Emilia Strong Sykes

Electoral integrity

Criminal justice

Fiscal policy

Healthcare

Education

Economy and labor

Environment and energy

Immigration

National security and foreign policy

Civil rights and liberties

Social policy

Technology and data

Civil liberties and government power

Government accountability and transparency

Infrastructure and public investment

Sykes recognized the National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM Middle School chess team as Ohio's 13th Congressional District's champion of the week after they won first and third place team trophies at the Ohio State Chess Championship on March 8.

Sykes addressed the House for 5 minutes on Tax Day, discussing how families in Ohio's 13th Congressional District are experiencing high costs for groceries, gas, rent, and healthcare despite promised tax relief, and introduced the Lowering Your Taxes Act to expand earned income and child tax credits and the No Tax on Overtime for All Workers Act.

Sykes spoke on behalf of Ohio's 13th Congressional District to mark the 16th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act and called attention to the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits on January 1, stating that families in her district are experiencing premium increases of hundreds of dollars per month.

Sykes recognized Jada Haines as Ohio's 13th Congressional District's Champion of the Week for her work coaching and mentoring young women student-athletes with Ladies First Akron.

Sykes recognized the Archbishop Hoban girls' basketball team as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champions of the Week after they won the Division II State title with a 72-64 victory over a previously undefeated opponent.

Sykes addressed the House for 5 minutes to discuss the deaths of American servicemembers in a aircraft crash over Iraq, including three Ohio National Guard members, and the economic costs of the conflict with Iran.

Sykes addressed the House for 5 minutes about Kent State University's role in expanding Negro History Week into Black History Month in 1970, six years before it became a national observance.

Sykes rose to recognize the recipients of the 2026 Women's History Project Woman of the Year Awards from Summit County, Ohio, including constituent advocate Khatonia Ford who received the Woman to Watch award.

Sykes introduced the Railroad Safety and Accountability Act to protect labor and public interest voices in rail safety decisions.

Sykes reported that a survey of more than 2,000 constituents in Ohio's 13th district identified protecting Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare as the top priority, followed by lowering costs of living and eliminating government corruption.

Sykes recognized Akron Fire Department Lieutenant Dave Ewers, retired Akron Firefighter Mark Harper, and Lynx EMS worker Dominic Bagnoli as Ohio's 13th Congressional District champions of the week for administering CPR and lifesaving support to a man who went into cardiac arrest at a roller skating rink in Jackson Township, Ohio.

Sykes introduced the HOMES Act last summer, which cracks down on investors buying 50 or more single-family homes.

Sykes recognized Conrad Piero, a Walmart loss prevention specialist in Canton, Ohio, as her district's Champion of the Week for disarming a suspect who pointed a gun at a police officer on December 18.

Sykes stated that families in Ohio's 13th Congressional District are paying higher healthcare premiums after enhanced ACA premium tax credits expired on December 31, 2025, and said she fought to protect these credits by cosponsoring legislation to extend them and signing onto Leader Jeffries' discharge petition.

Sykes honored Peter George, the Akron Public Schools mascot known as Gilby, as Ohio's 13th Congressional District's Champion of the Week for his 25 years of service bringing joy to children through the mascot costume.

Sykes honored Kaxten McGrew, Bastian Nowak, and Luke Hinkelman as winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for Ohio's 13th Congressional District for their app called Eagle Express, which tracks and manages a school's token-based incentive program.

Sykes rose to recognize Sergeant Cody Dollinger, Officer Adam Knam, Officer Michael Foltz, and firefighter-paramedic Eli Bosler of the North Canton Police and Fire Departments as champions of the week for their bravery in rescuing a wounded woman during an armed incident on October 9.

Sykes recognized Reese Gallagher, a senior at Archbishop Hoban High School, as the champion of the week for Ohio's 13th Congressional District, highlighting her achievement as the Girls' Division III Player of the Year in soccer and her 4.1 GPA.

Sykes addressed the House for 5 minutes to discuss rising costs of everyday life including groceries, utilities, and healthcare for families in Ohio's 13th Congressional District, and stated she is working to lower healthcare costs, bring down energy and food expenses, and support job creation.

Sykes proposed amendments to H.R. 3838 that would require the U.S. Government to use retreaded tires when possible and support research into civilian applications of airships for national defense, cargo transportation, disaster response, and humanitarian aid.

Sykes spoke in opposition to the fiscal year 2026 Energy and Water appropriations bill, citing concerns about cuts to the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and inadequate funding for water infrastructure authorities in Ohio's 13th Congressional District.

Sykes addressed the House for 5 minutes to discuss the third anniversary of the Dobbs decision, describing its effects on reproductive healthcare access in Ohio and referencing a recent anti-abortion bill introduced by Ohio House members that would ban nearly all abortions and criminalize doctors.

Sykes addressed the House for 1 minute during Gun Violence Awareness Month, discussing a 2019 mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio, the 2023 death of Megan Keleman in her district, and calling for passage of commonsense gun safety legislation including enhanced background checks and an assault weapons ban.

Sykes recognized Captain Michelle Wiltrout as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week for her 32-year career with the Summit County Sheriff's Office, including being the first woman to run a State of Ohio Narcotics Taskforce and the first woman to receive Taskforce Commander of the Year.

Sykes recognized Mira Cahalane as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week for winning best actress at the 10th annual Dazzle Awards for her performance in "Hadestown: Teen Edition" at Hudson High School.

Sykes addressed the House for 5 minutes to discuss how tariff policies have increased costs for EarthQuaker Devices, a guitar effect pedal manufacturer in Akron, Ohio, by $500,000 and forced the company to consider offshoring its manufacturing.

Sykes spoke for 1 minute in the House about how the GOP tax bill would hurt women and families, specifically highlighting the story of Mariah Stacy Frederick from Ohio's 13th Congressional District, whose daughter with spina bifida relies on Medicaid, and stated her intention to fight to protect Medicaid funding.

Sykes recognized the University of Akron Women's Lacrosse team and their coach Elaine Jones as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champions of the Week after they won the Mid-American Conference Lacrosse Championship.

Sykes reintroduced the Mental Health Improvement Act, a bipartisan bill to provide tens of millions of dollars annually to expand the behavioral health workforce by training, recruiting, and retaining mental health professionals across the country.

Sykes recognized Addelynn Ferguson, a junior from Portage Lakes Career Center in Uniontown, Ohio, as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week for winning the Congressional Art Competition with her portrait titled "Lollipop."

Sykes stated that she was proud to support the Social Security Fairness Act as a cosponsor, sign the discharge petition to bring it to the House floor, and vote for it on behalf of her constituents in Ohio's 13th District.

Beagle Brigade Act of 2023 — This bill advances government transparency by requiring the Department of Agriculture to report to Congress on threats to agriculture and natural resources.

DETECT Fentanyl and Xylazine Act of 2024 — This bill supports national security by authorizing the Department of Homeland Security to develop better technology for detecting dangerous drugs at borders and ports of entry.

Jamul Indian Village Land Transfer Act — This bill advances Native American sovereignty and self-determination by transferring land to tribal control, supporting the civil right of indigenous peoples to govern their own territories.

Never Again Education Reauthorization Act of 2023 — This bill supports Holocaust education programs by extending federal authorization and funding for educational initiatives through 2030.

Midnight Rules Relief Act — This bill makes it easier for Congress to overturn multiple regulations at once during presidential transitions, which could reduce executive branch accountability by allowing rapid reversal of rules without individual scrutiny.

Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 — This bill extends and updates federal programs that protect endangered wildlife species and their habitats through conservation funding and partnerships.

Sykes honored the Archbishop Hoban Knights varsity golf team and senior Chris Pollack as the Ohio 13th Congressional District's Champion of the Week for winning the Division I State championship with a 17-stroke victory and an individual state title score of 142.

Sykes rose to recognize Detective Matthew King of the North Canton Police Department as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week and commended his service to the community.

Sykes rose to recognize The Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps as Ohio's 13th Congressional District Champion of the Week after they won the Drum Corps International World Championships on August 7th, 2024, with a score of 98.75 out of 100.

Creating Confidence in Clean Water Permitting Act — This bill streamlines the permitting process for dredging and filling activities in U.S. waters, potentially making it easier to conduct these projects but risking reduced environmental protections.

Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act of 2023 — This bill strengthens national security by reducing Chinese government influence over U.S. shipping infrastructure and giving federal authorities more power to prevent foreign manipulation of maritime commerce.

Expressing the sense of Congress that a carbon tax would be detrimental to the United States economy. — This bill opposes a carbon tax as economically harmful, taking a stance against a potential revenue-raising or economy-regulating tax policy.

Denouncing the harmful, anti-American energy policies of the Biden administration, and for other purposes. — This bill opposes environmental regulations on energy production and federal lands while promoting increased domestic fossil fuel development.

Restoring American Energy Dominance Act — This bill would block new environmental protections and climate provisions for oil and gas leasing on public lands, favoring fossil fuel extraction over energy transition goals.

Restoring American Energy Dominance Act — This bill would block new environmental protections and climate provisions for oil and gas leasing on public lands, favoring fossil fuel extraction over energy transition goals.

Protecting American Energy Production Act — This bill would protect fossil fuel extraction through fracking by preventing the President from restricting it without Congress approval and prioritizing state over federal environmental regulation.

Protecting American Energy Production Act — This bill would protect fossil fuel extraction through fracking by preventing the President from restricting it without Congress approval and prioritizing state over federal environmental regulation.

Condemning the illegal abduction and forcible transfer of children from Ukraine to the Russian Federation. — This bill strengthens the U.S. position on a major foreign conflict by formally condemning Russian actions against Ukrainian children and supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression.

Upholding the Dayton Peace Agreement Through Sanctions Act — This bill uses sanctions to protect the stability and democracy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, advancing U.S. foreign policy interests in maintaining peace in a strategically important region.

Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act — This bill would restrict or ban applications controlled by foreign adversaries like China from operating in the United States to protect national security and prevent foreign surveillance of Americans.

Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2024 — This bill extends federal funding and authorization for airport infrastructure programs and aviation services, supporting continued public investment in transportation infrastructure.

Extension of Continuing Appropriations and Other Matters Act, 2024 — This bill authorizes federal spending to keep government operating and funds student aid programs, representing a decision to maintain current spending levels rather than make cuts or increases.

DOE and SBA Research Act — This bill would advance the economy and labor pillar by fostering collaboration between federal agencies to support research and development activities that include small businesses, potentially creating innovation and job opportunities.