U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) and U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-Bainbridge Township) have taken opposite stances on the Republicans’ federal budget reconciliation bill — dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Sykes made statements and spoke on the House floor in opposition to the bill, which would “cut $300 billion from food assistance programs while also putting the health care of 13.7 million people in jeopardy.”
“If this version of the Reconciliation bill as written becomes law, an estimated 27,896 people in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District are at risk of losing health care coverage, including 17,696 people who receive Medicaid coverage and 10,200 people who receive coverage under the Affordable Care Act,” she stated in a news release.
Sykes proposed eight amendments, none of which passed, and voted against the bill. It passed the House on May 22 and was sent to the Senate.
Joyce voted in favor of the bill and issued a statement in support.
“This legislation delivers on President Trump’s agenda, which was overwhelmingly endorsed by the American people. It unleashes American energy production, invests in border security, bolsters military readiness, and extends the 2017 tax cuts,” he said in a prepared statement. “At the same time, this bill safeguards critical federal programs to ensure they work for those who need it most. This legislation will allow us to enter a new age of economic growth where American families come first.”
Reconciliation bills are subject to an expedited process that prohibits filibusters and limits amendments in the Senate. The bill would increase the statutory debt limit and address financial matters for a wide range of federal agencies and programs.
The Senate Finance Committee’s recently released draft includes:
- An increase to the standard tax deductions with $16,000 for individuals and $32,000 for married couples who file jointly.
- Elimination of tax credits for wind and solar projects with a longer phase-out than the House proposal.
- An 80-hours-a-month work requirement for adults without disabilities on Medicaid, which matches the House version. The Senate, however, would exempt parents with children under age 14.
Bills brought forth (from April 23 to June 4)
Sen. Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) sponsored Senate Bill 193, which was referred to the transportation committee in May, to designate a portion of state Route 241 as “Captain Joshua Michael McClimans Memorial Highway.” Rep. Jack K. Daniels (R-New Franklin) and Rep. Bill Roemer (R-Richfield) introduced the similar House Bill 259.
Both bills propose naming the route between Nichols Road and International Parkway in Summit County for McClimans and installing identifying markers. McClimans was a 30-year-old Army captain from Akron who was killed in 2011 while serving as a nurse in Afghanistan.
State Rep. Heidi Workman (R-Rootstown), in partnership with Rep. Phil Plummer (R-Dayton), introduced House Bill 302 to establish digital age verification and parental control standards.
The bill was introduced in late May and referred to the judiciary committee. It would require application developers to provide parental controls, make an effort to determine whether a user is a minor, limit access to content “unsuitable to minors,” and refrain from personalized advertising to minors.
Similar requirements would apply to application distributors, operating system providers, internet browsers and search engines. It would not take effect until a year after passage.
“We’ve all seen the risks kids face online — whether it’s exposure to explicit content, manipulative advertising, or interactions with strangers,” Workman said in a prepared statement. “HB 302 is a thoughtful and effective response. It creates a collaborative system where app stores provide secure infrastructure, developers apply age-appropriate safeguards, and parents stay in control of their children’s experience.”
Joyce sponsored a bill, which was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in May, that would amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize nursing workforce development programs. It would update some language in the act and authorize appropriations for the programs between fiscal years 2026 and 2030.
Sykes sponsored two bills in May — the Mental Health Improvement Act and the Law Enforcement Scenario-Based Training for Safety and De-Escalation Act of 2025.
The mental health proposal would reauthorize mental and behavioral health education and training grants for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 by amending the applicable years in the Public Health Service Act.
The law enforcement act would authorize the U.S. Attorney General to create a training curriculum to improve community-police relations and address officer safety, uses of force, crisis intervention and other scenarios. A grant program to provide law enforcement agencies with the training also would be established.
Both bills were in committees in early June.
How they’ve voted
Sykes and Joyce voted in favor of numerous bills from late April through May, with both supporting the TAKE IT DOWN Act. The act became law and prohibits online publication of non-consensual, real or computer-generated, “intimate visual depictions” and requires some platforms to remove them after being notified.
They also cast affirmative votes for the ANCHOR Act, which would require the National Science Foundation to create a plan to improve cybersecurity and telecommunications capabilities for the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. The fleet provides at-sea laboratories for scientists, educators and students studying marine science. The act has passed the House and been referred to a Senate committee.
Sykes and Joyce disagreed when it came to the LEOSA Reform Act of 2025, which would allow certain active and retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed guns and ammunition across state lines and in currently restricted areas, such as school zones and national parks.
Sykes opposed and Joyce supported the bill, which passed the House and was referred to a Senate committee.
On the state level, Rep. Steve Demetriou (R-Bainbridge Twp.) voted for two bills that he sponsored, which passed the House and were sent to the Senate. House Bill 86 would update land banking and tax foreclosure laws, and House Bill 116 would prohibit local governments from charging additional fees on digital currency transactions and prevent zoning that discriminates against data centers.
Demetriou and Workman also voted along with the House majority to approve amendments to House Bill 15, which was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine on May 15. The bill makes several changes to retail electric service regulations.
“House Bill 15 puts Ohio consumers first by delivering long-overdue protections for ratepayers and driving down energy costs across the state,” Workman said in a prepared statement. “By eliminating the Electric Security Plan loophole and requiring regular, transparent rate reviews, this bill holds utilities accountable and ensures families aren’t burdened with unfair charges.”
Committees
Workman was appointed in May by Speaker Matt Huffman (R-Lima) to be co-chair of the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority. She and 10 other board members oversee the investments of the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority — an agency within the Ohio Department of Higher Education that administers the CollegeAdvantage savings program.
“It’s an honor to be appointed co-chair of the Ohio Tuition Trust Authority,” she said in a news release. “Helping Ohio families plan and save for their children’s future is one of the most meaningful investments we can make.”
Community work
Sykes was active in her community throughout May.
She attended the STEM center opening at Camp Ledgewood in Peninsula and previously presented the Girl Scouts with $850,000 from community project funding secured in the 2024 federal spending bill.
“I’m proud to have partnered with the Girl Scouts of North East Ohio to get this project started and see it to completion,” she said in a press release. “And the best part is completing this project is actually just the start! Now with the site in place, boundless learning and exploration will take place here.”
Sykes also hosted a “community conversation” at the Fairlawn Kiwanis Community Center to discuss her efforts to protect Social Security and Medicaid from proposed cuts, among other issues related to seniors.
Sharing stances on social media
Portage County representatives discussed a variety of topics online in recent months.
Roegner posted in early June about budget changes by the Senate on X, formerly known as Twitter. She shared an article from the Gongwer News Service about the proposed 2.75% flat income tax rate and an expanded homestead exemption program.
“Proud of my colleagues in the @OhioSenateGOP for taking this bold stand to reduce the size of government and get us to a flat tax – so hardworking Ohioans can keep more of what they earn!” she wrote. “Positions our next governor @VivekGRamaswamy to finish the job.”
Demetriou also posted about the gubernatorial candidate on X: “Awesome to see @VivekGRamaswamy in Summit County last week. He gave a great speech on his vision on how to take the Buckeye state to the next level.”
His posts included comments on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and anti-Semitism throughout the United States with a photo from the Jewish Federation of Cleveland’s breakfast in May and a news article about the June 1 attack at an Israeli hostage demonstration in Colorado.
“Anti-Semitism has no place in our society. Terrorism is reprehensible, and anyone doing Hamas’s bidding in this country needs to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Demetriou said.
Joyce also shared his thoughts on the attack in Colorado via X: “It’s become terrifyingly clear that we have a growing antisemitism problem in our country. My prayers are with the victims of yet another senseless terror attack in Colorado. I urge everyone to stand against the hate that fuels this violence.”
Additionally, as co-chair of the Skin Cancer Caucus, Joyce posted on X about the SAFE Sunscreen Act — a bipartisan bill he co-sponsored. It “streamlines the process for sunscreen innovation and embraces new advancements in skin health,” he said.
Sykes also used X to highlight her legislation, community involvement and views on national matters. She announced the Tire Jobs, Supply Chain Security and Sustainability Act, which she co-sponsored, that would provide a tax credit to customers who buy retreaded tires.
She highlighted her late-May visit to I Promise HealthQuarters in Akron, which provides physical and behavioral health care, and issued the following statement on the Colorado attack: “I’m horrified by the senseless, antisemitic terrorist attack against a peaceful gathering today in Boulder. I am praying for the victims of this hateful violence. If we do not condemn Jewish hate with one unified voice, innocent people will continue to be harmed when that hate inevitably foments into acts of violence.”
