Emilia Strong Sykes News

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) announced today that the state Controlling Board approved several items of note this week, including the allocation of more than $7 million in CARES Act funds. The assistance from the federal government will enhance the Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections’ COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, and pay DRC employees with a hazardous duty supplement. Additionally, The CARES Act funding will provide needed support for Ohio’s National Guard and State Defense Force members who are supporting the state’s COVID-19 response. The item also included $25.5 million for the Department of Education to provide grants for schools and $500,000 for the Department of Developmental Disabilities.

Democratic lawmakers walked out of the House Government Oversight Committee Thursday after the Republican chairman threatened to cut off testimony on House Bill 294, anti-voter legislation that would roll back ballot access and intentionally make the process more confusing for voters. 

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement on the passing of Otto Beatty Jr, a Columbus native and long-time state representative who served 18 years in the Ohio House.

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement on Gov. DeWine’s announcement Wednesday that the state would end all health orders effective June 2 and roll out series of million-dollar drawings to random vaccinated Ohioans.

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) today announced that House Bill (HB) 167, COVID-19 relief legislation that will deliver $465 million in direct aid for rent and utility assistance, was signed into law. House Democrats have called for rent and utility relief since the onset of the pandemic, introducing bills that would have created a program for immediate rental assistance, postponed evictions and foreclosures during the COVID-19 pandemic, and prevented utility shutoffs during an emergency.

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) recognizes the month of May as Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health is defined as a state of being that encompasses emotion and behavior, including how we deal with our stressors in life. This national movement aims to raise awareness on mental health by educating the public and advocating for policy centered around supporting individuals suffering with mental illness.  According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 2021’s theme is the message of “You are not alone”, which will bring focus to prioritizing one’s mental health and “acknowledging that it’s okay to not be okay”. 

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) joined Democrats in opposing a Republican resolution that would urge Congress not to pass HR 1, the For the People Act, federal pro-voter legislation that would protect the freedom to vote, prevent billionaires from buying influence in elections, and make sure voting options are equally accessible across all 50 states.

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) and House Finance Committee Ranking Member Rep. Erica C. Crawley (D-Columbus) issued statements today on the passage of a pair of bills, Senate Bills (SB) 108-109, which would direct $682 million in aid to Ohio businesses struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement today applauding the passage of House Bill (HB) 2, a long-held Democratic priority that would create the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Program, specifically designed to bring broadband access to unserved residential households in both rural and urban areas of the state. The bill funds $20 million in grants for this year. 

House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) announced today that the state Controlling Board approved several items of note this week, including $39 million to cover the administrative costs of running the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Unemployment Insurance programs.