the ability to teach and advocate,” said Woods. Back in December, Woods said she and her husband met before the Senate Judiciary Committee to tell members about their son. “They heard our witness statements that happened on December 9, and then we received a call in February stating the actual laws that they had introduced in December will be up to vote and they decided to name it The James T. Woods Act,” said Woods. News 5 asked Woods what was running through her mind when they called and told her this information. “I cried,” she said. “Sometimes I think we forget how seen we are and how much other people hear us.” Now, Woods is hopeful the James T. Woods Act will be brought to the floor for a vote, thanks to lawmakers like U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (OH-13), who sent a letter urging House and Senate leadership to take action on the bipartisan legislation. In a press release statement, Sykes said, “Our children should not be left unprotected – and James should still be with us today. Congress cannot wait any longer to act to hold those responsible accountable – and The James T. Woods Act is a critical step in the right direction.” “A lot of her has helped not only on the government stance but has also made sure that we were in front of community events as well,” said Woods. When News 5 asked Woods about her next steps, she said she’s waiting for it to get on the floor and then pass. “Hopefully, we will have it passed before they go into recess. However, we’re not stopping,” said Woods. “We have people fighting for our children all over the world, and we will come together and hold each other’s hands and protect our children.”