Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) voted no on H.R. 8800, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027, after the SAVE America Act was added to the bill.
Sykes has opposed the SAVE act due to the barriers it would add for voters, including married women and older Americans.
“Republicans refuse to accept that their voter suppression tactics don’t pass the smell test and won’t make their way through Congress,” Sykes said in a press release. “Instead of focusing on the needs of the American people, like supporting our service members and strengthening our national security, they are obsessed with taking away Americans’ rights. I will always stand against those efforts.”
Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Bainbridge Township) voted yes on the bill in support of the efforts to improve service members’ quality of life.
“This bill ensures our military members are equipped with the tools they need to defend our nation, while also significantly improving the quality of life for them and their families,” Joyce said in a press release. “I am proud to support our service members with this bill, which includes multiple priorities I championed.”
The bill passed the House 216-212.
Bills brought forth from June 15 - August 15
Joyce and Congressman Lou Correa (CA-46) introduced the Providing Emotional Assistance with Relief and Love (PEARL) Act, requiring U.S. Customs and Border Protection to establish a program to adopt local animal shelter dogs and train them as support dogs for CBP’s Support Canine Program.
“Behind every border security mission are men and women who routinely face difficult and often traumatic situations in the line of duty. While the physical demands of the job are well known, the emotional toll is often overlooked,” Joyce said in a press release. “Expanding the Support Canine Program will provide an additional source of support for personnel, while giving dogs from local shelters a second chance to serve.”
Joyce and other colleagues also introduced the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2026, which would ensure state-legal cannabis businesses have access to financial and banking services.
“State-licensed cannabis businesses employ thousands of Americans and generate significant tax revenue, yet many remain effectively shut out of the traditional banking system,” Joyce said in a press release. “By introducing the SAFE Banking Act, Congress is showing its commitment to supporting small businesses and implementing commonsense cannabis policies that respect states’ rights to regulate the industry.”
Sykes reintroduced the Save Our Pedestrians Act, H.R. 9424 with Rep. Mike Carey (OH-15) June 24, to help improve pedestrian safety in rural, urban and suburban areas.
The act would require 5% of state appropriated funding through the Highway Safety Improvement Program be used for projects to reduce injuries at high-risk pedestrian crossings.
“As more pedestrians are injured and killed while walking in crosswalks and on streets without sidewalks, the need for commonsense solutions that help people move safely through their communities has never been greater,” Sykes said in a press release. “This legislation will save lives in Ohio’s 13th District and communities across the country.”
She introduced H.R. 9484, the Water Reservoir Transparency Act with Hillary Scholten (MI-03), which would require the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assess how commercial and industrial users are impacting water reservoirs as data centers expand across the country.
“With the increased concern about data centers’ water usage, this legislation will help us better understand the impact on our clean water supply,” Sykes said in a press release.
Additionally, Sykes advanced H.R. 9497, the Water Resources Development Act of 2026, which would invest in water infrastructure projects across the country.
“Strong water infrastructure is something every community depends on, and I’m proud to have fought for this bipartisan legislation that will help address critical needs in Northeast Ohio,” Sykes said in a press release. “From protecting access to clean water to supporting the infrastructure our communities rely on every day, these investments will help strengthen our region and improve quality of life for the people I represent.”
Gov. Mike DeWine signed Sen. Kristina Roegner’s (R-Hudson) S.B. 276 into law July 7, which enters Ohio into the Interstate Compact for School Psychologists.
Ohio will be required to offer licenses to school psychologists equivalent to another member state of the compact, as well as submit information regarding school psychologist licensees to the School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact Commission.
“Ohio students deserve timely access to the support and resources necessary for their well-being and academic success," Roegner said. “Senate Bill 276 reduces unnecessary barriers for licensed school psychologists while maintaining professional standards, helping schools recruit and retain qualified professionals who can meet the needs of students and families across our state.”
Rep. Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Township) and Rep. Heidi Workman (R-Rootstown) did not introduce any new bills.
But Workman did support State Issue 3, which would put the existing photo identification requirement to vote in elections in the Ohio Constitution.
The Ohio Ballot Board approved the ballot language of Senate Joint Resolution 10, which will appear as State Issue 3 on the November ballot for voters to decide. If approved, every in-person voter must show a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID.
“Ohioans deserve elections they can trust,” Workman said in a press release. “Requiring photo ID to vote is a simple, widely supported safeguard. Enshrining it in our Constitution ensures this protection stays in place for the long term, no matter who is in power, protecting election security for generations to come.”
How they’ve voted
Sykes voted no on H.R. 9770, the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2027, which would appropriate funds for federal agencies for the fiscal year 2027 at the same rate as fiscal year 2026 appropriations.
This would continue operations at Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection without additional safeguards or accountability measures.
“After ICE killed two more people earlier this month, Congress should not simply move forward as if nothing happened,” Sykes said in a press release. “Commonsense reforms such as judicial warrants, body cameras, limits on excessive force, and real oversight should not be controversial. They should be the bare minimum. Republicans need to get serious and meet the American people where they actually are.”
Joyce voted yes on the bill.
“As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, it is my responsibility to keep the government funded and working for the American people,” Joyce said in a press release. “Today’s passage of this continuing resolution supports that mission, enabling Congress to continue working to establish regular order in our government funding process.”
The bill passed the House 220-205.
Social media and community activity
Demetriou met with the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 70 in Portage County to discuss issues facing first responders and attended the Ohio Fraternal Order of Police State Conference July 20.
“I’ll always Back the Blue and stand with the men and women who put on the badge every day to keep our communities safe,” he said in a post.
Additionally, he posted about his endorsement from the National Federation of Independent Business Ohio PAC.
“I’ll always stand with Ohio’s small businesses and fight for policies that strengthen Main Street and grow our economy,” he said in a post.
He also posted about his endorsement from the Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters and ACT Ohio, an organization for Ohio’s union building and construction trades.