{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Democrat\", state = \"OH\" and year = 2023 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-beatty-urges-the-cfpb-to-include-ebt-accounts-in-open-banking-rulemaking", "Congresswoman Beatty Urges the CFPB to Include EBT Accounts in Open Banking Rulemaking", "2023-12-22", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Joyce Beatty", "B001281", "beatty.house.gov", "beatty", "https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and 15 of her colleagues sent a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Rohit Chopra urging the Bureau to include Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Accounts in its final rule implementing Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.\n\nMore than 41 million people across the country, including nearly 1.5 million in Ohio receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. These EBT households often experience data unavailability, slow connectivity, and intentional restrictions when checking their account balances. Inclusion of these accounts in the Section 1033 final rule will empower financially vulnerable consumers to access and monitor their EBT accounts in a safe and secure manner, protect themselves from fraud and benefits theft, and plan for unexpected emergencies down the road.\n\n\u201cThe CFPB must ensure that all American consumers, regardless of economic status or background, enjoy the same rights and protections over their financial data,\u201d said Congresswoman Beatty. \u201cFamilies that rely on SNAP benefits to put food on the table shouldn\u2019t have to struggle to check their account balance or protect themselves from financial crime. EBT accounts must be included within the scope of the final open banking rule to facilitate a safe and competitive marketplace.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-brown-statement-shots-outside-funeral-service-mount-olive", "Congresswoman Brown Statement on Shots Outside Funeral Service at Mount Olive Missionary Baptist", "2023-12-22", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Shontel M. Brown", "B001313", "shontelbrown.house.gov", "shontelbrown", "https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Cleveland, OH \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) attended the service celebrating the life of Di\u2019Mesha Wright, a young woman who was shot and killed earlier this month. During the service, shots were fired outside the church, leading those inside to rush from their seats.\n\nCongresswoman Shontel Brown releases the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe level of gun violence is devastating and demoralizing. It\u2019s unfathomable that while we were mourning a young woman who was shot and killed, gunfire would be heard outside her service. My heart breaks for everyone who endured today\u2019s assault while memorializing the life and violent loss of a loved one. People should at least be able to attend a funeral in peace. As a member of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, it\u2019s painful to see what my friends and loved ones are needlessly enduring. As a member of Congress, I\u2019m going to continue fighting for gun safety legislation, because no one, no community, deserves to live in fear.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-beatty-ranking-member-waters-urge-federal-reserve-bank-of-cleveland-to-prioritize-diversity-in-search-for-president-ceo", "Congresswoman Beatty, Ranking Member Waters Urge Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland to Prioritize Diversity in Search for President, CEO", "2023-12-21", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Joyce Beatty", "B001281", "beatty.house.gov", "beatty", "https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions, and Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, sent a letter to the Chairman of the Federal Reserve System and Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland\u2019s search committee urging them to prioritize diversity in their search for the Bank\u2019s next president and CEO.\n\nIn the letter, the Congresswomen emphasize the scale of critical decisions the incoming president will weigh in on, including interest rates, small businesses, and more making it essential that the leadership of the Bank represents the diversity of its constituents, including women, people of color, the LGBTQ community, and experts across backgrounds.\n\nAs former Chairwoman, Rep. Waters established Congress\u2019 first-ever Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee in 2019, chaired by Congresswoman Beatty. Through 18 hearings and various reports, this historic subcommittee led the way to diversify our nation\u2019s financial services industry and undertook groundbreaking work to expose inequities in this space.\n\n\u201cI have long been an advocate for diverse leadership at Federal Reserve Banks, championing initiatives such as the Ensuring Diverse Leadership Act, also known as the Beatty Rule,\u201d said Congresswoman Joyce Beatty. \u201cThose with a seat at the table to shape U.S. economic policy must reflect the rich diversity of households in America, helping us build a stronger economy that works for everyone. I join Ranking Member Waters in urging the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland to capitalize on the opportunity to broaden the perspectives among Reserve Bank presidents.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-brown-announces-2023-24-oh-11-youth-advisory-council", "Congresswoman Brown Announces 2023-24 OH-11 Youth Advisory Council", "2023-12-21", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Shontel M. Brown", "B001313", "shontelbrown.house.gov", "shontelbrown", "https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Shontel Brown announces the launch of the OH-11 2023-24 Youth Advisory Council, an education and leadership program for local high school students. Youth Advisory Council students will learn more about Congress and public service, issues in the community, and develop professional and leadership skills, while helping inform federal policy with their insight. Congresswoman Brown\u2019s office invited area students to apply earlier this year, and the Council began meeting monthly in November.\n\nThe Youth Advisory Council will meet regularly through the end of the school year and have the opportunity to hear from local leaders. The December session conducted last weekend welcomed Cuyahoga County Judge, the Honorable Tonya R. Jones, who discussed conflict resolution with the Council. A similar program was first initiated in the district by Congresswoman Brown\u2019s predecessor, now HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge.\n\n\u201cI am excited to help local students learn more about public service and government, while also hearing directly from them about their priorities and concerns. I was honored to meet with our Youth Advisory Council earlier this month and excited to see so many dedicated and talented young people from across the district stepping up. I cannot wait to see what the Youth Advisory Council does this school year, and in the years ahead,\u201d said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.\n\nThe 2023-24 OH-11 Youth Advisory Council\n\nZain Anwar University School\n\nChardon Black Cleveland School of Science and Medicine\n\nAriana Carrasquillo Rhodes College and Career Academy\n\nJayda Dent Cleveland School of Science and Medicine\n\nSydney Gilmore Cleveland School of the Arts\n\nLeyah Jackson Hathaway Brown High School\n\nShannon Katzenberger Lakewood High School\n\nMadeline Kuta Shaker Heights High School\n\nTaia Menefee Beachwood High School\n\nRadha Pareek Beachwood High School\n\nLuke Peterson Gilmour Academy\n\nAntwon Reynolds Rhodes College and Career Academy\n\nNishan Shrestha Beachwood High School\n\nMaya Stephens Hathaway Brown High School\n\nEmily Stringer Hathaway Brown High School\n\nLukas Wallace Rhodes College and Career Academy\n\nRyan Wang University School\n\nAlexia Zelada Cleveland School of Science and Medicine", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-announces-sandusky-middle-school-student-winner-9th-0", "Kaptur Announces Sandusky Middle School Student as Winner of 9th Congressional District Congressional App Challenge", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) released the following statement announcing Ishan Chopra of Sandusky Middle School as the winner of the Ohio 9th Congressional District\u2019s fifth annual student Congressional App Challenge. Yesterday, December 19, Congresswoman Kaptur hosted winner Ishan Chopra, and other participants in the 2023 OH-09 Congressional App Challenge and their families for an award and recognition ceremony. Additional standout applications came from Nathan Stubleski and Adam Prymas of St. Francis de Sales High School in Toledo and Theodore Radkov of Sylvania Southview High School, who placed 2nd and 3rd respectfully. Other participants also attending the ceremony included Aiden Comes from Sylvania Southview High School, Nicholas Molitor from Sylvania Southview High School, and Chris Hammady from St. Francis De Sales High School. Outstanding submissions were also received from St. Francis De Sales High School, Sylvania Southview High School, Sylvania Northview High School, and Perrysburg High School.\n\n\u201cCongratulations to Ishan Chopra of Sandusky Middle School for winning this year\u2019s 9th Congressional District Congressional App Challenge. Ishan\u2019s mobile application, \u201cGOALS\u201d is designed for users to learn the basics of soccer. He truly found the back of the net,\u201d said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. \u201cI appreciate all 23 teams\u2019 app submissions during this year\u2019s competition, and was happy to be able to honor them all. Just know that you are all winners in my book. Skill-building opportunities like this continue to highlight computer science and STEM education programs that are preparing students for a bright and innovative future in the workforce. I also want to extend special thanks to the outstanding computer science professionals and scholars from the University of Toledo, Owens Community College, and Defiance College for judging this year\u2019s competition.\u201d\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge is a yearly competition for every congressional district across the United States to enroll in. The purpose of this challenge is to encourage students from schools across congressional district\u2019s to compete by creating and submitting a mobile application that will have the opportunity to be chosen as the winner. This competition is an opportunity for young adults to explore coding and computer sciences as a STEM education field. This student engagement gives them an opportunity to learn and expand new skills that are advantageous to their future careers.\n\nIn 2013, leaders of the House of Representatives and the Internet Education Foundation sought avenues to acknowledge and celebrate computer science and STEM education. Later that year, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed House Resolution 77 \u2013 Academic Competition Resolution of 2013. This resolution was the architect for designing a computer science, or \u201capp\u201d competition that each House member could compete in. The inaugural Congressional App Challenge was held in 2015. Ohio\u2019s 9th Congressional District has participated in the Congressional App Challenge since 2019. In 2023, over 23 teams registered for the 9th District challenge with a total of 40 students participating. Across all 50 states plus territories, 374 of 435 congressional districts and 11,600 students participated in creating 3,600 mobile applications nationwide.\n\nPhotos of the 9th Congressional District Congressional App Challenge recognition ceremony can be found by clicking here. More information on the Congressional App Challenge can be found by clicking here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-announces-congressional-app-challenge-winner-ohios-13th-district", "Rep. Sykes Announces Congressional App Challenge Winner for Ohio\u2019s 13th District", "2023-12-20", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "MASSILLON, OH\u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) announced Aarit Koul as the 2023 winner of the Congressional App Challenge.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m pleased to announce Aarit Koul from Jackson Memorial Middle School as the winner of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge for Ohio\u2019s 13th District. Aarit\u2019s app will encourage more young people to learn about our government and become civically engaged. Thank you to every student who entered this competition \u2014 I\u2019m excited to see what you create next!\u201d said Rep. Sykes.\n\nAarit is a student at Jackson Memorial Middle School in Massillon. Aarit\u2019s app, CareCivics, is designed to encourage young people to become civically engaged. The app includes a virtual whiteboard, dates of some of the most important events in the United States, a game which allows the user to play ping pong while learning interesting facts about civics, and a trivia module where users can test their knowledge of civics.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-condemns-recent-threats-against-temple-israel", "Rep. Sykes Condemns Recent Threats Against Temple Israel", "2023-12-19", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "CANTON, OH \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) released the following statement condemning recent threats against Temple Israel in Canton:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-sykes-carey-lead-bipartisan-coalition-demanding-answers-social-security", "Reps. Sykes, Carey Lead Bipartisan Coalition In Demanding Answers From Social Security Administration Over Improper Overpayments", "2023-12-18", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Reps. Emilia Sykes (OH-13) and Mike Carey (OH-15) led several members of the Ohio congressional delegation in demanding answers from the acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration (SSA) over improper payments made to beneficiaries.\n\n\u201cOlder and disabled Americans who have done everything correctly when filing for Social Security benefits but received overpayments through no fault of their own should not be penalized for erroneous mistakes made by the Social Security Administration,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cOur seniors rely on these payments to pay their bills and put food on the table \u2014 they can\u2019t afford for the SSA to be making life-altering errors. This letter seeks to hold the SSA accountable and ensure all seniors receive the correct payments they deserve.\u201d\n\n\u201cOverpayments have been a problem for at least a decade \u2014 if not longer \u2014 according to our caseworkers,\u201d said Rep. Carey. \u201cMore troubling is that SSA is now saying they might not be able to vouch for the legitimacy of how many people have been subject to overpayments. I\u2019m working with my colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee to get answers as to why SSA is so dysfunctional.\u201d\n\nThe Social Security Administration contacts over one million Americans annually to recoup funds disbursed in error to beneficiaries. Although these overpayments can take months or years to be recognized by SSA, once an overpayment is noticed, the adverse impact on Social Security beneficiaries is nearly instantaneous: elderly and disabled Americans relying on Social Security living on fixed incomes have had their benefits frozen or cut because of overpayment mistakes. More troubling, SSA has failed to provide adequate figures to Congress about the total number of people being impacted by this issue.\n\nReps. Sykes and Carey sent a letter to Dr. Kilolo Kijakazi, the acting commissioner of the SSA, demanding answers as to why the problem continues to persist. Also signing on to the letter were Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH-05), Joyce Beatty (D-OH-03), Troy Balderson (R-OH-12), Greg Landsman (D-OH-01), and Rep. Max Miller (R-OH-07).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-sykes-pallone-cardenas-and-krishnamoorthi-introduce-improving-newborns", "Reps. Sykes, Pallone, C\u00e1rdenas, and Krishnamoorthi Introduce The Improving Newborns\u2019 Food and Nutrition Testing Safety (INFANTS) Act", "2023-12-18", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), and Tony C\u00e1rdenas (CA-29) introduced the Improving Newborns\u2019 Food and Nutrition Testing Safety (INFANTS) Act, legislation to protect the health and safety of infants and toddlers by requiring finished baby food products to be tested for toxic heavy metals.\n\n\u201cParents have enough on their plates \u2013 they shouldn\u2019t have to worry if the food they are feeding their infants and toddlers contains dangerous amounts of toxic heavy metals like lead or arsenic. I introduced the INFANTS Act alongside Reps. Pallone, C\u00e1rdenas, and Krishnamoorthi to require commonsense nutrition testing that will keep our babies safe and healthy,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cThe INFANTS Act will provide parents with much-needed peace of mind and ensure infants and toddlers have the safe, nutritious food they need to grow and develop.\u201d\n\n\u201cParents should not have to worry about whether the food they buy for their children is contaminated with bacteria, lead, or another toxic heavy metal. In just the last few months, we have read frightening reports about contaminated applesauce leading to potential lead poisoning in dozens of children. This followed tragic stories last year about infants becoming sick and even dying after drinking infant formula contaminated with cronobacter bacteria. The INFANTS Act would establish a testing regime to ensure toddler and infant food products are free of dangerous contaminants and clarify FDA\u2019s authority to recall adulterated products. I\u2019m grateful to Congresswoman Sykes for her leadership and look forward to working together to see this bill signed into law,\u201d said Rep. Frank Pallone, Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.\n\n\u201cAssessing the safety of baby and toddler food is of paramount importance to ensuring the health of our nation\u2019s children,\u201d said Rep. Tony C\u00e1rdenas. \u201cThe INFANTS Act will demand more accountability from food manufacturers as they test their final products for toxic heavy metals, improve the U.S. Food and Drug Administration\u2019s (FDA) ability to conduct oversight, and provide parents and caregivers the much-needed assurance that the food they give to their children is safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor several years, I have been investigating the dangerous levels of neurotoxins such as lead, inorganic arsenic, mercury, and cadmium in leading baby foods while advocating for higher safety standards to protect our children,\u201d Rep. Krishnamoorthi said. \u201cIt is critical that Congress mandate sampling, testing, and reporting requirements for manufacturers to assist the FDA in monitoring the levels of these toxic heavy metals so that families know the food they are feeding their children is safe.\u201d\n\nThere is currently no federal mandate for testing finished baby food products for contaminants like heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, and mercury. Exposure to toxic heavy metals can cause permanent decreases in IQ, diminished future economic productivity, and increased risk of future criminal and antisocial behavior in children. Toxic heavy metals endanger infant neurological development and long-term brain function. As opposed to just testing the ingredients, heavy metal levels can be higher after food processing. Additionally, FDA does not require powdered infant formula manufacturers to have a regular environmental monitoring for powdered infant formula\u2019s exposure to cronobacter spp. and salmonella, two bacteria which have caused infections after being found in infant formula.\n\nThe INFANTS Act of 2023 would:\n\nRequire the owner, operator, or agent in charge of a food facility that manufactures or processes food in final product form, including infant and toddler food, to:\n\nCollect representative samples of each food manufactured or processed and test those samples at least once per quarter for contaminants, including toxic elements like lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic;\n\nPrepare a written sampling plan for sampling and testing and ensure it is carried out; and\n\nMaintain records of sampling and testing and allow those records to be inspected and copied by FDA.\n\nSpecify that foods manufactured or processed by facilities that fail to follow sampling and testing requirements are adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act;\n\nRequire records to be provided to FDA, at FDA\u2019s request, in advance of or in lieu of an inspection, within a reasonable timeframe, within reasonable limits, and in a reasonable manner;\n\nClarify FDA\u2019s mandatory recall authority over infant or toddler foods that bear or contain a contaminant that renders the product adulterated;\n\nClarify that manufacturers of infant formula must notify FDA within 24 hours if they acquire knowledge that the infant formula they manufacture does not contain adequate nutrients or is otherwise adulterated or misbranded; and\n\nRequire manufacturers of powdered infant formula to establish and implement an environmental monitoring program to verify the effectiveness of sanitation and hygiene controls where food has the potential to be exposed to Cronobacter spp. or Salmonella.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-statement-meeting-apostolic-nuncio-cardinal-pierre", "Kaptur Statement on Meeting with Apostolic Nuncio, Cardinal Pierre", "2023-12-15", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) a senior member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee released the following statement following a meeting yesterday, December 14th with Apostolic Nuncio (Ambassador of the Holy See), Cardinal Christophe Pierre.\n\n\u201cYesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting with His Eminence, Cardinal Pierre to discuss the importance of promoting peace and justice between Israel and Palestine.\u201d said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. \u201cMy priority is the safety and security of our community in Northern Ohio and the prevention of violence against one another. Essential to promoting peace in our community and between Israel and Palestine is the exercise of reconciliatory interfaith dialogues between all peoples. I greatly appreciated the wise counsel of Cardinal Pierre and for his collaboration, on behalf of the Catholic Church, as we renew our efforts to create a just and lasting peace in the region.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Kaptur sought engage the Holy See in search of pathways for achieving a two-state solution that would benefit both the Israeli and Palestinian people, and bring an end to the renewed terrible violence we are witnessing in the Israel-Hamas War. This follows Congresswoman Kaptur\u2019s speaking on November 3rd with Egyptian Ambassador Motaz Zahran, on November 16th with Jordanian Ambassador Dina Kawar, and on December 12th with the Lebanese Charge D\u2019Affairs Wa\u00ebl Hachem.\n\nThose seeking to contact the State Department regarding safe travel for yourselves or family leaving the region should use the crisis intake form by clicking here, or by calling either of the following phone numbers, 1-833-890-9595 (toll free) and 606-641-0131 (local).\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-and-gallagher-introduce-healthy-farms-healthy-watersheds-act", "Kaptur and Gallagher Introduce Healthy Farms Healthy Watersheds Act of 2023 to Support Voluntary Nutrient Runoff Management Programs", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), and Congressman Mike Gallagher (WI-08) introduced the Healthy Farms Healthy Watersheds Act of 2023, a bipartisan, budget-neutral bill to support efficacy in voluntary nutrient runoff management programs that fight harmful algal blooms. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) adversely affect water quality in all 50 states \u2013 harming human health, hindering tourism and regional economies, and sinking property values and waterfront business.\n\nDespite federal agencies spending billions of dollars assisting farmers and producers in adopting management practices to improve water quality, HABs persist across all 50 states, including in significant water bodies such as the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay. The Healthy Farms Healthy Watersheds Act of 2023 provides a new strategy to make federal investments more effective by focusing Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) resources on one of the most critical drivers of HABs \u2013 dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP). Concentrating efforts in priority watersheds focuses valuable attention and resources on areas where DRP reduction has the highest potential to improve water quality. This increases the likelihood of success in reducing the frequency and extent of harmful algal blooms throughout the US.\n\n\u201cToday alongside my Midwest colleague Mike Gallagher, I introduced the bipartisan Healthy Farms Healthy Watersheds Act of 2023, which encourages voluntary USDA programs to strategically apply resources to maximize watershed health with existing dollars,\u201d said Congresswoman Kaptur. \u201cHarmful algal blooms are caused, in part, by the loading of excessive levels of phosphorus into lakes, rivers, and bays from farms and animal feeding operations. Since 2010, communities affected by HABs are estimated to have spent over $1 Billion to prevent and mitigate the effects of monthslong seasonal blooms. Despite federal agencies spending billions to help farmers adopt management practices to improve water quality, the problem persists across America, including in significant bodies of water like Lake Erie. The Healthy Farms Healthy Watersheds Act of 2023 provides a new strategy to make federal investments more effective. The legislation focuses Natural Resources Conservation Service resources on the exact substances and localities that are contributing most to harmful algal blooms.\u201d\n\n\u201cEven though the federal government has spent billions of dollars trying to protect our waterways from harmful algal blooms, we still deal with the issue in Northeast Wisconsin and across the country,\u201d said Congressman Gallagher. \u201cThe Healthy Farms Healthy Watershed Act would require the government to take a budget-neutral, innovative approach to the way we\u2019re treating harmful algal blooms to ensure we\u2019re targeting the root cause of the problem and not continuing to fund the status quo. Northeast Wisconsin has always been a leader for watershed management practices and this bill will support our cutting-edge solutions to addressing harmful algal blooms in our waterways.\n\n\u201cReducing harmful nutrient runoff in the Great Lakes is critical to protecting fisheries and human health as well as growing Wisconsin\u2019s booming tourism economy,\u201d said Elizabeth Koehler, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin. \u201cWe applaud Congressman Mike Gallagher and Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur\u2019s strong, bipartisan action to improve water quality, stop dangerous algal blooms before they start, and promote regenerative agriculture across all 50 states.\u201d\n\n\u201cLake Erie is one of Ohio\u2019s greatest natural resources and the continued presence of harmful algal blooms poses a threat to our state\u2019s health and prosperity. We thank Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and Congressman Mike Gallagher for introducing this crucial bill to protect freshwater resources in Ohio and across the country. By prioritizing nutrient reduction in key watersheds, this bipartisan and budget-neutral initiative takes steps to improve water quality, preserve vital ecosystems, and support the agricultural community,\u201d said Bill Stanley, State Director of the Nature Conservancy in Ohio.\n\n\"Recognizing Dissolved Reactive Phosphorous as the primary driver of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Lake Erie and elsewhere is important,\u201d said Rob Michaels, Senior Attorney, Environmental Law & Policy Center. \u201cThe Environmental Law & Policy Center welcomes this bill to ensure existing programs are targeted and targeting the right pollutant with plans to reduce it. Putting in place monitoring, testing and other elements can help ensure dollars spent achieve results.\"\n\n\u201cMore than 40 million Americans rely on the Great Lakes for their drinking water. In 2014, a harmful algal bloom on Lake Erie shut down Toledo\u2019s water system\u201d said Don Jodrey, Director of Federal Government Relations for the Alliance for the Great Lakes. \u201cHalf a million people were unable to drink their water, cook with it, or even brush their teeth. By better targeting farm bill conservation funds at critical watersheds and on critical pollutants like dissolved reactive phosphorus, we can help producers implement practices that keep bloom fueling nutrients on the farm and out of the Great Lakes. Without increasing spending, the Healthy Farms Watersheds Act pilot program focuses conservation attention where it is needed most.\u201d\n\nHealthy Farms Healthy Watersheds Act of 2023 does the following:\n\nThe Healthy Farms Healthy Watersheds Act of 2023 establishes a pilot program under NRCS\u2019 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The pilot strategically focuses existing NRCS conservation programs on minimizing DRP in federally recognized \u201cpriority watersheds.\u201d These small, sub-watersheds in critical conservation areas have been identified as areas where DRP reduction has the greatest potential to improve water quality.\n\nIn the Great Lakes region, priority watersheds have been delineated under the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative in the Lower Fox River, Saginaw River, Maumee River, and Genesee River basins in Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.\n\nPriority watersheds have also been delineated in the states of New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware under the Chesapeake Bay Program.\n\nUnder the Healthy Farms Healthy Watersheds Action Program established by the Act, NRCS will prepare and implement action plans for priority watersheds. Each plan will maximize DRP reduction in the priority watershed for fiscal years 2025 through 2031 and include localized implementation goals paired with an adaptive management plan to flexibly implement the work. Plans also require a blueprint to enhance outreach to eligible partners and producers.\n\nThe HFHW Action Program is designed to be implemented using funding already appropriated to carry out EQIP and other existing NRCS conservation programs.\n\nThe legislation is supported by The Environmental Law & Policy Center, The Alliance for the Great Lakes, The Green Bay Metropolitan Sewerage District, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy in Wisconsin, The Nature Conservancy in Ohio.\n\nA one pager for the Healthy Farms Healthy Watersheds Act of 2023 can be found by clicking here, and full bill text can be found by clicking here. Congresswoman Kaptur\u2019s floor remarks on introduction can be found by clicking here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-votes-boost-military-pay-expansion-buy-america-requirements", "Kaptur Votes for Boost in Military Pay, Expansion of Buy America Requirements, Improvements to Housing for Military Families, and a Renewed Commitment to Liberty for Ukraine", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), voted to pass H.R. 2670, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2024 which continues to invest in the core of our national defense: service members, civilian workers, and their families; allies and partners; innovation and technology; our domestic industrial base; and military readiness. The bill authorizes $874.2 Billion in discretionary defense spending and is expected to now be signed into law by President Biden.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s vote to pass the NDAA was a vote in support of Liberty and our national security. America and our allies face the growing threat of a new Axis of Tyranny and Terrorism, including the likes of Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and terrorist organizations such as Hamas,\u201d said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. \u201cThis year\u2019s NDAA reaffirms our commitment to America\u2019s service members and international allies, including the besieged nation of Ukraine, which continue to fight for its liberty in the face of Tyranny. As a senior member of the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, I look forward to working closely with my colleagues in the Congress to pass appropriations legislation that will responsibly fund the many essential priorities agreed to in this NDAA.\u201d\n\nIncluded in the NDAA are several key priority provisions, including:\n\n5.2% pay increase for military servicemembers\n\n$300 Million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, and full funding for the European Deterrence Initiative and Pacific Deterrence Initiatives\n\nExpansions to the Buy America Act, which ensures that military products are sourced from American industry and made by American workers\n\n$300 Million for the construction of new child care development centers\n\nExpanded Basic Needs Allowance program\n\n$1.7 Billion in investments for military family housing, and the replacement of unaccompanied housing\n\n$650 Million worth of investments in energy resilience and energy conservation projects\n\nSecured continued production of additional Ohio made Abrams tanks\n\nReport language requiring the Department of Defense to brief Congress on establishing an medal to recognize a servicemember who as a result of combat is the last surviving member of their unit\n\nA summary of the FY24 NDAA is available by clicking here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-brown-statement-larry-doby-receiving-congressional-gold-medal", "Congresswoman Brown Statement on Larry Doby Receiving Congressional Gold Medal", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Shontel M. Brown", "B001313", "shontelbrown.house.gov", "shontelbrown", "https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Wednesday, Larry Doby was posthumously honored with the Congressional Gold Medal in the United States Capitol. Doby was the first Black American to play in the American League, breaking the color barrier with the Cleveland Indians in July of 1947, three months after Jackie Robinson made his April debut in the National League. The ceremony took place on what would have been his 100th birthday.\n\nDoby played nine seasons in Cleveland, made seven All-Star teams, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998.\n\n\u201cLarry Doby changed baseball and changed America. In 1947, along with Jackie Robinson in the National League, he showed that our national pastime should be integrated, a key step in the civil rights movement. Larry Doby exemplified Black excellence while enduring abuse with grace and resolve.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-statement-impeachment-inquiry-sham", "Rep. Sykes Statement On Impeachment Inquiry Sham", "2023-12-14", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) released the following statement after Congressional Republicans passed a resolution yesterday to authorize its sham impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-statement-meeting-lebanese-charge-daffaires-wael-hachem", "Kaptur Statement On Meeting With Lebanese Charge D\u2019Affaires Wa\u00ebl Hachem", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) a senior member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee released the following statement following a meeting on Tuesday, December 12 with Lebanese Charge D\u2019Affaires to the United States Wa\u00ebl Hachem.\n\n\u201cIn order to achieve a meaningful and lasting peace in this region, we must express a deeper understanding and sympathy for all individuals who have been painfully impacted by the violence that began on October 7th. My objective remains peace for all, through a two-state solution,\" said Congresswoman Kaptur. \u201cI spoke with the Charge D'Affaires from Lebanon, Wa\u00ebl Hachem, to continue my diplomatic efforts to secure relief for the people of Gaza and ensure that we are engaging in respectful dialogue with all parties who are affected by this conflict. Head of Mission Hachem has represented his nation in Washington since 2018, and has served honorably in many diplomatic roles for more than 20 years. During our discussion we shared the common view that the primary objective must be a durable peace that secures true stability in the region.\"\n\nContinuing in her efforts to elevate diplomacy in the tragic and devastating Israel-Gaza war, Congresswoman Kaptur and Charge D\u2019Affaires Hachem stressed their shared prioritization of securing a durable peace through diplomacy and to prevent an expanded conflict. They focused on efforts to pause the fighting and expand humanitarian aid to impacted territories.\n\nCongresswoman Kaptur sought their counsel on prospects for achieving a two-state solution that would benefit both the Israeli and Palestinian people, and reinforced the essential role of Qatar and other adjoining nations in the region. This follows Congresswoman Kaptur\u2019s speaking on November 3rd with Egyptian Ambassador Motaz Zahran, and on November 16th with Jordanian Ambassador Dina Kawar.\n\nThose seeking to contact the State Department regarding safe travel for yourselves or family leaving the region should use the crisis intake form by clicking here, or by calling either of the following phone numbers, 1-833-890-9595 (toll free) and 606-641-0131 (local).\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-brown-votes-against-illegitimate-impeachment-inquiry", "Congresswoman Brown Votes Against Illegitimate Impeachment Inquiry", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Shontel M. Brown", "B001313", "shontelbrown.house.gov", "shontelbrown", "https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) voted against a Republican Resolution directing House committees to conduct an impeachment inquiry into President Biden.\n\nCongresswoman Shontel Brown releases the following statement:\n\n\u201cThis vote is the culmination of a year of dysfunction and distraction from House Republicans. This sham investigation is unserious, unsubstantial, and unnecessary. Republicans have spent years investigating and have found no evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden. None.\n\n\u201cIn fact, all that has been revealed is House Republicans have the wrong priorities. Republicans are not interested in lowering costs for families, growing the middle class, or making our communities safer.\n\n\u201cAs a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, I can attest first-hand that the Biden Administration has bent over backwards to meet the absurd demands in this investigation. But extreme MAGA Republicans aren\u2019t interested in the facts, because the facts are not on their side.\n\n\u201cMy constituents in Northeast Ohio see this for what it is: a political stunt. Let\u2019s end the stunts and serve the people.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-hosts-call-your-congresswoman-discuss-lowering-costs", "Rep. Sykes Hosts \u201cCall With Your Congresswoman\u201d To Discuss Lowering Costs", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Yesterday, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) hosted \u201cCall With Your Congresswoman\u201d to discuss her work to lower costs for people in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District. Rep. Sykes was joined by Matthew Davis, VP of Federal Policy for the League of Conservation Voters (LCV), and Nolan Rutschilling, Managing Director of Energy Policy for the Ohio Environmental Council.\n\nRep. Sykes outlined her Lower Your Taxes Act, legislation she introduced to keep more hard-earned money in constituents\u2019 pockets by reducing the amount of taxes owed when completing an annual tax filing. The Lower Your Taxes Act would make several improvements to the Earned Income Tax Credit and restore the American Rescue Plan\u2019s Child Tax Credit expansion, which will make a significant difference for families paying for medicine, necessary essentials, school supplies, and other childcare expenses.\n\n\u201cThe people of Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District are working harder than ever before, but high costs are preventing them from getting ahead. I promised that I would fight to lower everyday costs when I was elected to Congress, and I\u2019m doing just that by introducing the Lower Your Taxes Act to put more of your hard-earned dollars back into your pocket,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cI\u2019m committed to growing the middle class by building on investments like the Inflation Reduction Act that are already saving people money on their energy bills and creating an economy that works for everyone in Northeast Ohio.\u201d\n\nDuring the telephone town hall, guests from the League of Conservation Voters and the Ohio Environmental Council discussed how households can benefit from the affordable clean energy plan investments in the Inflation Reduction Act. These investments can help individuals and families across Northeast Ohio lower their energy bills, improve air quality, and combat climate change.\n\n\"We are thrilled to support the efforts of Representative Sykes to equitably implement the historic climate and clean energy investments that congressional Democrats passed last session, by engaging directly with constituent consumers and local communities in Ohio,\u201c said Matthew Davis, Vice President of Federal Policy at LCV. \u201cWe look forward to continuing to work with members of Congress and state, local, and tribal governments, nonprofit and municipal entities, and other local leaders to tap into the money saving benefits in the affordable clean energy plan.\u201d\n\n\u201cAcross the state, Ohio communities are benefiting from historic investments in clean energy, climate action, and environmental justice as a result of the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. We are proud to work with Representative Sykes and leaders at all levels of government to ensure Ohioans take full advantage of these once-in-a-generation pieces of legislation, ensuring all Ohioans can access the new jobs, energy savings, and a cleaner environment,\" said Nolan Rutschilling, Managing Director of Energy Policy for the Ohio Environmental Council.\n\nWatch the full telephone town hall HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/sykes-miller-brown-rubio-introduce-new-bipartisan-bill-advance-innovation", "Sykes, Miller, Brown, Rubio Introduce New Bipartisan Bill To Advance Innovation, Increase Collaboration Between Aerospace Industry And NASA", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (OH-13) and Max Miller (OH-07), along with U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), introduced the NASA Talent Exchange Program Act to spur innovation and foster partnership between the aerospace industry and NASA by assigning NASA employees to temporary industry posts and welcoming industry professionals into NASA for short term positions. The new legislation will establish the Public Private Talent Exchange Program (PPTE) within NASA to help partnership opportunities between government and aerospace businesses.\n\n\u201cThe road back to the moon and to Mars runs directly through Ohio \u2013 that\u2019s why I\u2019m proud to introduce this important legislation with Rep. Max Miller, Sen. Sherrod Brown, and Sen. Marco Rubio,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cOur bill will allow NASA to better fulfill its missions by authorizing a public-private talent exchange program, through which NASA and private industry professionals will have the chance to exchange technical expertise and operational best practices, ensuring that America\u2019s space and aerospace industry remains the best and most innovative in the world.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe days of a giant government program dominating the space industry are over,\u201d said Rep. Miller. \u201cToday, NASA and industry are driving technological developments that will carry the U.S. into the future, and this legislation is going to make it easier for them to work together more collaboratively on critical projects.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe story of modern aviation was written in Ohio \u2013 and this bill will help ensure that we continue to lead the country into the next frontier,\u201d said Sen. Brown. \u201cBy spurring collaboration between NASA and our aerospace businesses, we will ensure that Ohio workers are the ones creating the technologies of the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cFrom Apollo to Artemis, space exploration is fueled by NASA\u2019s ingenuity and the dynamism of its private sector partners,\u201d said Sen. Rubio. \u201cThe partnerships lower costs and are crucial to maintaining American leadership in space. I am proud to introduce the NASA Talent Exchange Program Act to continue cultivating vital partnerships to unlock the potential of American innovation.\u201d\n\nThe Public Private Talent Exchange Program would be a professional development program focused on giving NASA and industry professionals an opportunity to gain exposure and experience in a number of areas. The exchanges will last between three months to two years with options to extend for an additional year.\n\nThe Program is modeled after a similar initiative that the Department of Defense has operated since 2018. That program allowed the Department of Defense to forge partnerships with private sector companies and swap business practices for the betterment of both parties.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/us-house-representatives-passes-rep-sykess-bipartisan-mental-health", "U.S. House of Representatives Passes Rep. Sykes\u2019s Bipartisan Mental Health Improvement Act To Increase Access To Affordable Mental Health Services", "2023-12-13", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Representative Emilia Sykes\u2019s (OH-13) bipartisan H.R. 4097, the Mental Health Improvement Act, as part of H.R. 4531, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act. The Mental Health Improvement Act would extend the authorization for the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program, which provides tens of millions of dollars annually to increase the number of behavioral health professionals and improve access to behavioral health services. The Mental Health Improvement Act is Rep. Sykes\u2019s first bill to pass the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cAs a longtime advocate for improving the health of our communities, I am glad my colleagues on both sides of the aisle supported the bipartisan Mental Health Improvement Act to address the gaps in mental health care in Ohio\u2019s 13th District and across the country,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cThe Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program will continue to provide critical funds to ensure our communities have a robust mental and behavioral health workforce to support people struggling with addiction and save lives. I\u2019ll keep working to ensure all Americans, no matter where they live, have access to affordable, high-quality mental health services.\u201d\n\nThe BHWET Program awards grants to eligible universities and state-licensed mental health nonprofit and for-profit organizations to recruit and train the next generation of behavioral health workers. The Mental Health Improvement Act would extend the funding authorization for the BHWET Program until 2028.\n\nLocal organizations in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District already benefit from the investments made possible by the BHWET Program. In 2021, Walsh University received $479,721 from the BHWET Program to establish the Walsh University Counselors and Occupational Therapists Professionally Engaged (COPE) in the Community program. The program enhances the community\u2019s capacity to provide high quality experiential training of students in innovative care settings serving high-need populations in high-demand areas, including purchasing equipment and supplies for use in behavioral/ mental healthcare services at various nonprofit centers in Ohio, and providing free occupational therapy (OT) services for women through Rahab Ministries and the YWCA.\n\nNearly half of all Americans will have a behavioral health issue in their lifetime, from a mood disorder to a substance use problem. As of March 2023, 160 million Americans live in areas with mental health professional shortages, with over 8,000 more professionals needed to ensure an adequate supply.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-votes-favor-faa-authorization-extension-bill", "Rep. Sykes Votes In Favor Of FAA Authorization Extension Bill", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Yesterday, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) voted in favor of H.R. 6503, the Airport and Airway Extension Act of 2023, Part II, bipartisan legislation that extends the Federal Aviation Administration\u2019s (FAA) authorization until March 8, 2024.\n\n\u201cOhio has a proud legacy as the \u2018Birthplace of Aviation,\u2019 and this legislation provides the short-term stability that our airports, airlines, and workers need to protect the integrity of our national airspace,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cI will continue to work with my colleagues in the House and Senate to ensure that we actually pass comprehensive FAA reauthorization legislation, like H.R. 3935, the Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act, which the House passed on a bipartisan basis earlier this year, to keep our skies safe, make our aviation infrastructure cleaner and more sustainable, and support the working people who power the aviation industry.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-votes-favor-hr-5378-lower-costs-more-transparency-act", "Rep. Sykes Votes In Favor Of H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act", "2023-12-12", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) voted in favor of H.R. 5378, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act.\n\n\u201cSince day one in office, I have promised to lower costs for working families in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District, including healthcare costs,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cThe Lower Costs, More Transparency Act makes important progress in making healthcare more affordable for Ohioans in our community. There is still more work to do to ensure that folks have the resources they need to access high-quality, affordable coverage. It is unacceptable that families are going bankrupt trying to stay healthy. I\u2019ll continue working to find solutions that allow people to access the care they need at a price they can afford.\u201d\n\nH.R. 5378 requires health care providers and insurers to disclose certain information about health care costs. It also establishes requirements for certain payment methodologies under Medicare and Medicaid. More specifically, the bill aims to codify the Hospital Price Transparency rule and the Transparency in Coverage rule, which requires hospitals to publish their prices for all items and services as well as insurers to make public their negotiated in-network provider rates for all items and services. This legislation extends price transparency requirements to other providers and services, including labs, imaging providers, and ambulatory surgical centers. There is also an increased transparency provision for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) practices, which would make them report their drug pricing practices. This legislation also provides for site-neutral payments for Medicare beneficiaries if a drug is administered in a hospital outpatient department, as opposed to a physician\u2019s office.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-kaptur-statement-138-million-investment-new-battery", "Congresswoman Kaptur Statement On $13.8 Million Investment In New Battery Assembly Plant In North Toledo Creating 185 Jobs", "2023-12-11", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Toledo, OH \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) released the following statement following the announcement by Mobis North America that they will invest $13.8 Million in a new Battery Assembly Facility and bring 185 new jobs to North Toledo. The company will move into a newly remodeled 285,000-square-foot industrial building at 5901 Skyview Drive. The Ohio Tax Credit Authority has approved a Job Creation Tax Credit for the company. Construction is already underway on the new plant, with production planned to start in August 2024. The investment in the new state-of-the-art facility expands Mobis\u2019 electrification capabilities and bolsters the company\u2019s sustainability and environmental efforts. With another plant in Toledo, Ohio, and two other facilities in Detroit, Michigan, Mobis North America has roughly 1,000 employees in the region.\n\n\u201cThis infusion of $13.8 Million and 185 new jobs is a major investment in North Toledo and will be a gamechanger \u2013 investing in the future of our city and our people. I am proud to see companies come in and recognize the value of our communities, and bring these jobs to the Great Lakes Heartland where the skills exist, the supply chain exists, and where the automotive heart of our nation strongly beats,\u201d said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. \u201cThese jobs are an investment in the green economy, an investment in North Toledo, and an investment in the people of Northwest Ohio.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve been manufacturing in Toledo, Ohio for nearly 20 years, and we are excited to continue to invest in the community with this new battery plant. The state-of-the-art facility will bring 185 good-paying, upskilled jobs to the area, and be a driving force in automotive electrification here in the Midwest,\u201d said Dong Hee (Danny) Son, General Manager\n\n\"Today marks a significant milestone in our city's relentless pursuit to revitalize the long abandoned North Towne Square Mall site, left desolate for more than 17 years, now transformed into a dynamic industrial park,\" said Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz. \"It is with immense pride that we join NorthPoint Development and our others partners to extend a warm welcome to Mobis, the first company to set its roots in this transformed space.\"\n\n\u201cMobis choosing Ohio to establish its new metal base plate production for EV parts brings the company\u2019s second manufacturing facility to the region while diversifying its operations in Lucas County,\u201d said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. \u201cThe attraction of this plant from a global leader in smart mobility demonstrates the value proposition Ohio brings as the market for electric hybrid vehicles continues to grow.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-brown-requests-increased-funding-home-heating-assistance", "Congresswoman Brown Requests Increased Funding for Home Heating Assistance", "2023-12-08", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Shontel M. Brown", "B001313", "shontelbrown.house.gov", "shontelbrown", "https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 This week, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) joined 115 House colleagues in requesting increased funding for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services\u2019 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The letter was led by Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) and Congressman James P. McGovern (MA-02) and was sent to House and Senate leaders Thursday. The letter requested including $1.6 billion in supplemental funding for LIHEAP in any government funding package, citing significant energy price fluctuations due to global conflicts.\n\n\u201cHere in Northeast Ohio, winters are cold, heating bills can be large, and many of my constituents need assistance,\u201d said Congresswoman Brown. \u201cWe need to make sure that LIHEAP is fully funded and stable so that those in need can be warm.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs you know, LIHEAP helps families who are at risk of being unable to afford to heat their homes in the winter or cool them in the summer. Last year, more than six million households across the country relied on critical assistance from the LIHEAP program,\u201d the lawmakers wrote in the letter. \u201cFor the families who receive LIHEAP, it is a critical lifeline that prevents them from making the impossible choice between staying warm and having enough food or paying for their medications.\u201d\n\nIn Fiscal Year 2023, the LIHEAP program distributed a total of more than $4.5 billion in home heating assistance to families across the United States, including $100 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding and an additional $1 billion from the government funding package passed in September 2022. Despite the significant federal investment, LIHEAP continues to be underfunded, with just 20 percent of eligible households currently receiving assistance through the program.\n\nIn October, Congresswoman Brown announced that Ohio was awarded a total of $153.6 million in LIHEAP funding for this winter, with $149 million coming from existing formula funding and an additional $4.49 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\nA copy of the letter can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-votes-against-house-republicans-plan-make-college-more-expensive", "Rep. Sykes Votes Against House Republicans\u2019 Plan To Make College More Expensive", "2023-12-07", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) voted against H.J. Res. 88, a partisan resolution to repeal the Biden-Harris administration\u2019s Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan, a new income-driven repayment plan that significantly lowers monthly payments for many low- and middle-income borrowers. If Republicans succeed and this bill becomes law, 5.5 million student loan borrowers will see their monthly payments go up, including 16,000 constituents in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District who are enrolled in the plan.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-meets-greater-akron-chamber-discuss-supporting-small-businesses-and", "Rep. Sykes Meets With Greater Akron Chamber To Discuss Supporting Small Businesses And Creating An Economy That Works For All", "2023-12-06", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "AKRON, OH \u2014 This week, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) met with local business leaders and members of the Greater Akron Chamber (GAC), University of Akron, and Kent State University to discuss economic issues facing Northeast Ohio and Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District.\n\n\u201cSmall businesses form the backbone of our economy. I was glad to meet with local leaders from the Greater Akron Chamber, University of Akron, and Kent State University to discuss ways we can work together to give small businesses the tools they need to take care of their employees and grow their companies, advance innovation, and create workforce development programs that will allow more Northeast Ohioans to access good-paying jobs,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cI\u2019m working to bring back federal resources and cut red tape for small businesses in our district, which create good-paying jobs and deliver essential goods to our communities. When small businesses and local entrepreneurs have the funding and support they need, we build an economy that works for all of us.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe appreciate the leadership and support of Congresswoman Sykes as we work to capitalize on our region\u2019s most unique high growth opportunity,\u201d said John Rizzo, Vice President of Government Affairs, Greater Akron Chamber. \u201cAdvancing the work of the Polymer Industry Cluster and transformational investments in our region\u2019s key industries will have global impact and will put our region on a new growth trajectory.\u201d\n\nRep. Sykes and participants discussed the U.S. Economic Development Administration\u2019s recent announcement designating Greater Akron as a Tech Hub for Sustainable Polymers and a recipient of the Phase 1 Strategy Development Grant, which makes it one of only 30 entities nationwide eligible for tens of millions of dollars in funding from the CHIPS and Science Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-beatty-to-host-18th-annual-statewide-tribute-to-rosa-parks", "Rep. Beatty to host 18TH Annual Statewide Tribute to Rosa Parks", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Joyce Beatty", "B001281", "beatty.house.gov", "beatty", "https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "MEDIA ADVISORY FOR PLANNING PURPOSES\n\nDecember 5, 2022\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) will host the 18th Statewide Tribute to Rosa Parks. The event will include the community leaders forum and panel discussion entitled The Power of One: Justice Through the Lens of Media.\n\nWHAT: 18th Statewide Tribute to Rosa Parks\n\nWHO: Congresswoman Joyce Beatty\n\nWHEN:Thursday, December 7, 2023\n\nDoors open - 5:00 pm\n\nProgram Begins - 5:30 pm\n\nWHERE:Vitria on the Square\n\n14 East 15th Avenue\n\nColumbus, Ohio 43201\n\nFor inquiries, please contact Todd Valentine at Todd.Valentine@mail.house.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressional-ukraine-caucus-co-chairs-kaptur-fitzpatrick-quigley", "Congressional Ukraine Caucus Co-Chairs Kaptur, Fitzpatrick, Quigley Statement On Additional Aid to Ukraine", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Representatives Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), and Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) released the following statement on the need to approve President Biden\u2019s request to send additional aid to Ukraine:\n\n\u201cWe are at a critical juncture in Ukraine\u2019s war against Russia\u2019s invasion. With each passing day that we fail to send additional military aid, Putin only grows stronger. As Ukraine\u2019s supplies and munitions dwindle, the Russian army becomes more powerful. For nearly two years, the United States and our allies have been united in the effort to defend Ukraine and its people from Putin\u2019s tyranny \u2014 now should be no different. Failing to act now would hand Putin a victory and endanger the fate of vulnerable democracies around the world. It is time for Congress to do what is right for Ukraine and for the global order. We must immediately pass supplemental funding to help Ukraine for the next year of fighting.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-praises-amtrak-expansion-ohio", "Rep. Sykes Praises Amtrak Expansion In Ohio", "2023-12-05", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Representative Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13) issued a statement following news that the U.S. Department of Transportation\u2019s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) selected four key routes in Ohio as priorities for Amtrak expansion. The Federal Railroad Administration will provide $500,000 to each announced corridor for planning under the Corridor Identification program.\n\nThe corridors that will receive the funding for planning include:\n\nCleveland-Columbus-Dayton-Cincinnati, the 3C+D corridor;\n\nCleveland-Toledo-Detroit;\n\nChicago-Fort Wayne-Columbus-Pittsburgh, the Midwest Connect corridor via Lima, Kenton, Marysville, Columbus, Newark, Coshocton, Newcomerstown, Uhrichsville, and Steubenville in Ohio; and\n\nDaily Cardinal Service, increasing service frequency from three days per week to daily on Amtrak\u2019s current service to Cincinnati between New York City, Washington, DC and Chicago, IL via the States of Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois.\n\n\u201cThis announcement is an important first step to expand Amtrak services and make passenger rail more accessible to people living in Northeast Ohio,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cI look forward to working closely with the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC), the Ohio Rail Development Commission, and the Federal Railroad Administration to ensure that the new routes we develop connect not just Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Dayton, but also Akron/Canton, to expand opportunities, boost local economies, and create more good-paying jobs. While we should be much further along with rail funding in Ohio, this funding is a welcome opportunity to connect Ohio\u2019s cities after previous Ohio state administrations refused rail funding. I\u2019ll continue advocating for the federal support necessary to make passenger rail accessible to everyone in Ohio\u2019s 13th District.\u201d\n\nIn February 2023 when Ohio first requested the FRA to select Ohio routes for the FRA\u2019s Corridor Identification and Development program, Rep. Sykes stated she would work to ensure any Amtrak expansion in Ohio meets the needs of people in Summit and Stark Counties.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-votes-against-partisan-bill-does-nothing-protect-our-communities-or", "Rep. Sykes Votes Against Partisan Bill That Does Nothing To Protect Our Communities Or Secure The Border", "2023-12-01", "2023", "2023-12", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) voted against H.R. 5283 and released the following statement:\n\n\u201cWe can all agree that our immigration system is broken and does not meet the needs of immigrants, asylum seekers, businesses, or our communities. This problem requires real solutions \u2013 not partisan, divisive legislation like H.R. 5283 that does nothing to fix our immigration system or protect our communities. I will continue working towards productive, bipartisan efforts to secure our borders, prevent dangerous drugs and weapons from entering our country, keep children and families together, and strengthen our economy,\u201d said Rep. Sykes.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:14:16Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-science-space-and-technology-committee-passes-rep-sykes-bipartisan", "House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Passes Rep. Sykes\u2019 Bipartisan Legislation To Strengthen Quantum Supply Chains", "2023-11-30", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Yesterday, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee passed H.R. 6213, the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act. H.R. 6213 was amended to include Rep. Sykes\u2019 Support for Quantum Supply Chains Act, bipartisan legislation to accelerate the development of secure, resilient, and reliable domestic supply chains for quantum technologies and quantum supporting technologies.\n\n\u201cQuantum technology has the potential to completely revolutionize our world, including improving patient healthcare services, enhancing cybersecurity, and even making weather forecasts more accurate. The Support for Quantum Supply Chains Act will strengthen vital quantum supply chains here at home to create more good-paying jobs and establish our nation as a leader in this transformative technology. I am grateful for the bipartisan support from my fellow members on the House Science, Space, Technology Committee, and I look forward to final passage of this legislation by the full House of Representatives,\u201d said Rep. Sykes.\n\nRep. Sykes also led an amendment to H.R. 6213 to maximize the application of quantum technologies across a wide variety of sectors, especially healthcare. Healthcare is one of the largest industries in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District, and in Northeast Ohio, local organizations are already utilizing quantum technology to revolutionize healthcare. In 2021, Cleveland Clinic \u2013 which has multiple sites in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District \u2013 and IBM announced a 10-year partnership to use quantum computing to accelerate research into treatments and vaccines that will improve the lives of patients and solve some of our greatest healthcare challenges. Rep. Sykes\u2019 amendment will empower more organizations in diverse sectors to develop innovative quantum technologies that will create better lives for Americans across the country.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-kaptur-announces-608000-federal-nfwf-grant-award-junction", "Congresswoman Kaptur Announces $608,000 Federal NFWF Grant Award to Junction Coalition for Swan Creek Restoration and Planning", "2023-11-29", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy & Water, announced that the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), through its National Coastal Resilience Fund, has awarded The Junction Coalition a $608,000 grant to plan and implement wetland conservation and floodplain reconnection within a vital wildlife corridor in the heart of Toledo. The funding is made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law which Kaptur helped to pass in 2022. The Junction Coalition is one of three organizations in Ohio to receive this grant through a highly competitive process.\n\n\u201cWe are celebrating the Junction Coalition\u2019s enterprising efforts to bring vital funds home to Ohio\u2019s 9th Congressional District,\u201d said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. \u201cWorking with our local partners to bring this funding home, I look forward to progress in the fight to protect the Western Basin of Lake Erie as the group identifies nature-based resiliency strategies to protect at-risk communities from flooding. With our other efforts at reconnecting neighborhoods, we are working to ensure Toledo\u2019s central city communities restore access to clean and healthy water recreation. The Junction Coalition will build on the work of past efforts to implement meaningful improvements within our neighborhoods. This funding was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, showing once again that our communities benefit when we access resources from bi-partisan legislation that makes sense.\u201d\n\n\u201cJunction Coalition is thankful for the bipartisan support and our Representative, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur for seeing the value of not only restoring and preserving our wetlands and water resources but also the lives and well-being of families that live in and around Swan Creek. Junction Coalition is thankful to all our partners for the support in writing and implementation of this rewarding project,\u201d said Alicia Smith, executive director of the Junction coalition. \u201cSwan Creek, one of Toledo\u2019s three rivers, forms part of the southern boundary of the Junction Community. The possibility of restoring a vital wildlife habitat corridor, creating a scenic greenspace for recreation and relaxation, teaching our young people the importance of protective edge vegetation\u2014these are just a few of the environmental and community benefits presented by this grant. The City of Toledo and our community will benefit because of the several city and Metroparks found along Swan Creek as well.\u201d\n\nEarlier this year Congresswoman Kaptur announced other funding opportunities secured in partnership with the Junction Coalition, including a $600,000 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Child Lead Poisoning Prevention program grant award to help reduce lead poisoning in the Toledo community, and a $20 Million US Department of Transportation (USDOT) RAISE grant award to the City of Toledo to assist the city\u2019s \u201cConnecting Toledo Neighborhoods to Opportunity\u201d initiative to reconnect downtown neighborhoods in Toledo and the nearby Junction neighborhood. The effort will include a protected sidewalk across the Dorr Street overpass of Interstate 75 and a new 10-foot-wide multi-use path that will extend approximately 0.75 miles from the downtown area into the Junction neighborhood.\n\nThe Junction Coalition is a non-profit, grassroots organization located in the Junction community of Toledo, Ohio providing a viable voice to its neighbors. The Junction Coalition seeks to promote healthy relationships with local, state, and federal government to build a better quality of life for community members and for business owners who benefit the Junction community.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-statement-akron-police-departments-internal-report-death-jayland", "Rep. Sykes Statement On Akron Police Department\u2019s Internal Report For The Death Of Jayland Walker", "2023-11-28", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "AKRON, OH \u2014 U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) issued the following statement after the Akron Police Department (APD) published the findings of their internal report into the death of Jayland Walker:\n\n\u201cIt is my top priority to ensure the people of Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District are safe and secure in our communities. Despite the findings of this report, we can all agree there is still significant work that needs to be done to rebuild trust between the Akron Police Department and the people they swore an oath to protect and serve,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cThis report does not eliminate the need for ongoing conversations about how to move forward together as a community and ensure meaningful actions that will keep everyone in our city safe. I continue to urge the Department of Justice to conduct an independent investigation into the patterns and practices of the Akron Police Department to determine solutions-based tools that can be implemented to ensure APD meets the needs of every segment of this community. We all have an obligation \u2013 elected officials, law enforcement, and community members \u2013 to work together to keep our communities safe. I will continue working with anyone to improve public safety by ensuring accountability, transparency, and justice in our policing.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-brown-applauds-creation-white-house-council-supply-chain", "Congresswoman Brown Applauds Creation of White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience", "2023-11-27", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Shontel M. Brown", "B001313", "shontelbrown.house.gov", "shontelbrown", "https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, the White House announced a number of actions to build on progress and further strengthen America\u2019s supply chains, including the creation of the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience, which will advance the Administration\u2019s government-wide strategy to strengthen both our domestic and global supply chains. The Council will complete its first comprehensive review of America\u2019s supply chains by December 31, 2024, and convene a Supply Chain Data and Analytics Summit in 2024 with public and private stakeholders.\n\nThe White House also announced that President Biden will use the Defense Production Act to make more essential medicines in America and mitigate drug shortages. Additionally, the Biden-Harris Administration will create a Supply Chain Resilience Center to monitor disruptions.\n\nIn June, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) introduced legislation in line with these actions, filing The Critical Supply Chain Commission Act (H.R. 4279) which would establish an independent, non-partisan commission to advise Congress on how to bolster domestic production and supply chain capabilities in strategically important industries.\n\n\u201cI applaud President Biden for taking comprehensive action to strengthen our supply chains \u2013 this will help lower prices, boost our economic and security resilience, and keep key goods on the shelves and in our medicine cabinets,\u201d said Congresswoman Brown. \u201cWe need a whole-of-government approach and that\u2019s exactly what the Biden-Harris Administration is doing. And importantly, this builds on the progress we made with the historic legislation from the 117th Congress. Bringing prices down is a top priority for my constituents and for folks across the country. That\u2019s why I introduced legislation to create a National Commission on Supply Chains and I look forward to working with the White House to boost domestic production, get products delivered, and lower costs.\u201d\n\nMonday\u2019s announcement follows substantial progress on supply chains and reducing inflation that the White House and House and Senate Democrats delivered during the 117th Congress, thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. Congresswoman Brown voted for all three pieces of legislation.\n\nAmong the measures included in these three landmark bills:\n\nThe Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included significant funding for ports, airports, rail, and roads, including $3.4 billion to modernize points of entry.\n\nThe CHIPS and Science Act includes $53 billion in investment to support domestic semiconductor manufacturing, a key component of bolstering American supply chains. The law also created a 25 percent tax credit for capital investments in semiconductor manufacturing.\n\nAccording to private sector analysis, the Inflation Reduction Act has de-risked the battery supply chain and catalyzed investment. The IRA includes federal funding for clean energy and electric vehicles and measures to lower health care costs. Since the passage of the IRA private companies have announced more than $110 billion in new clean energy manufacturing investments, including more than $70 billion in the EV supply chain according to the White House.\n\nThese efforts have helped unsnarl supply chains, normalize the flow of goods, and lower inflation. From October 2021 to October 2023, supply chain pressures as measured by the New York Fed declined from near-record highs to a record low, helping lower inflation, which has fallen by 65% from its peak.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-statement-hostage-release-and-humanitarian-pause-gaza", "Rep. Sykes Statement On The Hostage Release And Humanitarian Pause In Gaza", "2023-11-22", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "AKRON, OH \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) released the following statement:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-sen-brown-celebrate-groundbreaking-new-metro-rta-maintenance-and", "Rep. Sykes, Sen. Brown Celebrate Groundbreaking Of New METRO RTA Maintenance And Operations Facility", "2023-11-20", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "AKRON, OH \u2014 U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today joined local leaders to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new METRO RTA Maintenance and Operations Facility.\n\nRep. Sykes and Sen. Brown helped METRO secure a Buses and Bus Facilities Grant totaling $37,808,113 for the construction of a new Maintenance and Operations Facility on its existing campus by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Transit Administration (FTA). This investment was made possible through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), commonly known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\n\u201cMETRO RTA is a vital part of Summit County\u2019s infrastructure, providing reliable and accessible transportation options for our seniors, our students, and our children and families on their routes to school, doctors\u2019 appointments, work, and the grocery store. Thanks to the historic investment by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, METRO will be able to improve their transit services, better connecting our neighborhoods and creating opportunities for people in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cAs the only Ohioan on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I\u2019ll continue advocating for the federal support necessary to make the public transportation systems in our district the best in the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis new facility means RTA will be able to not only fix buses faster, but ensure that fewer buses break down in the first place. That means better service for Akronites,\u201d said Sen. Brown. \u201cTransit like RTA is ultimately about the dignity of work. It creates jobs, it connects people with jobs, and it attracts jobs,\u201d said Sen. Brown.\n\nThe new facility will support METRO\u2019s current fleet of 226 revenue vehicles and 22 support vehicles as well as up to 330 Operations and Maintenance support staff. The existing facility, built in 1984, was sized to maintain 90 35?foot fixed? route buses, in addition to 50 smaller Demand Response vehicles. A facilities assessment study identified the existing facility as outmoded, undersized and having surpassed its useful life. This need was reaffirmed in METRO\u2019s 2020 Strategic Plan that identified the Project as METRO\u2019s highest priority facility investment.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-visits-jackson-memorial-middle-school-meets-little-congress", "Rep. Sykes Visits Jackson Memorial Middle School, Meets With The Little Congress", "2023-11-20", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "JACKSON TOWNSHIP, OH \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) visited Jackson Memorial Middle School in Jackson Township. During the visit, Rep. Sykes participated in the school\u2019s Little Congress, and spoke with students about the importance of being civically engaged at all ages.\n\n\u201cI had the privilege of meeting with students of the Little Congress at Jackson Memorial Middle School and discussing the importance of education and civic engagement,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cI was inspired by their enthusiasm and dedication to improving their school and making a difference in their community. I can\u2019t wait to see what their futures hold and as their Congresswoman, I look forward to supporting their success every step of the way.\u201d\n\nLittle Congress is a student council in which sixth, seventh and eighth grade students at Jackson Memorial Middle School suggest ideas for improving the school, draft mock legislation, and then debate and vote on their passage. The \u201cGeneral Assembly\u201d meets monthly and has debated and voted on three bills this year.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-statement-passing-former-first-lady-rosalynn-carter", "Kaptur Statement on Passing of Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter", "2023-11-19", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Toledo, OH \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), the longest serving woman in the history of Congress and former White House Urban Planning Policy Advisor to President Jimmy Carter, released the following statement on the passing of former First Lady Rosalynn Carter:\n\n\u201cRosalynn Carter\u2014beloved spouse of President Jimmy Carter and mother to their family and our nation\u2014has blessed our Republic for over 3/4 of a century. Her perpetual kindness, wisdom, faithfulness to family, community, and country are legendary. Her patriotism had no bounds.\n\n\u201cAs First Lady, she perseveringly and with her matter-of-fact manner elevated the plight of mental illness to national attention\u2014As a farm wife, the footage of her carrying her sewing machine into the White House stirred surprise and even criticism in many privileged quarters.\n\n\u201cShe tried to show struggling families at home and abroad how to be more self-sufficient. As a White House policy staffer at the time, I had the privilege of working with her as an ally in neighborhood revitalization in some of the most forgotten corners of America.\n\n\u201cShe was a lady in every sense of the word\u2014gracious, erudite, persuasive. She was faith-filled, indefatigable, committed, and truly a credit to our great nation.\n\n\u201cMay her spirit and memory comfort her husband, her family, staff, and all the millions of people the Carter family touched with healing and inspiration. Rest in peace Rosalynn.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-statement-call-jordanian-ambassador-kawar-and-diplomatic-effort", "Kaptur Statement On Call With Jordanian Ambassador Kawar and the Diplomatic Effort to Secure a Durable Peace", "2023-11-16", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) a senior member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee released the following statement following a call with Jordanian Ambassador to the United States Dina Kawar. During their conversation Congresswoman Kaptur and Ambassador Kawar stressed their shared prioritization of securing a durable peace in the conflict centered around a two-state solution. This follows Congresswoman Kaptur speaking on November 3rd with Egyptian Ambassador Motaz Zahran.\n\n\u201cIn order to achieve a meaningful and lasting peace in this region, we must express a deeper understanding and sympathy for all individuals who have been painfully impacted by the violence that began on October 7th. Our objective must be peace for all, through a two-state solution.\n\n\u201cToday, I spoke with the Ambassador from Jordan, Dina Kawar, continuing my diplomatic efforts to support relief for the people of Gaza and respectful dialogue with all parties who are affected by this conflict and to express my deep and continued concern for those still held hostage. Ambassador Kawar has served her nation in Washington since 2016, before which she served as the head of the Jordanian delegation when the nation sat as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Council from 2014 to 2015.\n\n\u201cDuring our discussion we shared our common views that the primary objective must be peace and that a two-state solution is the only way to secure a durable stability. To achieve this goal Hamas cannot be permitted to conduct further terrorist acts against Israel. Nearly 20 years ago, Jordan took the courageous step of banning Hamas in the country due to its understanding of the dangers that Hamas posed. Additionally, Israel must be prepared to accommodate a sovereign and prosperous Palestinian state.\n\n\u201cI had the pleasure of extending an invitation to Ambassador Kawar for her and her peers to come to Congress to meet with Members of Congress and share her nation\u2019s understanding of the conflict and priorities in searching for a meaningful resolution to the conflict. Jordan has made peace with Israel and is home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and their relatives. Together we can achieve peace.\u201d\n\nThose seeking to contact the State Department regarding safe travel for yourselves or family leaving the region should use the crisis intake form by clicking here, or by calling either of the following phone numbers, 1-833-890-9595 (toll free) and 606-641-0131 (local).\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-beatty-statement-on-continuing-resolution-passage-to-avoid-a-government-shutdown", "Rep. Beatty Statement on Continuing Resolution Passage to Avoid a Government Shutdown", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Joyce Beatty", "B001281", "beatty.house.gov", "beatty", "https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 U.S. Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03) issued the following statement on the passage of the House Continuing Resolution:\n\n\u201cLast night, I voted with the overwhelming majority of my House Democratic colleagues in support of a stopgap government funding bill because the alternative \u2013 a government shutdown that would harm our communities and our economy \u2013 is unacceptable. Nevertheless, this continuing resolution represents yet another missed opportunity by the House Republican majority. It does nothing to help our allies in Israel and Ukraine nor does it do anything to provide humanitarian and disaster assistance for those in need. It also fails to get us any closer to a full-year funding agreement than where we were back in September. House Republicans must put their reckless partisanship aside and work with Democrats, who continue to put people over politics, to reach a legitimate funding agreement that meets the needs of the American people and provides emergency assistance for our allies.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-celebrates-two-years-bipartisan-infrastructure-law-delivering", "Rep. Sykes Celebrates Two Years Of The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Delivering Results For Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District", "2023-11-15", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) celebrated the second anniversary of President Biden signing into law the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and highlighted projects made possible by this historic investment. The funding included in the BIL is improving quality of life and creating good-paying jobs in our communities.\n\n\u201cIn just two years, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is already delivering results for the people of Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District. This historic legislation makes unprecedented investments in our nation\u2019s infrastructure, making our economy stronger by creating hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs, cutting costs for businesses and families, and improving access to opportunities,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cI\u2019ve worked hard to secure millions of dollars in funding for our district. Whether it be the over $37 million awarded to METRO RTA to repair transit facilities and improve access to public transportation, $3.4 million to enhance the Akron-Canton airport, or millions of dollars to repair roads and bridges across the district, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is improving the quality of life for people in our communities. As the only Ohioan on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I\u2019ll continue working to bring more of these essential funds back to Northeast Ohio.\u201d\n\nThe BIL has delivered significant funds to several key projects in Ohio\u2019s 13th District including, but not limited to:\n\n$37.8 million to METRO RTA to upgrade existing bus and operations facilities;\n\n$4.9 million?to repave and improve the bridge on SR-8 from Graham Rd. to SR-303 in Summit County;\n\n$4.41 million to SARTA to purchase two electric buses, two chargers and eight paratransit vehicles that will run on compressed natural gas;\n\n$3.4 million?to improve the Akron-Canton Airport;\n\n$2 million?to replace the Goodyear Blvd bridge over the Wheeling and Lake Erie Railroad in Summit County;\n\n$1.13 million?to repave?U.S. 30 from Trump Ave to SR 44 in Stark County;?\n\n$960,000?to the City of Akron for the?Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program;\n\n$360,000?to improve signal and turn lane SR 687 from Frank Ave to Everhard Rd in Stark County;\n\n$304,000?to improve the Kent State University Airport in Summit County; and\n\n$248,00 to create a Safety Action Plan for the City of Canton.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-statement-continuing-resolution-keep-government-open", "Rep. Sykes Statement On Continuing Resolution To Keep The Government Open", "2023-11-14", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) issued a statement on H.R. 6363, legislation to keep the government funded until January 19, 2024:\n\n\u201cOur most basic duty as members of Congress is to keep the federal government running for the people we have the privilege of serving. That\u2019s why I voted today in favor of this continuing resolution to keep the government open and working for the people of Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cHowever, this bill is far from perfect. Instead of using the past seven weeks to forge a bipartisan path forward, House Republicans chose to waste precious time pushing through extreme bills that dramatically cut critical services people in our communities rely on. Republicans\u2019 continued inability to govern has real consequences for people and families in my district. I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to stop playing partisan games and work together with Democrats on legislation to fully fund the government, protect our national security by ensuring Israel and Ukraine have the resources they need to defend themselves, and provide critical humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians, Israelis, and Palestinians.\u201d\n\nTo fully fund the government, Congress must pass twelve appropriations bills. House Republicans\u2019 Continuing Resolution creates two separate funding deadlines: January 19 for Agriculture, Energy and Water, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development and February 2 for the remaining eight bills.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-beatty-joins-ohio-state-honda-and-other-state-and-federal-leaders-to-announce-partnership-for-battery-cell-research-center", "Rep. Beatty joins Ohio State, Honda, and Other State and Federal Leaders to Announce Partnership for Battery Cell Research Center", "2023-11-13", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Joyce Beatty", "B001281", "beatty.house.gov", "beatty", "https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "COLUMBUS, Ohio \u2013 The Ohio State University was joined by Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, congressional leaders, Honda, Schaeffler Americas, and JobsOhio officials Monday to announce the creation of a new battery cell research and development center.\n\nSlated to open in April 2025, the lab will accelerate the domestic development of battery cell materials and manufacturing technologies while providing an experiential learning setting for advanced battery technology workforce development.\n\nWith $22 million in commitments to date, this project will include the renovation of a 25,000-square-foot facility in Ohio State\u2019s innovation district into a dedicated battery cell research, production, and education support space. The center will be managed and operated at Ohio State by the Institute for Materials and Manufacturing Research (IMR).\n\n\u201cOhio State\u2019s commitment to research, innovation, and bringing solutions to the world is at the heart of our land-grant mission,\u201d said Peter Mohler, acting president and executive vice president for research, innovation, and knowledge at Ohio State. \u201cWe have more reach and impact when we work with our partners at the local, state, and federal levels and we join industry-leading partners like Honda and Schaeffler.\u201d\n\nHonda will serve as the lead foundational partner for the project and has committed $15 million to the research and development center. The project was also endorsed by the State of Ohio and JobsOhio.\n\n\u201cHonda is committed to an electrified future for our automobiles, motorcycles and power products worldwide,\u201d said Bob Nelson, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. \u201cWe have had a long-standing relationship with Ohio State that goes back more than 30 years, and this new facility is an extension of that great partnership. This facility will be a great resource to train the next-generation workforce in advanced manufacturing technologies.\u201d\n\nThe completed project will also create a hub for academic and industry connections across chemical and physical sciences, engineering, business, and policy. Once completed, the project will create a strong pipeline of industry talent while also attracting electric vehicle battery manufacturing and supply chain businesses to help support the evolving vision for the industry.\n\n\u201cSchaeffler is developing the next generation of all-solid-state battery technology to support the automotive industry\u2019s transition to electric mobility. Our strategic partnership with The Ohio State University provides a hands-on and collaborative approach with the goal of providing industry-leading and scalable solutions that will position Ohio at the center of battery technology,\u201d said Jeff Hemphill, chief technology officer of Schaeffler Americas.\n\n\u201cWhen presented with an opportunity to take the lead in battery innovation, particularly with reputable Ohio employers such as Honda and Schaeffler, it is wise to capitalize on that potential,\u201d said Husted. \u201cEstablishing this battery technologies innovation center on Ohio State\u2019s campus will play a key role in ensuring that we continue to be pioneers in automotive and sustainability advancements.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe EV industry, aerospace and aviation, health care, and more will benefit directly from this innovative center by gaining a competitive advantage in battery technology,\u201d said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. \u201cThis collaborative effort between Honda, one of the world\u2019s most successful manufacturers, and Ohio State, a global leader in academic and industry research, establishes one more extraordinary asset for Ohio as industries across sector lines move toward more electrification.\u201d\n\nCongressional champions for this project include U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and U.S. Reps. Joyce Beatty and Mike Carey, who all participated in today\u2019s event. Through their work, $4.5 million in federal funding was secured through the National Institute of Standards and Technology\u2019s (NIST) Extramural Construction program.\n\n\u201cWe know how to make cars in Ohio. The auto industry is our past, and our future. The next generation of vehicles that families will drive all over the country and all over the world will be made in Ohio, by Ohio workers,\u201d said Brown. \u201cOhio State, One Columbus, and Honda came to us with this project, and we worked together to secure the investment to make it happen. This is how we are burying the term \u2018Rust Belt.\u2019\u201d\n\n\u201cThe announcement of Ohio State\u2019s new battery research center is yet another step in the right direction of academic excellence,\u201d Beatty said. \u201cI\u2019m proud to have helped secure federal funding to see this project into fruition and look forward to seeing this investment grow and flourish. This also continues to mark central Ohio as a pivotal workforce hub in America from the key technologies, economic impact, products, training, and infrastructure this center will offer.\u201d\n\n\u201cI was proud to help secure federal funding for this new battery cell and research center at my alma mater,\u201d said Carey. \u201cThis investment will help ensure this new research center has a state-of-the-art facility to develop and assemble electric vehicle batteries right here in Ohio.\u201d\n\nThe federal funding will support a 4,000-square-foot dry room, which is necessary for the assembly of battery cells due to the extreme moisture sensitivity of cell components. The dry room and new battery cell assembly equipment will facilitate the accelerated development and translation of batteries from the lab to practical scales, including the electric vehicle market.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-brown-cbc-colleagues-speak-diabetes-awareness-black-public", "Congresswoman Brown, CBC Colleagues, Speak on Diabetes Awareness, Black Public Health, and IRA Benefits", "2023-11-13", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Shontel M. Brown", "B001313", "shontelbrown.house.gov", "shontelbrown", "https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) and several colleagues from the Congressional Black Caucus, held a press conference at the U.S. Capitol to highlight National Diabetes Month, discuss the impact of diabetes on their constituents and the communities they represent, and call attention to the importance of the Inflation Reduction Act\u2019s $35 per month cap on insulin.\n\nNovember has been proclaimed National Diabetes Month by President Biden, noting that 1 in 10 Americans has diabetes.\n\nCongresswoman Brown was joined by Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-06), Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL-02) Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Congresswoman Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04)\n\nand Congresswoman Emilia Sykes (OH-13).\n\n\u201cWhile diabetes impacts every neighborhood in this country, and it is especially prevalent among Black Americans, who are more likely to have diabetes, more likely to be hospitalized, and more likely to die from this disease. The stark disparities among diabetics reveal so much that has been wrong about our past and present, including in Northeast Ohio, but it doesn\u2019t have to be the future. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act \u2013 passed by House Democrats and signed by President Biden \u2013 we are lowering insulin costs for those on Medicare, saving people with diabetes hundreds of dollars a year. I will continue to work with my colleagues to expand access to health care, fight for justice and equity, and support funding for diabetes treatment and research,\u201d said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.\n\nAccording to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Black Americans are 60% more likely than whites to be diagnosed with diabetes. In addition to higher prevalence, the health outcomes are also worse, as they are 2.5 times more likely to be hospitalized and twice as likely to die from the disease. Since 2001, the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes for Black and Hispanic youth has increased by 95%.\n\nUnder the Inflation Reduction Act, signed by President Biden on August 16, 2022, insulin is capped at $35 per month under Medicare prescription drug coverage, Traditional Medicare, and Medicare Advantage.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-member-kaptur-statement-house-republicans-continued-fumbles-and", "Ranking Member Kaptur Statement on House Republicans Continued Fumbles and Speaker Johnson\u2019s New Two Part Continuing Resolution Proposal", "2023-11-12", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and senior Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense and Agriculture released the following statement on Speaker Mike Johnson\u2019s announced two part Continuing Resolution proposal:\n\n\u201cNo reputable business would operate like this chaotic House Republican majority. Even in football, there are rules. 1st, this past Spring, the Republican team fumbled the ball, failing to agree on a Budget for the October 1 start of the 2024 Federal fiscal year. 2nd, as a result, the 12 Appropriations\u2019 bills that fund all the Federal Departments and agencies of the US Government and must conform its bottom line to the Budget total did not exist. The playbook to get the ball into the end zone didn\u2019t exist! The players just ran around in circles and House Committees could not score.\n\n\u201cBut no Budget was passed. As the debt limit ceiling cliff loomed at the end of the Spring, the Majority Quarterback and team captain Speaker McCarthy threw a Hail Mary pass to avoid that economic calamity by negotiating with President Biden a debt limit delay that set a goal line for overall budget spending levels. Finally, a game-plan passed both the House and Senate by enormous, bipartisan margins. But that audible enraged a small, disgruntled huddle in McCarthy\u2019s Party. To placate the bench, Speaker McCarthy ordered the 12 Appropriations subcommittees to begin marking up hyper-partisan bills that cut spending below the bipartisan agreement\u2019s levels.\n\n\u201cBut when it came to the funding deadline of October 1, Speaker McCarthy couldn\u2019t get his team to work together to move the ball down the field and he delayed the game for another month. Apparently enraged, McCarthy\u2019s own players then refused to play his game, and removed him from the Speakership. The House was thrown into chaos for nearly a month as a new captain \u2014or Speaker \u2014was elected.\n\n\u201cWhat we are witnessing is failed governance at the most fundamental level. Operating by fits and false starts, falling short of the chains month after month, missing deadlines, with the Majority entangled in endless factions and fights, leading to more chaos. Fumble after fumble after fumble.\n\n\u201cAmerica can and must do better than this.\n\n\u201cAs we approach this Thanksgiving Season, America needs more than political games. I say to the Majority, find the \u201cBig Middle,\u201d so we can reach the end zone together and score a touchdown for the American people. Don\u2019t be led by extremist factions trying to divide us and delay the game. Let\u2019s get America\u2019s work done together. Don\u2019t fumble again and stall our economy while it is continuing to grow in a recovery following an awful pandemic. Small business formations are at an all time high\u2014Companies are making money and people are working. The US debt as a percent of Gross Domestic Product is shrinking for the first time in modern history.\n\n\u201cYes, we still have to reduce inflation more, curb health care costs, and make America energy independent here at home in perpetuity, and America is marching down the field to get all that done. Don\u2019t blunt our future by fumbling the ball again. We need to come together and drive toward the \u201cBig Middle,\u201d so we can deliver a real win for the American people.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-honors-veterans-veterans-day", "Rep. Sykes Honors Veterans This Veterans Day", "2023-11-10", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "AKRON, OH\u2014 This Veterans Day weekend, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) issued the following statement recognizing the service and sacrifice of veterans in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District and across the nation:\n\n\u201cThis Veterans Day, I am thankful for the 40,000 veterans in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District, the 6,000 active-duty military members in Ohio, and our past and present servicemembers across the nation who have risked their lives for our families and our freedoms. Serving our nation is an enormous sacrifice, and Ohio exemplifies this history of service. In Congress, I am working with members on both sides of the aisle to increase access to quality, affordable health care for our veterans, improve education benefits, and end veteran homelessness,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cOn Veterans Day and beyond, I am committed to ensuring our veterans receive the support and benefits they have earned for every sacrifice made in the line of service.\u201d\n\nSince entering Congress, Rep. Sykes has introduced several bills to support our active servicemembers and veterans, including the:\n\nFood Access and Stability Act, which would make permanent the Special Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit expansion that recently passed in the Bipartisan Budget Agreement, so our veterans will always be able to put food on the table; and\n\nPay Our Troops Act, which would ensure our men and women in uniform are never forced to serve without pay in the event of a government shutdown.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/representatives-kaptur-and-carter-introduce-bipartisan-last", "Representatives Kaptur and Carter Introduce Bipartisan Last Servicemember Standing Medal Act", "2023-11-09", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) and Congressman John Carter (TX-31) introduced the bipartisan Last Servicemember Standing Medal Act which will establish the new Last Servicemember Standing Medal for military service. The unique medal will honor active duty servicemembers who demonstrate an unbending dedication to the United States and determination to survive and complete their mission at all costs, even as their brothers and sisters in arms make the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.\n\n\u201cI have the privilege and responsibility to carry on the story of the late Sergeant John Eade of Toledo, Ohio. In 1965, at 21, he deployed in la Drang Valley, Vietnam, as fire team leader in 2nd Platoon, Alpha Company, 2d Battalion, 7th Cavalry Regiment. On November 14, 1965, the single deadliest day for American forces of the war, Sergeant Eade and his team became pinned down. By the end of the day, he was the only surviving member of his platoon, sustaining shrapnel wounds to his legs, struck by napalm, and shot in the shoulder, abdomen, and face resulting in the loss of his eye,\u201d said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. \u201cRegrettably, with no surviving witnesses to attest to his heroism, the Department of Defense has yet to appropriately honor Sgt. Eade\u2019s valor with the Distinguished Service Cross. Today I introduce this bipartisan legislation with Judge Carter to address this longstanding oversight. I urge my colleagues to support the bipartisan Last Servicemember Standing Medal Act to recognize Sergeant Eade and others who continued to fight for their country against enemy forces even as every one of their squad-mates gave their lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe men and women that commit incredible acts of valor as they stand alone on the battlefield deserve to be recognized,\u201d said Congressman John Carter. \u201cDue to many service medal requirements, many lone survivors are unsung heroes. With the Last Servicemember Standing Medal Act, these brave servicemembers will receive the lasting honor they deserve. I appreciate my colleague Rep. Kaptur spearheading this important initiative for America\u2019s warriors.\u201d\n\nService medals are timeless means by which the American people recognize exceptional acts of valor and sacrifice that members of the military engage in on behalf of our nation. However, these commemorations often require a witness to account for the servicemembers\u2019 actions. By their very nature, servicemembers who find themselves as the last surviving member of their unit are unable to meet this requirement for many existing service medals and can go unrecognized for the heroic and traumatic experience of their surviving combat in which every one of their fellow servicemembers are killed.\n\nThis bill aims to recognize those remarkable servicemembers\u2019 unique and courage experience by providing a new means by which the military can honor their service and distinct tenacity to survive such events in service to the U.S. The Last Servicemembers Standing Medal Act is dedicated to Sergeant John Eade and Specialist Oscar Barker Jr., who both fought valiantly at the Battle of la Drang, the first major battle between the U.S. Army and the People\u2019s Army of Vietnam, November, 14-16, 1965. Sergeant Eade was the sole survivor of those who had remained in Second Platoon's position at the battle. Sergeant Eade, a great American, passed away in 2022.\n\nA full copy of the bill text for the Last Servicemember Standing Medal Act can be found by clicking here. A one pager on the Last Servicemember Standing Medal Act can be found by clicking here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/brown-scott-carter-introduce-legislation-improve-federal-reentry-grant", "Brown, Scott, Carter Introduce Legislation to Improve Federal Reentry Grant Programs", "2023-11-09", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Shontel M. Brown", "B001313", "shontelbrown.house.gov", "shontelbrown", "https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11), Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-3), and Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-2) have filed legislation to improve reporting requirements for federal reentry grant programs and encourage more federal agencies to adopt programs to help formerly incarcerated individuals reintegrate into society. The Recidivism Reduction Transparency Act would establish clear reporting requirements for Department of Justice (DOJ) adult and juvenile offender reentry grants and require the publication of best practice guides by the DOJ to encourage the development of similar demonstration projects.\n\n\u201cSupporting and improving reentry programs is a key component of criminal justice reform and building a more equitable society. We can\u2019t help provide people with a second chance if we don\u2019t invest in programs to support them upon reentry,\u201d said Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11). \u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s important to know if current grants are working, so we can continue to encourage best practices. I am proud to introduce this legislation with Congressman Scott and Congressman Carter to improve reporting and encourage development of additional successful reentry programs across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cRobust and comprehensive reporting requirements are key to ensuring grant programs from the Second Chance Act are working as intended. The Recidivism Reduction Transparency Act will encourage successful societal re-entry, better enable grantees to replicate the positive results made by successful projects and help determine best practices for the future,\u201d said Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-3).\n\n\u201cThe Recidivism Reduction Transparency Act takes a significant step in helping returning citizens successfully reintegrate into society, offering them the support and skills they need to break the cycle of recidivism. This legislation acknowledges the various challenges faced by those reentering society, such as mental health and substance abuse disorders, job placement, and housing transition, and offers a holistic approach to addressing these obstacles. I\u2019m proud of this bill, which isn\u2019t just a step towards reducing recidivism but also a significant contribution to criminal justice system reform, expanding opportunities for returning citizens as they strive for a second chance,\u201d said Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02).\n\nCurrently, reentry demonstration grants offered by the Department of Justice award eligible grantees with the funding needed to implement evidence-based projects that are geared toward reducing recidivism. However, existing requirements fail to provide an additional accountability net for the DOJ, leaving gaps in data reporting and progress tracking. Without clear reporting requirements, Congress and the public are unable to see the impact of grant programs on the formerly incarcerated or effectively measure performance outcomes.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/sykes-brown-budzinski-trone-introduce-fair-warning-act-hold-employers", "Sykes, Brown, Budzinski, Trone Introduce Fair Warning Act To Hold Employers Accountable, Give Workers More Notice", "2023-11-09", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13), Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Representative David Trone (MD-06) and Representative Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) introduced the bicameral Fair Warning Act of 2023, legislation to update the WARN Act and hold employers accountable while also giving workers and communities the notice they need to best prepare for and recover from employer decisions that cost them their jobs.\n\n\u201cLosing a job is tough enough, but it\u2019s made even worse when large corporations ignore the letter of the law and refuse to give hard-working Ohioans and our communities the advance notice they need to prepare for what comes next. People in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District deserve transparency, which is why I\u2019m introducing the Fair Warning Act,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cThe Fair Warning Act holds employers accountable and empowers working people by ensuring workers and their families get the notice they need to prepare and respond to layoffs. As a member of the Congressional Labor Caucus, I\u2019ll always stand with working people and families in our communities by working to prevent layoffs, create better-paying jobs and fight for better worker protections.\u201d\n\n\u201cMore than three decades ago, our country passed the WARN Act, setting rules requiring notifications of layoffs and closures in some circumstances. But in too many cases, it doesn\u2019t apply, or companies ignore the rules, and Ohio workers get left behind,\u201d said Sen. Brown. \u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re introducing the Fair Warning Act to hold employers accountable and give workers, families, and communities the notice they need to better prepare for and recover from these layoffs. We cannot accept that the future of work means lower pay, less job security, and fewer workplace protections.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhen Verso abruptly closed Luke Mill a few years ago, they blindsided employees and sent a shock wave through the town of Luke and our entire state,\u201d said Rep. Trone, a member of the Congressional Labor Caucus. \u201cWorkers built our country to what it is today, and they deserve better than losing their jobs with what feels like no warning. I\u2019m committed to working in Congress to hold companies accountable, requiring them to treat employees with the respect they earned. I\u2019m proud to work with Representatives Sykes and Budzinski on this legislation to do just that.\u201d\n\n\u201cEarlier this year, Akorn Pharmaceuticals left working families high and dry when they violated the WARN Act with a surprise closure of their Decatur facility. While I\u2019m glad that a new employer has taken over the facility, it\u2019s clear that we need to do more to protect workers and their families from unexpected layoffs,\u201d said Rep. Budzinski. \u201cI\u2019m proud to be leading bicameral legislation with Senator Sherrod Brown and Representatives Emilia Sykes and David Trone to strengthen advance notice requirements and ensure that companies are treating working people with the dignity and respect they deserve.\u201d\n\nToo often, companies close down and barely give their workers or the broader community notice. Workers and their families deserve better than a last-minute email letting them know they\u2019re losing their job. While the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, established in 1988, requires certain companies to provide full-time employees with WARN notices in some circumstances, in too many cases, existing law doesn\u2019t apply, or companies fail to follow the rules, and workers get left behind.\n\nThe Fair Warning Act of 2023 would update current law by:\n\nUpdating the statute so the requirements under the law apply to any business that employs 50 or more employees or has an annual payroll of $2 million;\n\nUpdating definitions to ensure the legislation also covers an employer\u2019s affiliate if they violate the WARN Act;\n\nClosing loopholes in notification requirements by expanding the cases where notification is required and including both full-time and part-time employees in thresholds;\n\nIncreasing the lead-time for mass layoff or site closure notifications from 60 days\u2019 notice to 90 days\u2019 notice to provide workers, their families, and the community with advance notice;\n\nRequiring the state to establish a Rapid Response committee and an individual to lead that committee within 20 days of a WARN notice being issued so that affected employees can quickly get the training and other support services they need to prepare for their job loss;\n\nStrengthening enforcement provisions under the law to enhance compliance;\n\nProtecting employees\u2019 rights to bring suit if their employer violates their WARN Act rights; and\n\nRequiring the Department of Labor to create and make public a searchable database of all WARN notices.\n\nAfter Republic Steel abruptly announced August 10, 2023 it would indefinitely idle operations at its Canton facility, Rep. Sykes wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor asking the Department to determine if Republic Steel\u2019s action violated the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act\u2019s requirement that employees receive written notice 60 days before the date of a mass layoff or plant closing if certain conditions are met. On September 19, 2023, the U.S. Department of Labor responded to Rep. Sykes\u2019 letter, indicating that Republic Steel filed a WARN notice on August 10, 2023, for the Canton, Ohio location, but that, \u201cwhile the Department can provide guidance and information about the WARN Act, it has neither investigative nor enforcement authority under the WARN Act.\u201d The Fair Warning Act would strengthen enforcement provisions under the law to enhance compliance, thus ensuring better protection of workers\u2019 rights.\n\nRead the bill text below.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-announces-more-15-million-hire-and-retain-law-enforcement-officers", "Rep. Sykes Announces More Than $1.5 Million To Hire And Retain Law Enforcement Officers, Support Community Policing", "2023-11-08", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) announced the U.S. Department of Justice has awarded multiple grants totalling more than $1.5 million to communities in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District to hire and retain law enforcement officers and support community policing.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m excited to announce over $1.5 million in Community Oriented Policing funding will be coming back to Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District. These vital grants will be used to improve the safety of our communities, hire more experienced and responsible officers, and continue rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the people they serve. I am especially pleased to see $172,595 awarded to the City of Akron for de-escalation training, a measure I have long advocated for to protect both police officers and civilians and make sure everyone can make it home safely to their families at the end of the day,\u201d said Rep. Emilia Sykes. \u201cAs a co-lead of bipartisan legislation to expand the COPS Hiring Program, I\u2019ll continue working diligently across the aisle to ensure our law enforcement agencies and officers have the resources they need to serve our communities safely and effectively.\u201d\n\nInvestments from the Community Oriented Policing Services Hiring Program include:\n\n$250,000 to the City of Barberton to hire 2 new law enforcement officers;\n\n$625,000 to the City of Canton to hire 5 new law enforcement officers;\n\n$125,000 to the Village of Mogadore to hire 1 new law enforcement officer;\n\n$375,000 to the Summit County Sheriff\u2019s Office to hire 3 new law enforcement officers.\n\nInvestments from the Community Policing Development Program include:\n\n$172,595 to the City of Akron for law enforcement agency de-escalation training.\n\nIn May 2023, Rep. Sykes partnered with Reps. Greg Landsman (OH-01), Mike Carey (OH-15), and Max Miller (OH-07) to introduce the Enhancing COPS Hiring Program Grants for Local Law Enforcement Act \u2013 endorsed by the Small & Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association \u2013 which would expand the COPS Hiring Program to allow local law enforcement agencies to utilize the grants for recruitment and retention bonuses, and also modify the program to allow grant applications for COPS Hiring Program grants to be valid for five years, instead of the current one year, to reduce costs and administrative burdens associated with the annual applications.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-statement-call-egyptian-ambassador-zahran-and-call-humanitarian", "Kaptur Statement On Call With Egyptian Ambassador Zahran and Call For Humanitarian Pause So Aid Can Be Delivered And Those Seeking Safety Can Reach It", "2023-11-03", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) a senior member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee released the following statement following a call with Egyptian Ambassador to the United States Motaz Zahran. During the call Congresswoman Kaptur and Ambassador Zahran stressed the importance of de-escalation and a humanitarian pause so that humanitarian aid and assistance can be delivered to Gaza to alleviate suffering of innocent civilians who have been inflicted unbearable harm and those seeking safety can be accommodated, and urgent medical care can reach those in need.\n\n\u201cThe United States stands with our Allies in the Middle East. Israel must be assisted in its time of need to counter the threat from terrorists and to free hostages and innocents who remain in grave danger. Our other valued Allies in the region are critical now and in the days ahead to defuse the situation, heal the wounded, and restore a civil way of life. We must prioritize the safety of innocent civilians in Gaza, the West Bank, and beyond and pray for compassion, understanding, and dialogue to heal. It is an urgent need that all peace-seeking civilians and especially the wounded have access to relief and support. I asked the Ambassador for suggestions of how best to increase medical assistance to the wounded and offered engagement from medical personnel and institutions across our region, as is possible.\n\n\u201cI thank officials in the Biden Administration, Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, and adjoining nations who continue to prioritize the safe and timely delivery of aid to the people of Gaza and to hasten medical care. The destruction of innocent people is never morally justifiable. I echo the Administration\u2019s call for a humanitarian pause so that aid can be delivered to those seeking safety, and a road toward peace restored.\n\n\u201cToday, I have spoken to the Egyptian Ambassador to the United States Motaz Zahran to thank him for Egypt\u2019s important role to achieve opening at the Rafah Crossing to allow passage out of Gaza of innocent civilians who have evacuated to safety including those seeking urgent medical care. 74 Americans thankfully were included in those who were evacuated. The Ambassador and I urge that relatives of Americans still in Gaza and attempting to leave, to contact the U.S. State Department, which can be reached through its online portal or its hotline, which will allow them to be added to the necessary lists to pass safely through the Rafah Crossing.\n\n\u201cI look forward to continuing to work with Ambassador Zahran and with other Ambassadors from across the region to assist in efforts for regional security, safe delivery of aid, and to continue to provide much needed medical and humanitarian assistance and safe passage for those who need it.\u201d\n\nThose seeking to contact the State Department regarding safe travel for yourselves or family leaving the region should use the crisis intake form by clicking here, or by calling either of the following phone numbers, 1-833-890-9595 (toll free) and 606-641-0131 (local).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-votes-against-republican-cuts-clean-water-infrastructure-and", "Rep. Sykes Votes Against Republican Cuts to Clean Water, Infrastructure, And National Parks", "2023-11-03", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) voted against H.R. 4821, the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2024, which includes devastating cuts to clean water infrastructure and national parks, all while hindering our ability to combat the climate crisis and endangering public health.\n\n\u201cAs the Vice Ranking Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, protecting access to clean water is one of my top priorities. H.R. 4821 slashes Ohio\u2019s Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund allocations by 90%, making it harder for people in Ohio\u2019s 13th District to access the clean and safe drinking water they depend on for their livelihoods,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cAdditionally, H.R. 4821 guts funding for our national parks, including Cuyahoga Valley National Park in our own backyard. Because of the devastating impacts these cuts would have on our district, I voted against this partisan legislation. I hope to see my colleagues on the other side of the aisle come together and promote responsible government spending while supporting policies that protect the future of our environment and our economy.\u201d\n\nHouse Republicans\u2019 H.R. 4821 would cut $1.77 billion from the Clean and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. Each state\u2019s allocation would be cut by 91.1%, meaning Ohio would lose over $50 million to protect access to clean water. In an effort to improve this legislation, Rep. Sykes led an amendment that was included in the bill with unanimous, bipartisan support highlighting the importance of robust funding for the Clean and Drinking State Revolving Fund.\n\nH.R. 4821 would also cut the National Park Service (NPS) budget by $433 million (nearly 13%) and would significantly undercut NPS\u2019 ability to protect our most precious natural resources and provide services and programs that benefit communities and support local economies throughout the country. Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District is home to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, the ninth most visited national park in the United States.\n\nAdditionally, H.R. 4821 takes an aggressive pro-pollution stance with a crippling 39% cut to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and policy provisions that will endanger public health, strain the economy, and increase costs. The legislation also hinders the U.S. response to the climate crisis and fails to address the growing number and severity of extreme weather events by cutting efforts to reduce carbon emissions and community resiliency programs.\n\nHere\u2019s what local stakeholders are saying about H.R. 4821:\n\n\u201cEPA\u2019s State Revolving Fund programs provide essential assistance to help communities nationwide finance critical water infrastructure improvements. Whether it is for replacing lead serving lines, addressing emerging contaminants, or simply repairing aging infrastructure, America\u2019s water systems count on Congress to provide adequate SRF funding. The House\u2019s FY24 Interior-Environment spending bill falls far short in this regard, so AMWA appreciates Congresswoman Sykes\u2019 effort to bring attention to this important issue,\u201d said Tom Dobbins, CEO of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies.\n\n\u201cNUCA members depend on the State Revolving Funds to build and maintain essential projects that serve Americans all across the United States. Our communities should not be forced to make hard choices about who can and cannot have their water infrastructure needs met, and this bill will force them to do just that. NUCA thanks Congresswoman Sykes for offering her amendment recognizing the importance of the State Revolving Funds and calls on Congress to fully restore annual funding to these programs in the final bill,\u201d said Doug Carlson, Chief Executive Officer, National Utility Contractors Association.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/representatives-kaptur-and-james-introduce-bipartisan-improve-safety", "Representatives Kaptur and James Introduce Bipartisan IMPROVE Safety for Schools Act to Promote Gun Safety in Schools and for Families", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) and Congressman John James (MI-10) introduced a bipartisan bill, The IMPROVE (Incentivize Motivated Parents with Responsible Options for Vital Education) Safety for Schools Act, which creates a nonrefundable tax credit of $300 to incentivize parents/guardians to purchase firearm safety devices including a gun safe, storage item, or gun lock to improve gun safety at home. The legislation will help ensure children do not have unsupervised access to firearms or the ability to take them without knowledge of an adult. The bill also provides de-escalation training for local education agencies and guidance to families on the importance of safe storage, while expanding SchoolSafety.gov to other social media platforms to reach a wider audience and give greater ability to spread information to those who need it most. A one-pager on the IMPROVE Safety for Schools Act can be found by clicking here.\n\n\u201cToday the leading cause of death for children across our country is gun violence \u2014 a scourge that has taken a terrible toll on America\u2019s families. We are introducing the bipartisan IMPROVE Safety for Schools Act to help make our children, families, schools, and communities safer,\u201d said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. \u201cThe bill expands firearm safety information available for parents, establishes a $300 non-refundable tax credit for firearm safety technologies including gun locks and gun safes, and expands access to information about gun safety through multiple avenues. I look forward to working together with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to enact this bipartisan common sense legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy generation was still in school when the Columbine Massacre happened. I know what it\u2019s like to walk into class with the fear that I may not walk out. Now as the father of three school-aged boys, I pray every day that the Lord allows them to return home safe and sound. It\u2019s insane that millions of parents have to make that prayer every day in America. It\u2019s incensing that dozens of parents\u2019 prayers have not been answered in a generation,\u201d said Congressman John James. \u201cPrayer is powerful but we must do more than pray. We must change policy too. The Second Amendment is not optional, and neither is keeping our kids safe from violence. We deserve an America that can protect itself from tyranny without leaving its children vulnerable to terrorism. Gun deaths are symptoms of cultural decay and hopelessness in America. Doing nothing to address those symptoms is unacceptable, which is why I\u2019m proud to introduce this commonsense school safety package to the U.S. House of Representatives. We are tackling an area that seems to have the least number of solutions - school safety - by first addressing mental health and constitutional responsibility from both sides of the aisle with this bipartisan bill.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-brown-calls-house-republicans-drop-conditions-israel-aid-and", "Congresswoman Brown Calls on House Republicans to Drop Conditions on Israel Aid and Support Civilians and Allies", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Shontel M. Brown", "B001313", "shontelbrown.house.gov", "shontelbrown", "https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, House Republicans advanced legislation (H.R. 6126) placing partisan conditions on aid to Israel and blocking humanitarian assistance to Gaza. They have made emergency aid to Israel conditional upon the rescinding of IRS funding. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the cuts to the IRS would increase the deficit by $12.5 billion.\n\nCongresswoman Brown releases the following statement:\n\n\u201cThis legislation from Speaker Johnson abandons civilians in need, abandons Israel, and sends a dangerous message to the world that the United States is not a reliable ally. This legislation is an irresponsible, illegitimate, and immoral response to the attacks on Israel and a major humanitarian crisis. We can and must support Israel\u2019s defense and aid innocent Palestinian civilians.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s be clear, House Republicans are walking away from Israel and innocent civilians unless they get cuts to the IRS that will benefit wealthy tax cheats. The \u2018offset\u2019 they\u2019re demanding will not cover the cost of aid, but instead will cost America more money and unconscionably endanger more innocent lives.\n\n\u201cExtreme MAGA Republicans are blocking humanitarian aid, compromising aid to Israel, and abandoning our allies. There is strong bipartisan support for aid to Israel and for the civilians impacted by the war. But this bill puts all aid on hold in an attempt to further unrelated partisan goals. It\u2019s time for the Speaker and his Republican colleagues to stop playing games.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-condemns-house-republican-legislation-conditioning-emergency-aid", "Rep. Sykes Condemns House Republican Legislation Conditioning Emergency Aid To Israel", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) voted against H.R. 6126, partisan legislation that delays Congress\u2019 ability to help Israel defend itself and fails to include funding for humanitarian assistance for the people of Gaza or Ukraine.\n\n\u201cAt a time when our allies and innocent civilians need our help, House Republicans have chosen to condition support for Israel on providing tax breaks for billionaires instead of working in a bipartisan manner to promote peace and democracy in the region,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cThe Majority should be ashamed they brought a bill to the floor that delays the resources Israel needs to defend themselves and doesn\u2019t include any humanitarian assistance, all while adding more than $12 billion to the national deficit. I am committed to working with my colleagues to bolster our national security and promote democracy by passing a comprehensive funding package that helps both Israel and Ukraine defend themselves, includes humanitarian assistance to Israelis, Palestinians, and Ukrainians, and provides crucial resources to both secure the southern border and strengthen our military\u2019s readiness. I\u2019ll continue working with any member on either side of the aisle to improve our national security and keep people in Ohio\u2019s 13th District safe from threats here at home and across the world.\u201d\n\nH.R. 6126 fails to include critical security funding requests from the Biden-Harris Administration supported by Rep. Sykes, including support for Ukraine, global humanitarian response, border security, and security across the Indo-Pacific.\n\nNot only does H.R. 6126 take an unprecedented step of conditioning aid to Israel on spending reductions, but the Majority\u2019s suggested cuts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) doubles the cost of the bill. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that every $1 cut from the IRS in this partisan bill loses at least $1.87 in revenues over the next 10 years ($26.8 billion total).\n\nToday, Rep. Sykes also signed onto two letters to Congressional Leadership urging the swift passage of the President\u2019s request for Fiscal Year 2024 emergency supplemental funding. These requests include aid for the United States Agency for International Development\u2019s International Disaster Assistance account to meet rising humanitarian needs around the world, including those related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Israel. Additionally, the request includes vital procurement resources for Israel\u2019s Iron Dome Defense System and David\u2019s Sling short-range ballistic missile defense capabilities.\n\nAdditionally, the Biden-Harris Administration has called on Congress to provide additional resources to advance critical domestic priorities and address urgent needs, including funding to prevent families from losing child care, continue to expand access to high-speed internet, protect American security and bolster energy independence, save lives by countering the fentanyl crisis, and provide food aid to support emergency needs abroad and farmers at home. None of these funding requests are included in H.R. 6126.\n\nIn August 2023, Rep. Sykes, as part of a group of 24 House Democrats led by Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Steny Hoyer, traveled to Israel to gain a firsthand understanding of challenges in the region, and bolster one of America\u2019s most strategic and impactful international relationships.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-sykes-crawford-introduce-support-quantum-supply-chains-act", "Reps. Sykes, Crawford Introduce The Support For Quantum Supply Chains Act", "2023-11-02", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (OH-13) and Rick Crawford (AR-01) introduced the Support For Quantum Supply Chains Act, legislation to accelerate the development of secure, resilient, and reliable domestic supply chains for quantum technologies and quantum supporting technologies.\n\nQuantum technologies have the potential to vastly improve computing speeds and performance, sensing capabilities, and the security of communications. Currently, quantum technology can be found in a wide range of products including MRI scanners for medical imaging, lasers, solar cells, electron microscopes, and atomic clocks used for GPS.\n\nQuantum technology is particularly important for the healthcare industry, as quantum technology could be used to develop new medical therapies and diagnostics to improve the overall health of our communities. Healthcare is one the largest industries in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District.\n\n\u201cQuantum technology has the power to fundamentally revolutionize healthcare, construction, national security, finance, and more, leading to better lives for people in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District and across the nation. But we cannot take full advantage of this technology if we do not have a secure infrastructure to support innovation. The Support for Quantum Supply Chains Act will strengthen our domestic supply chains and advance American competitiveness to ensure our country establishes itself as a leader in this fast-growing technology,\u201d said Rep. Sykes.\n\n\u201cRelying heavily on foreign nations to supply components critical to quantum technology threatens both domestic growth and our national security,\u201d said Rep. Crawford. \u201cI am pleased to join Representative Sykes in her efforts to address this issue through the Support for Quantum Supply Chains Act, which creates public-private partnerships to identify quantum supply chain vulnerabilities, as well as opportunities and solutions. Now is the time to support American innovation in quantum as we seek to shore up our security posture as China becomes increasingly belligerent.\u201d\n\nOne of the biggest challenges facing the emerging U.S. quantum industry is a lack of secure and reliable domestic supply chains. Some essential products or materials that enable quantum information science are only made by specific companies in other countries, and very few foundries for quantum-supporting components are located in the United States. Quantum technologies also rely heavily on rare earths, which may be at risk and subject to supply and pricing changes by adversarial nations.\n\nThe Support for Quantum Supply Chains Act would advance quantum technology by amending the National Quantum Initiative Act (NQIA) to direct both the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), to support the development of reliable domestic supply chains for quantum technologies and quantum supporting technologies. NIST has a long history of supporting the development of domestic supply chains through its extramural manufacturing activities, including the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program and the Manufacturing USA network. The agency will be able to leverage these existing programs and its expertise in quantum information science to support resilient supply chains for quantum technologies. Further, by leveraging the QED-C to identify supply chain supporting technologies to enhance American competitiveness in quantum information science, the federal government will be better able to support quantum industries and mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities.\n\nFull text for the Support for Quantum Supply Chains Act below.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-brown-applauds-opening-greater-cleveland-food-bank-community", "Congresswoman Brown Applauds Opening of Greater Cleveland Food Bank Community Resource Center", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Shontel M. Brown", "B001313", "shontelbrown.house.gov", "shontelbrown", "https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) applauds the opening of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank\u2019s Community Resource Center. The Community Resource Center on South Waterloo Road will provide area residents with food and also connect them with other agencies in the building, providing a one-stop-shop for resources and services.\n\nLast year, Congresswoman Brown secured $4 million in federal Community Project Funding for the Greater Cleveland Food Bank's Capital Expansion and Capacity Building Project. The funding was included in the funding bill passed by Congress in December 2022. Congresswoman Brown formally requested the funding in April of last year.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-celebrates-opening-domestic-violence-project-incs-new-community", "Rep. Sykes Celebrates Opening Of Domestic Violence Project, Inc.\u2019s New Community Spaces For Survivors", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "CANTON, OH \u2014 This week, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) attended the grand opening of the Domestic Violence Project, Inc. (DVPI)\u2019s newly renovated Founding Mothers\u2019 Room and Community Space, which will offer resources to survivors of domestic violence in Stark County.\n\nThe new Founding Mothers\u2019 Room is a trauma-informed space offering more organized spaces for clothing and other personal care supplies. The second, new Community Space creates an area dedicated for peer support groups.\n\n\u201cEvery day, the Domestic Violence Project, Inc. creates a safe, compassionate place for survivors of domestic violence to turn to when they need help. The newly renovated Founding Mothers\u2019 Room and Community Space will empower survivors by giving them the resources and tools they need to rebuild their lives after leaving unsafe relationships,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cI\u2019m proud to support the ongoing work of local community organizations like DVPI by introducing the Safer Homes and Families Act to better protect survivors, hold abusers accountable, and ultimately, save lives. Our communities are stronger when we work together to ensure everyone can live safely and securely.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are grateful to Lowe's Hometowns for allowing us the opportunity to renovate these rooms into more trauma-informed spaces. It is our mission to provide safety, hope, and healing to survivors of domestic violence and their families. With Representative Sykes\u2019 ongoing support, we are removing barriers and increasing survivor safety each day,\u201d said Julie Donant, CEO of Domestic Violence Project, Inc.\n\nThis project was made possible after DVPI was one of just 100 organizations across the country to be awarded a Lowe\u2019s Hometown Grant. The Lowe\u2019s Hometown program is a five-year, $100 million commitment to rebuild and revitalize community spaces nationwide.\n\nRep. Sykes is a longtime advocate for domestic violence survivors. Last week, she introduced the Safer Homes and Families Act, a comprehensive legislative package consisting of four bills which would protect families from domestic violence by:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-tours-local-health-organizations-canton-part-ongoing-commitment", "Rep. Sykes Tours Local Health Organizations In Canton As Part Of Ongoing Commitment To Improving The Health Of Our Communities", "2023-11-01", "2023", "2023-11", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "CANTON, OH \u2014 Yesterday, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) toured Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital, Aultman Hospital, Shipley Child Health Clinic, and Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health agency. During these visits, Rep. Sykes met with healthcare staff and leadership and discussed efforts to improve access to quality, affordable healthcare services for all people living in Stark County. Healthcare is one the largest industries in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District.\n\n\u201cAs someone who has dedicated their career to public health, it is one of my top priorities to ensure Ohioans in the 13th Congressional District are healthy and safe. Our local healthcare organizations are integral to the overall public health and economic vitality of our communities, so it was a pleasure to meet with providers in Canton to discuss how we can work together to provide comprehensive, essential services to Stark County residents,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cI remain committed to ensuring all folks can access high-quality, affordable healthcare when they need it most.\u201d\n\nSince joining Congress in January 2023, Rep. Sykes introduced the Mental Health Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation to improve access to mental health services by providing tens of millions of dollars annually to increase the numbers of mental health professionals in communities across the country. Additionally, she has co-sponsored several bills to improve the health and wellbeing of our communities, including the Momnibus Act, to support mothers and children and combat the maternal mortality crisis, and the Nancy Gardner Sewell Medicare Multi-Cancer Early Detection (MCED) Screening Coverage Act, to increase access to multi-cancer early detection screening tests through Medicare.\n\nAt Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital, Rep. Sykes met with Dr. Brian Harte (President of Cleveland Clinic Southern Regional Hospitals), Dr. Cody Turner (Chief Medical Officer), Dr. Drew Wojtkowski, DDS (Medical Director of the Dental Clinic), Dr. Zach Christoff (Assistant Program Director of the Dental Unit), Thomas Turner (Vice President Development & Government Relations and President of the Mercy Development Foundation). During the visit, she toured the hospital\u2019s Intensive Care Unit, Oral Health Unit, Emergency Department Cath Lab, and Cardiovascular Unit. The Cath Lab is the only one of its kind in the United States and began in 1998 with funding from Congress.\n\nWhile at Aultman Hospital, Rep. Sykes visited the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the new, $28 million dollar Cancer Center and met with Rob Mullen (Chief Legal Officer and Senior VP Aultman Health Foundation & Aultcare), Anne Gunther, (COO Healthcare Delivery Systems), and Dr. Peter Ferguson (Medical Director of Aultcare).\n\n\u201cWe were honored to host Congresswoman Emilia Sykes today at the Aultman Hospital main campus. Emilia toured the new Aultman Timken Family Cancer Center, along with the neonatal intensive care unit, which is operated by Akron Children\u2019s Hospital. Hospital administrators were excited to join Emilia and enjoyed some educational and engaging conversations during their tour. Thank you, Emilia, for stopping by to visit!\u201d said Anne Gunther, COO Healthcare Delivery Systems at Aultman Hospital.\n\nRep. Sykes also toured the Shipley Child Health Clinic and the Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health agency, meeting with Amy Weisbrod (Executive Director of Shipley Child Health Clinic) and Joe French (CEO of Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health).\n\n\u201cIt was an honor to provide a tour of our safety-net, community pediatric clinic and talk about access and equity with Congresswoman Sykes and her team. Her intentionality was ever present, and I believe more children will have access to healthcare because of her time and compassion for the issue,\u201d said Amy Weisbrod, Executive Director of Shipley Child Health Clinic.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T01:01:09Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-announces-1432607-awarded-community-action-akron-summits-head-start", "Rep. Sykes Announces $1,432,607 Awarded To Community Action Akron Summit\u2019s Head Start Program", "2023-10-31", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "AKRON, OH \u2014 U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded a grant of $1,432,607 to Community Action Akron Summit. This grant will support the Summit County Head Start program.\n\n\u201cHead Start has long been a cornerstone of early childhood education and development, supporting children and families all over the nation. Therefore, it\u2019s with great pleasure that I announce this $1,432,607 award to Community Action,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cThis grant demonstrates our commitment to investing in the future of our children and ensuring that every child, regardless of their zipcode, receives a quality education and the opportunity to succeed.\u201d\n\nCommunity Action is the grantee agency of the Summit County Head Start/Early Head Start Program. The Head Start Program provides high-quality early childhood education to infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children.\n\nThis substantial funding will strengthen Community Action\u2019s capacity to provide high-quality education services to the most vulnerable members of our community.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-sykes-joyce-introduce-fair-social-security-domestic-violence-survivors", "Reps. Sykes, Joyce Introduce Fair Social Security For Domestic Violence Survivors Act", "2023-10-31", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 This National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, U.S. Representatives Emilia Sykes (OH-13) and Dave Joyce (OH-14) introduced the Fair Social Security for Domestic Violence Survivors Act which would expand access to Social Security spousal benefits for individuals who divorce due to domestic abuse.\n\n\u201cWe know that many spouses don\u2019t leave unsafe marriages simply because they can\u2019t afford to. Survivors who are already taking the courageous step of removing themselves from a dangerous situation shouldn\u2019t be penalized financially when they leave an abusive marriage. The Fair Social Security for Domestic Violence Act will empower survivors by giving them the financial resources they need to leave their abuser,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cI\u2019m glad to lead this bipartisan legislation with Rep. Joyce because everyone deserves to live safely and securely in our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cVictims of domestic violence should never feel the need to stay in their marriage due to the fear of not being able to support themselves financially after leaving their abuser,\u201d said Rep. Joyce, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Task Force to End Sexual Violence. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation reduces the current barriers to access Social Security spousal benefits, so that victims and survivors don\u2019t feel forced to stay in an unsafe situation.\u201d\n\nCurrently, couples must be married for at least 10 years to be eligible for spousal Social Security benefits. The Fair Social Security for Domestic Violence Survivors Act lowers this minimum marital threshold to five years.\n\nStatistically, leaving an abuser is the most dangerous time for a victim of domestic violence. Victims also cite lack of financial resources as a major barrier to leaving an unsafe relationship.\n\nThe Fair Social Security for Domestic Violence Survivors Act is part of a comprehensive legislative package introduced by Rep. Sykes to prevent domestic violence, empower and support survivors, and keep families safe. In addition to expanding access to Social Security benefits for individuals who divorce due to domestic abuse, the full Safer Homes and Families Act would:\n\nBan the use of electronic devices to track people without their consent;\n\nTrain healthcare providers to better identify and treat individuals who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, or dating violence; and\n\nAllow individuals who are experiencing dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault to break their lease without adverse costs.\n\nA longtime advocate for protecting survivors of domestic violence, Rep. Sykes\u2019 work on domestic violence issues has earned bipartisan praise and resulted in her priority legislation, Ohio H.B. 1, to be signed into law when she was in the Ohio House of Representatives. Ohio H.B. 1 gives victims of dating violence the ability to obtain civil protective orders against their attacker.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-republicans-pass-extreme-funding-bill-raises-energy-costs-hurts", "House Republicans Pass Extreme Funding Bill that Raises Energy Costs, Hurts U.S. Competitiveness, and Ignores the Climate Crisis", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Today, House Republicans voted to raise costs for American families by passing their extreme 2024 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies funding bill. This bill includes harmful provisions that increase energy costs by cutting clean energy programs, fail to diversify energy production and storage, yield leadership of the global energy future to China, ignore the scientific consensus on climate change, and increase our dependence on foreign energy. House Democrats were united in their opposition, voting unanimously against the bill.\n\nFor 2024, the Energy and Water bill provides $54.2 billion, a decrease of $4.9 billion or 8.2 percent below 2023. Further, the bill\u2019s domestic allocation is effectively 25.4 percent, $6.4 billion, below 2023 while its defense allocation is 3.5 percent, $1.1 billion, above 2023, creating a further disparity between domestic and defense programs. The legislation:\n\nIncreases energy costs by cutting the Department of Energy\u2019s clean energy programs that lower American families\u2019 energy bills.\n\nJeopardizes energy security by enabling Russia to continue weaponizing energy to destabilize global markets.\n\nHurts U.S. Competitiveness by allowing competitors like China to monopolize markets for new energy technology.\n\nFails to confront the climate crisis and create better-paying, clean energy jobs.\n\n\u201cThe Department of Energy has a proven record of partnering to help drive down the costs of clean energy technologies, reducing every day energy costs to the benefit of Americans nationwide, creating good-paying jobs for the hardworking men and women of our country while uplifting families. This bill passed today along party lines includes substantial cuts and a myriad of controversial poison pill policy riders that show Republicans are not interested in serious governance or passing bills that can gain bipartisan support and be signed into law,\u201d said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development. \u201cI am disappointed that this bill passed by the Majority today made deep cuts to efforts to deploy clean energy technologies that reduce burdensome energy costs on families and seniors, especially those struggling to make ends meet. These extreme budget cuts will stifle American innovation and impede these important initiatives, resulting in higher energy costs and increased dependence on foreign adversaries for energy supplies, taking us further away from our goals of energy independence. Republicans can't have it both ways when it comes to energy independence \u2014 if they cut spending at home, it will only continue to increase our dependence on foreign energy sources from abroad.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Kaptur\u2019s full remarks are here.\n\n\u201cFor 22 days the House was frozen because of House Republicans' inability to elect a Speaker. In 22 days, Government funding runs out. Instead of working on bills that can earn the support of Democrats and Republicans in the House and the Senate\u2014the support needed for these bills to become law\u2014House Republicans are continuing down their path of passing extreme bills that raise costs for American families and do nothing to confront the climate crisis,\u201d said Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro. \u201cThis Energy and Water funding bill cuts domestic energy investments by a staggering 25.4 percent, or $6.4 billion lower than last year, with the consequence of increasing energy costs for American families at a time when families are living paycheck to paycheck and struggling with the high cost of living. This bill undermines the growth and modernization of our energy infrastructure, weakens our national security, and would yield leadership of the world\u2019s energy future to our greatest adversaries. I am ready to find common ground and pass bipartisan Appropriations bills immediately. I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to end this charade and join me at the negotiating table.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman DeLauro\u2019s full remarks are here.\n\nKey provisions of the bill can be found here. The text and accompanying report of the legislation, before action on the House Floor, is available here. Information on Community Project Funding in the bill is here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-announces-399570-department-justice-grant-awarded-battered-womens", "Rep. Sykes Announces $399,570 Department Of Justice Grant Awarded To Battered Women\u2019s Shelter Of Summit And Medina Counties To Support Survivors", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "AKRON, OH \u2014U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) announced the U.S. Department of Justice awarded a $399,570 grant to the Battered Women\u2019s Shelter of Summit and Medina Counties (BWS). This funding will provide essential services, including emergency shelter and transitional housing to survivors of domestic violence, with a special focus on those who have companion animals.\n\n\u201cThe Battered Women\u2019s Shelter of Summit and Medina County has long been a beacon of hope and support for survivors of domestic violence in our community. This grant will enable them to expand their services to accommodate the unique needs of survivors who have companion animals, allowing them to heal and rebuild their lives along with their pets,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cI will continue working to bring back even more federal dollars to support organizations like the Battered Women\u2019s Shelter that provide crucial services to our community.\u201d\n\nBWS opened the largest domestic violence shelter in the state of Ohio in 2017, a 40,000 square foot building offering 154 beds to survivors. BWS will utilize this grant to better accommodate companion animals at their shelter.\n\nIf you or someone you know is experiencing violence, visit www.hopeandhealingresources.org or call the BWS hotline at 330-374-1111.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-hosts-call-your-congresswoman-discuss-protecting-families", "Rep. Sykes Hosts \u201cCall With Your Congresswoman\u201d To Discuss Protecting Families", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Yesterday, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) hosted a \u201cCall With Your Congresswoman\u201d to discuss her work to Protect Families in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District. Rep. Sykes was joined by Teresa Stafford, CEO of Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center in Summit and Medina Counties.\n\nDuring the telephone town hall, Rep. Sykes explained the Safer Homes and Families Act, her comprehensive legislative package consisting of four bills to prevent domestic violence, protect and empower survivors, and keep families safe. Rep. Sykes and Teresa also discussed resources available to survivors in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District, as well as ways lawmakers and local organizations can work together to prevent domestic violence and build awareness in our communities.\n\n\u201cOur neighbors, friends, and family members should all be able to live safely and securely in our communities. That\u2019s why I introduced the Safer Homes and Families Act, which will empower and protect survivors of domestic violence, hold abusers accountable, and ultimately, save lives here in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District and across the country,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cI\u2019m grateful for the work local organizations like Hope and Healing are doing to combat domestic violence and provide resources to impacted families in Northeast Ohio, and I will continue to support these efforts in Congress.\u201d\n\n\u201cThank you, Congresswoman Sykes, for hosting this conversation to bring awareness to domestic violence and the services Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center provides this Domestic Violence Awareness Month. For any survivor, know that this situation wasn\u2019t your fault, the shame and stigma isn\u2019t yours to carry, and the Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center is here to help you,\u201d said Teresa Stafford, CEO of the Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center of Summit and Medina Counties.\n\nWatch last night\u2019s telephone town hall here.\n\nThe Safer Homes and Families Act would protect families from domestic violence by:\n\nBanning the use of electronic devices to track people without their consent;\n\nExpanding access to Social Security spousal benefits for individuals who divorce due to domestic abuse;\n\nTraining healthcare providers to better identify and treat individuals who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, or dating violence; and\n\nAllowing individuals who are experiencing dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault to break their lease without adverse costs.\n\nNationally, one in three women and one in four men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. Ohio suffered 112 domestic violence fatalities from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, 17 of which were children. Additionally, 1,359 incidents of domestic violence were reported in Summit County, and 1,527 in Stark County in 2022.\n\nThe Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center provides a home for both the Battered Women\u2019s Shelter and the Rape Crisis Center. The Battered Women\u2019s Shelter (BWS) offers services to anyone experiencing intimate partner violence, sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking from all demographics (including adult males, elderly, LGBTQ, immigrants and refugees, deaf and hard of hearing, etc.) in Summit and Medina counties. Efforts focus on two priorities: effective intervention at a time of crisis, and programs and community education to prevent abusive situations. The Rape Crisis Center strives to deliver ongoing, client-centered, confidential and/or anonymous comprehensive services to sexual violence survivors and co-survivors. Specially-trained staff, interns, and volunteers empower, support, educate, and provide resources to aid each survivor as they rebuild their lives after experiencing this atrocious crime. The Center offers a variety of services including: crisis support, 24-hour hotline, support and education during hospital forensic examinations, support and education while navigating the justice system, therapy, support groups, information and referrals.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-supports-bipartisan-resolution-standing-israel-condemns-hamas", "Rep. Sykes Supports Bipartisan Resolution Standing With Israel, Condemns Hamas", "2023-10-26", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) voted in support of H.Res. 771, a bipartisan resolution standing with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists and condemning Hamas\u2019 brutal war against Israel.\n\n\u201cI strongly condemn Hamas\u2019 violent and horrific attack on the State of Israel. Attacks on innocent civilians are heinous and never justified, and I am praying for the families in mourning and communities impacted by this violence. These atrocious acts by the terrorist organization Hamas have jeopardized the safety and well-being, not only of Israelis, but Palestinians who overwhelmingly do not support violence,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cI stand firmly and unequivocally with the Israeli people, the right for Israel to exist, and reaffirm my commitment to supporting the State of Israel in its right to defend itself. We will not let terrorists win.\u201d\n\nThe text of the resolution can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-member-kaptur-floor-remarks-opposition-2024-energy-and-water", "Ranking Member Kaptur Floor Remarks in Opposition to the 2024 Energy and Water Development Funding Bill", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks on the House Floor in opposition to H.R. 4394, the fiscal year 2024 Energy and Water Development Funding bill:\n\n\u2013 As Prepared for Delivery \u2013\n\nI yield myself as much time as I may consume.\n\nI would like to begin by thanking our diligent staff for all their hard work on this bill. On the Minority staff I would like to thank Scott McKee, Jocelyn Hunn and Adam Wilson. On the Majority staff I would like to thank Angie Giancarlo, Perry Yates, Nora Kahlil, Richie O\u2019Connell, Scott Prutting, and Janet Harrington. On my personal staff, I would like to thank Margaret McInnis and Mayely Boyce.\n\nAs we work on this Energy and Water bill, I would be remiss to not remark how deeply saddened I am from the passing of Senator Dianne Feinstein. As Energy and Water appropriators, Dianne and I worked closely over many years to protect the waters of the United States and a build a brighter, cleaner energy future. Her acute mastery of the energy and water needs of our nation had no comparison. Her dignified noble public service is truly a great loss for our nation.\n\nThere is not time to fully express my thoughts currently, but I am so deeply saddened for California\u2019s loss, for our nation\u2019s loss, and for all who grieve the loss of the longest serving woman in Senate history. All I \u2014 or any of us \u2014 can do is laud Senator Dianne Feinstein\u2019s productive career of exemplary public service. Rest in peace my dear friend.\n\nThe U.S. economy is growing at record rates, producing historic levels of job growth due to laws enacted by the last Congress. With this historic job growth, revenues are now coming into the private sector and the Federal government at much higher levels than before because \u2014 post pandemic \u2014 millions more people are working. Companies are earning money.\n\nIndeed, as this Debt/GDP chart clearly illustrates, our nation has bent the debt curve as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product for the first time in modern history, as we begin to pay down our nation\u2019s accumulated debt, largely amassed from the costs of past wars that were not paid for.\n\nIn this context, I am unable to concur with my able colleague Chair Fleischman on this Appropriations bill. I prefer a more realistic Energy and Water allocation that meets the critical energy and water needs of our nation.\n\nEnergy and water security are national security, but, the nondefense spending in this bill is $6.4 billion lower \u2014 25 percent lower \u2014 than last year\u2019s effective level. That is a radical, irresponsible reduction. It repeals over $5 billion for critical energy programs from the Inflation Reduction Act that would have helped American families save money on their monthly energy bills while simultaneously creating thousands of jobs in new energy technologies.\n\nFor Energy and Water needs, it is not overstatement to say people in our nation live or die by decisions being made here in Congress.\n\nSince World War II, America paid a terrible price for its unconscious slide into foreign dependency on imported energy. While we have made strides toward energy independence after half century of effort, we still haven\u2019t scored at the home plate of U.S. energy independence in perpetuity.\n\nAnd hasn\u2019t our nation learned repeatedly \u2014 the hard way \u2014 that when gasoline prices top $4 dollars a gallon, our economy is thrown into deep recession? It should be obvious why U.S. energy independence is so vital.\n\nEnergy security is national security. We must ensure energy security within our own borders. We cannot depend on foreign sources in the event of energy disruptions that are natural \u2014 or malignly concocted to do us harm.\n\nEnergy impacts every person\u2019s wellbeing. It allows our nation to be free, and free of foreign malign influence. We know our nation\u2019s fate can be impacted by events outside our borders.\n\nNews outlets are correctly reporting that Russia\u2019s unprovoked war on Ukraine is being waged on more than one front, including energy, through the manipulation of global oil and gas prices due to reserves Russia controls. In fact, oil price surged to nearly $100 per barrel in September after Saudi Arabia and Russia continued their curtailment of oil supplies. The sharp escalation in geopolitical risk in the Middel East from the brutal Hamas terror attacks in Israel has oil markets on edge. Let us not forget that the Middle East accounts for more than one-third of the world\u2019s seaborne oil trade. Again, energy resources are intricately bound to the fate of Liberty halfway around our world.\n\nEnergy also allows our private sector\u2019s ability to flourish in a modern economy with millions upon millions of living wage jobs in energy production and conservation \u2014 across all sectors \u2014 natural gas, ethanol and biodiesel, nuclear, fossil fuels, thermal heat recovery, renewables, and advancing sectors of hydrogen and fusion energy.\n\nMeanwhile imaginative energy conservation and other developing technologies are being created by America\u2019s amazing inventors in new building materials, solar and electrified windows, biofuels, geothermal and thermal heat recovery, and wind and wave energy, to name a few.\n\nNow, on water responsibilities, new, major engineering challenges lie before America. Ask the citizens along the drought-stricken Mississippi Louisianan corridor as saltwater creeps north, or the flood victims in New York City.\n\nAcross our nation, cities are having to manage water and wastewater loads for which they were not engineered. Farmers are losing crops because of increasing rainfall, an inability to manage water in the fields, and drainage systems that were built for another era.\n\nThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation are needed now more than ever to handle regional approaches to new and changing water flows, whether it\u2019s down the Mississippi, in the Great Lakes, or the dry, irrigated West.\n\nThere is an old expression: \u201cDon\u2019t try to fool Mother Nature.\u201d I would say, \u201cDon\u2019t ignore Mother Nature.\u201d This is one such moment in American history. And so I must express the Energy and Water Appropriation bill before us is completely inadequate. It does not meet our country\u2019s needs in this new era of climate change.\n\nWe are paying billions more in disaster relief. This country paid over $150 billion in disaster damage last year, significantly higher than the $60 billion average from the last 30 years. We ought to be investing that money upfront to avoid those disasters by properly funding this bill. We must robustly meet the needs of the future, not flounder in the past.\n\nIn other areas of this bill, I continue to be troubled by the unsustainable spending in DOE\u2019s weapons program. Further, I\u2019m concerned how this bill cuts nuclear nonproliferation programs that reduce nuclear risks and counter the global challenge of nuclear proliferation.\n\nFinally, the bill includes numerous controversial poison pill policy riders that sadly show extremist Republicans are not interested in bills that can gain bipartisan support and become law.\n\nI urge my colleagues to oppose this bill. America can and must do better on the New Age Frontiers of Energy and Water.\n\nI reserve the balance of my time.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-announces-100-million-clean-cuyahoga-river-gorge-dam", "Rep. Sykes Announces $100 Million To Clean Up Cuyahoga River Gorge Dam", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "AKRON, OH \u2014 U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new project agreement with contributions from federal and local partners totaling more than $100 million to clean up nearly 875,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediments from the Cuyahoga River Gorge Dam.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad to announce this project of more than $100 million to clean up the Cuyahoga River Gorge Dam. Once again, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is making a difference right here in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District. This important collaboration between the federal Environmental Protection Agency and local sponsors Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, the City of Akron, FirstEnergy/Ohio Edison Company, and Ohio EPA will help restore the health of the Cuyahoga River, boosting job creation and economic development throughout the region,\u201d said Rep. Sykes.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-statement-new-house-speaker", "Rep. Sykes Statement On New House Speaker", "2023-10-25", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes (OH-13) issued the following statement after House Republicans elected Rep. Mike Johnson (LA-04) as the new Speaker of the House.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m disappointed that after three weeks of House Republicans fighting amongst themselves and forcing Congress to a standstill, they have chosen to elect an extreme House Speaker that supported efforts to overturn the 2020 election, wants to criminalize abortion nationwide, and has worked to slash Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cPeople in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District deserve a Speaker of the House who will work together with any member to find common ground and bipartisan solutions\u2014 not someone who will double down on partisan politics meant to distract and divide us.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-brown-announces-153-million-home-energy-funding-ohioans", "Congresswoman Brown Announces $153 Million in Home Energy Funding for Ohioans", "2023-10-24", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Shontel M. Brown", "B001313", "shontelbrown.house.gov", "shontelbrown", "https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) announced that Ohio was awarded $153.6 million in funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Administered through the Administration for Children and Families\u2019 Office of Community Services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, LIHEAP funding will help households with low incomes pay their energy bills. LIHEAP can also be used to weatherize and make residences more energy efficient.\n\nToday\u2019s funding release was made possible by two measures voted for by Congresswoman Brown. The largest portion comes from funds appropriated by Congress in the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2024, passed last month. Additional funding for LIHEAP is from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Congresswoman Brown voted for in 2021.\n\nLIHEAP is federally funded and delivered through the states, including Ohio\u2019s HEAP Program.\n\nToday\u2019s funding announcement includes $153,657,915 total for Ohio:\n\n$149,159,774 for Ohio from the regular LIHEAP block grant funding\n\n$4,498,141 additional funding for Ohio from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law\n\n\u201cNo Ohio family should be cold this winter, or have to choose between paying for heat and buying groceries. That\u2019s why I\u2019ve continued to support the LIHEAP program and part of why it was so important to keep the government open. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this key program receives additional funding to help meet increased needs. I encourage my constituents who need help with heating bills to visit energyhelp.us or contact my office \u2013 we can help you apply,\u201d said Congresswoman Shontel Brown.\n\nLIHEAP Funding Announcement and link to state tables here. HHS release here.\n\nIndividuals interested in applying for LIHEAP or learning more about eligibility can visit energyhelp.us or call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) toll-free at: 1-866-674-6327.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-introduces-safer-homes-and-families-act-protect-survivors-domestic", "Rep. Sykes Introduces Safer Homes And Families Act To Protect Survivors Of Domestic Violence And Keep Families Safe From Abuse", "2023-10-24", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 This National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) introduced the Safer Homes and Families Act, a comprehensive legislative package consisting of four bills to prevent domestic violence, protect and empower survivors, and keep families safe.\n\n\u201cEvery American deserves to live a life that is safe, secure, and free from abuse. But too many Americans from all backgrounds and ages face domestic violence in communities across the country,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cAs the Congresswoman for Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District, it is my duty to ensure our neighbors, friends, and family members can live safely in our neighborhoods. The Safer Homes and Families Act will empower and protect survivors of domestic violence, hold abusers accountable, and ultimately, save lives. Our communities are stronger when everyone is safe from violence.\u201d\n\nThe Safer Homes and Families Act would protect families from domestic violence by:\n\nBanning the use of electronic devices to track people without their consent;\n\nExpanding access to Social Security spousal benefits for individuals who divorce due to domestic abuse;\n\nTraining healthcare providers to better identify and treat individuals who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, or dating violence; and\n\nAllowing individuals who are experiencing dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault to break their lease without adverse costs.\n\nNationally, one in three women and one in four men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. In 2022, Ohio suffered 112 domestic violence fatalities from July 1, 2022, through June 30, 2023, 17 of which were children. Additionally, 1,359 incidents of domestic violence were reported in Summit County, and 1,527 in Stark County.\n\nA longtime advocate for protecting survivors of domestic violence, Rep. Sykes\u2019 work on domestic violence issues has earned bipartisan praise and resulted in her priority legislation, Ohio H.B. 1, to be signed into law when she was serving in the Ohio House of Representatives. Ohio H.B. 1 gives victims of dating violence the ability to obtain civil protective orders against their attacker.\n\nMore information about the four bills included in the Safer Homes and Families Act is below.\n\nStop Electronic Stalking Act\n\nWhile Bluetooth tagging devices are intended to track property, not people, crimes have been reported across the country involving the use of Bluetooth tagging devices to stalk victims, specifically younger women and women being stalked by former spouses or relationship partners.\n\nCurrently, federal stalking law does not explicitly ban unwanted location tracking using an electronic device. Therefore, the Stop Electronic Stalking Act amends the federal criminal code\u2019s definition of stalking to codify that the unauthorized tracking of an individual by a GPS device qualifies as stalking to prevent victimization and crack down on bad actors who use tracking devices for nefarious purposes.\n\nThis legislation is part of Rep. Sykes\u2019 continued efforts to ensure no American is tracked electronically without their consent. In July 2023, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee voted to pass Rep. Sykes\u2019 amendment to support research to stop unauthorized electronic tracking. Additionally, while serving in the Ohio House of Representatives, Rep. Sykes introduced Ohio H.B. 672, bipartisan legislation to prohibit a person from knowingly installing a tracking device or tracking application on another person\u2019s property without the other person\u2019s consent.\n\nFair Social Security for Domestic Violence Survivors Act\n\nSurvivors of domestic abuse shouldn\u2019t be penalized financially when they leave an abusive marriage. The Fair Social Security for Domestic Violence Survivors Act would expand access to Social Security spousal benefits for individuals who divorce due to domestic abuse.\n\nCurrently, couples must be married for at least 10 years to be eligible for spousal Social Security benefits, inadvertently incentivizing individuals to remain in unsafe relationships. The Fair Social Security for Domestic Violence Survivors Act lowers this minimum marital threshold to five years.\n\nBetter Care For Domestic Violence Survivors Act\n\nBecause victims of domestic violence visit healthcare providers for treatment of their injuries as well as routine medical care, healthcare providers are in a unique position to combat abuse.\n\nThe Better Care for Domestic Violence Survivors Act would provide $50 million ($10 million per year for five years) for a pilot program to train healthcare providers in evidence-based, trauma-informed techniques to identify and treat individuals who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, or dating violence. This vital training would give healthcare providers the tools and training they need to effectively intervene in situations of abuse, ultimately saving survivors\u2019 lives.\n\nBreak Free From Domestic Violence Act\n\nThe Break Free From Domestic Violence Act would allow individuals who are experiencing dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault to break their lease with a public housing entity or a private landlord without adverse costs, such as being forced to pay the remaining months\u2019 rent or facing retaliatory threats from the landlord. This legislation would help ensure the physical safety of individuals experiencing domestic violence, especially those without the financial resources to pay the fees associated with breaking a lease early.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-introduces-stop-electronic-stalking-act", "Rep. Sykes Introduces Stop Electronic Stalking Act", "2023-10-24", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 This National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) introduced the Stop Electronic Stalking Act, which would prohibit the use of personal tracking devices to track people without their consent\n\nThough personal tracking devices like Apple AirTag, Tile, and more are intended to track property, crimes have been reported across the country involving the use of these devices to stalk victims, specifically women being stalked by former spouses or relationship partners.\n\n\u201cPersonal tracking devices are typically used to locate inconspicuous items like luggage or keys, but predators can also use this technology to secretly track or stalk people. No one should have to live in fear of being electronically tracked without their knowledge, which is why I introduced the Stop Electronic Stalking Act to prohibit these devices from being used on people without their consent,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cThis legislation will hold bad actors accountable and make our communities safer by ensuring these devices are used to track property, not people.\u201d\n\nThe current federal stalking law does not explicitly ban unwanted location tracking using an electronic device. The Stop Electronic Stalking Act would amend the federal criminal code\u2019s definition of stalking to codify that the unauthorized tracking of an individual by a GPS device qualifies as stalking to prevent victimization and penalize bad actors who use these devices for nefarious purposes.\n\nThe Stop Electronic Stalking Act is part of a comprehensive legislative package introduced by Rep. Sykes to prevent domestic violence, empower and support survivors, and keep families safe. In addition to banning the use of electronic devices to track people without their consent, the full Safer Homes and Families Act would:\n\nExpand access to Social Security spousal benefits for individuals who divorce due to domestic abuse;\n\nTrain healthcare providers to better identify and treat individuals who have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, or dating violence; and\n\nAllow individuals who are experiencing dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, or sexual assault to break their lease without adverse costs.\n\nRep. Sykes first became aware of this issue while serving in the Ohio House of Representatives after a constituent from Akron and an investigation from WKYC Cleveland 3 brought it to her attention. This constituent\u2019s former partner put a personal tracking device on her car and tracked her location for several months without her knowledge. Eventually with the help of the Akron Police Department, the constituent was able to locate and remove the tracking device but was surprised to learn that tracking someone electronically without their consent was not illegal under Ohio law. Rep. Sykes subsequently introduced Ohio H.B. 672, bipartisan legislation that would have prohibited a person from knowingly installing a tracking device or tracking application on another person\u2019s property without the other person\u2019s consent.\n\nIn addition to the Stop Electronic Stalking Act, Rep. Sykes also introduced an amendment to H.R. 4755, the Privacy Enhancing Technology Research Act, to support research to thoroughly understand the impacts and scope of personal tracking devices. In July 2023, the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee voted to pass her amendment out of committee, where it now awaits action on the House floor.\n\nA longtime advocate for protecting survivors of domestic violence, Rep. Sykes\u2019 work on domestic violence issues has earned bipartisan praise and resulted in her priority legislation, Ohio H.B. 1, to be signed into law when she was in the Ohio House of Representatives. Ohio H.B. 1 gives victims of dating violence the ability to obtain civil protective orders against their attacker.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-junction-coalition-announce-600000-cdc-grant-award-combat-lead", "Kaptur, Junction Coalition Announce $600,000 CDC Grant Award to Combat Lead Poisoning in Toledo", "2023-10-23", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Toledo, OH \u2013 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its Child Lead Poisoning Prevention program, has awarded The Junction Coalition a $600,000 grant, spanning over a three-year period, to help reduce lead poisoning in the Toledo community.\n\n\u201cToday we announced $600,000 in funding to The Junction Coalition to spur on community engagement, educational programming, and ultimately reduce and prevent lead exposure in Toledo. The Center for Disease Control\u2019s Child Lead Poisoning Prevention program supports critical drinking water infrastructure needs, including replacing toxic lead service lines. In Toledo, it will have profound benefits to public health as it reaches among our most historic neighborhoods,\u201d said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. \u201cI am glad to have fought alongside our local partners to bring this funding home, and I will continue to support them in their efforts and work to bring more funding home across our region of NW Ohio.\u201d\n\nLead exposure and lead poisoning remain chronic health risks to Ohio children who live in homes where they are exposed to lead paint. According to The Toledo Lead Poisoning Prevention Coalition, the Toledo community has inherited a large, toxic legacy of lead paint exposure due to most of Toledo\u2019s housing stock being built before 1978.\n\nEvery year, thousands of Toledo children test high for lead in their blood, a value of 3.5 \u00b5g/dL or greater. There is no safe level of lead in the bloodstream. 3.5 \u00b5g/dL represents the highest 2.5% of children ages 1-5 in the entire U.S. population. The CDC\u2019s grant, provided by the National Center for Environmental Health\u2019s Lead Poisoning Prevention and Surveillance Branch, was established to help families avoid the dangers of lead in their homes.\n\nThe Junction Coalition is one of 11 organizations in the United States, and the only organization in the State of Ohio, to receive this grant. The Junction Coalition and other recipients will work diligently to help families shield themselves from the hazards of lead contamination within their homes. This mission will be pursued through an array of initiatives, including community engagement, prevention education and invaluable family support.\n\n\u201cWe are honored to be among the distinguished recipients of this grant, a testament to our unwavering commitment to the welfare of Toledo's residents,\u201d said Alicia Smith, executive director, The Junction Coalition. \u201cThis funding will empower The Junction Coalition to make a lasting impact in Toledo, supporting those most vulnerable to the dangers of lead poisoning.\u201d\n\nThis three-year, community-based grant supports organizations to:\n\nCollaborate with partners from various sectors.\n\nExpand access to resources and services for families and children.\n\nAugment knowledge and skills related to lead poisoning prevention.\n\nRaise awareness within the community about the risks associated with lead exposure and the disparities in blood lead levels, particularly as influenced by factors such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geography.\n\nThe Junction Coalition, together with partner organizations \u2014 including Nationwide Children\u2019s Hospital - Toledo, Neighborhood Health Association, Toledo Fair Housing Center, the Toledo Lead Poisoning Prevention Coalition and others \u2014 will work to raise awareness and combat lead poisoning in the Toledo community.\n\n\u201cNationwide Children\u2019s - Toledo is proud to partner with The Junction Coalition to bring these federal funds to Toledo neighborhoods,\u201d said Angela Mingo, vice president, Development and Corporate Affairs, Nationwide Children\u2019s Hospital. \u201cThe health of our children and families and the homes where they reside are closely connected. As a health care organization, specifically a children\u2019s hospital in northwest Ohio, we are committed to improving the lives of children in our hospital and in our community. We look forward to working with The Junction Coalition and many others to expand lead education outreach and increase access to resources and services.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Toledo Lead Poisoning Prevention Coalition will work together with all individuals, corporations and organizations in our community to educate and share information about the prevention of lead poisoning,\u201d said Juanita Greene, Co-chair, The Toledo Lead Poisoning Prevention Coalition. \u201cIt takes a village to save our children from lead poisoning and we are proud to work with The Junction Coalition and partners on this mission.\u201d\n\nABOUT THE JUNCTION COALITION\n\nThe Junction Coalition is a non-profit, grassroots organization located in the Junction community of Toledo, Ohio providing a viable voice to its neighbors. The Junction Coalition seeks to promote healthy relationships with local, state, and federal government to build a better quality of life for community members and for business owners who benefit the Junction community.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-announces-new-tech-hub-ohios-13th-congressional-district-support", "Rep. Sykes Announces New Tech Hub in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District to Support Sustainable Polymers Technology", "2023-10-23", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "AKRON, OH \u2014 Today, Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) announced that the Biden-Harris administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce\u2019s Economic Development Administration (EDA), has designated the Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District as one of the 31 inaugural Tech Hubs in regions across the country that show potential for rapid growth in key technology sectors, investing $399,672 into the program.\n\n\u201cOhio\u2019s 13th Congressional District has long been a trailblazer in polymer science and polymer engineering. I\u2019m thrilled to see the Biden-Harris Administration make this historic $400,000 investment in the Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub as their research continues to establish worldwide leadership in this space,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cAs a member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I am uniquely familiar with the multi-disciplinary and far-reaching value the efforts of this funding and designation will bring not only to Akron and Northeast Ohio, but to our nation. The Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub, under the leadership of the Greater Akron Chamber, will have a significant impact on our community\u2019s ability to lead in sustainability, manufacturing, and commercialization. This is just another example of the CHIPS and Science Act delivering for Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s exciting to see progress in the work we\u2019ve done with our industry and economic development partners over the last couple years to double down on our region\u2019s legacy in polymers to create a new future for advanced materials that are both functional and sustainable. Being selected for the designation AND strategy development grant is both validating for our work and another step toward investing in our region\u2019s future. We knew competition for this would be fierce, but remain confident that our region brings deep history, scientific know-how and huge capacity for innovation and the advances in sustainability that industry needs. We appreciate the support and the investment in what\u2019s next for advanced, sustainable polymers. Our region has the history, innovative capacity, and manufacturing density to advance new growth industries supporting semi-conductor manufacturing and electric vehicle, battery, and health care technologies. This designation is one more step for us as we re-invent the legacy of our region in advanced materials,\u201d said Steve Millard, President and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber.\n\nIn August, Rep. Sykes sent a letter to Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castiillo in support of the Greater Akron Chamber\u2019s application for funding under the EDA\u2019s first phase of the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program (Tech Hubs program) authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act. See a copy of the letter here.\n\nThe Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub, a consortium led by Greater Akron Chamber, will tackle the severe climate and environmental impacts caused by the use of fossil fuel-derived polymers \u2013 rubber and plastics \u2013 through accelerating sustainable polymer manufacturing and commercialization. Leveraging regional assets and partnerships, as well as an inclusive regional workforce, the Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub will work to establish global leadership in sustainable rubber and plastics technology.\n\nThis designation is part of the first phase of the novel Tech Hubs program, authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act, that will invest directly in high-potential U.S. regions and aim to transform them into globally competitive innovation centers. Designation is an endorsement of the region\u2019s strategy to supercharge their respective technological industry to create jobs and strengthen U.S. economic and national security. Designated Tech Hubs are now eligible to apply for the next phase of the Tech Hubs Program that will invest between $50-$75 million in each of 5-10 Designated Hubs.\n\nIn addition to a Tech Hubs Designation, EDA announced today that Sustainable Polymers Tech Hub was also awarded a Tech Hubs Strategy Development Grant that will help the consortium increase local coordination and planning activities to strengthen its region\u2019s capacity to manufacture, commercialize, and deploy critical technologies.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-i-wont-let-republican-dysfunction-stop-me-working-people-ohios-13th", "Rep. Sykes: I Won\u2019t Let Republican Dysfunction Stop Me From Working For People In Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District", "2023-10-20", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Rep. Emilia Sykes (OH-13) issued a statement after House Republicans recessed for the weekend despite again failing to elect a Speaker of the House. The House of Representatives has now been without a House Speaker for over two weeks, grinding Congress to a halt.\n\n\u201cThe people of Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District are tired of the divisive, partisan politics. While my Republican colleagues continue to fight amongst each other, I\u2019m focusing on the real issues my constituents sent me here to address by introducing legislation like my Lower Your Taxes Act to lower costs and put more hard-earned money back into your pockets,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cIt\u2019s completely unacceptable that Republican dysfunction has paralyzed Congress at a time when we should be providing Israel with the resources it needs to defeat Hamas, reaching a spending agreement so we can keep the government open and critical services running for Northeast Ohioans, lowering costs for everyday Americans, and keeping our communities safe. The only path forward is a bipartisan one \u2014 I urge my colleagues across the aisle to join Democrats in ending this chaos by putting people over politics. Let\u2019s come together and get back to work.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/brown-adams-file-legislation-improve-federal-support-urban-agriculture", "Brown, Adams File Legislation to Improve Federal Support for Urban Agriculture", "2023-10-18", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Shontel M. Brown", "B001313", "shontelbrown.house.gov", "shontelbrown", "https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) and Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) have introduced legislation to improve and expand the U.S. Department of Agriculture\u2019s (USDA) programs and resources for urban farmers. The Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act (H.R. 5915) expands access to federal support for urban farmers, improves service delivery for urban farmers, and increases funding for the USDA\u2019s Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production.\n\nCongresswoman Brown is the Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management and Credit and Congresswoman Adams is a senior member of the Committee on Agriculture. The Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act is cosponsored by 12 other members of the House of Representatives. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate this past summer.\n\n\u201cCleveland has been a trailblazing city for urban farming. Supporting urban agriculture is good for our cities, including those I represent, increasing access to nutrition and farming resources. Urban agriculture is key to making food production more resilient, innovative, and diverse. I am proud to introduce this legislation with Congresswoman Adams to build on the progress USDA has made, improve key programs, and expand grant opportunities for urban farmers,\u201d said Congresswoman Shontel Brown. \u201cAs Congress continues work on the Farm Bill, it is imperative that urban agriculture is strengthened.\u201d\n\n\u201cUrban farming has brought innumerable benefits to Mecklenburg and Cabarrus counties, and to the country \u2013 from workforce development and greenspaces to nutrition security and food justice,\u201d said Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. \u201cThis bill builds on the USDA Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production\u2019s success based on lessons learned since its inception. It also bolsters data collection, so we may have a better understanding of how this piece of the farm sector fits into the puzzle of ending the crisis of hunger. I am proud to introduce this bill with Congresswoman Brown.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Supporting Urban and Innovating Farming Act would put impactful grant dollars into the hands of metropolitan farmers,\u201d said Erin Bradley, Farm and Feeding Programs Coordinator at Freshlist, a food hub based in Charlotte, NC, and a member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Food Policy Council. \u201cThe demand for agricultural production in urban areas has skyrocketed in response to the pandemic, but urban farmers often face an uphill battle with municipalities who are not set up to accommodate agriculture. Programs like those outlined in this bill are essential for these farmers to reach business viability and we're thrilled with the work that Congresswoman Adams and Congresswoman Brown are doing on behalf of urban agriculture.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production has been essential for supporting infrastructure, technical assistance, and local planning initiatives that promote farmer networks across urban, suburban, and rural communities. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition applauds Representatives Alma Adams and Shontel Brown in their leadership to introduce the Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act, which will address the unique needs of urban, innovative, and indoor operations, increase access to program funding, and scale the office to meet the rapidly growing demand,\u201d said Hannah Quigley, Policy Specialist, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.\n\n\u201cThe controlled environment agriculture (CEA) industry applauds Representatives Alma Adams, Shontel Brown and other House champions for working to ensure that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has the tools and resources it needs to support the future of indoor agriculture,\u201d said Colin O\u2019Neil, Director of Public Policy & Social Impact for Bowery and Chair of the CEA Alliance Policy Working Group. \u201cAt a time when imports of fruits and vegetables are on the rise, CEA producers are uniquely positioned to help expand the year-round production of fresh food while also build more sustainable and resilient supply chains. The Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act will help foster innovation, accelerate research and data collection, support workforce development, and ensure that USDA has the resources it needs to support CEA producers, urban and rural alike.\u201d\n\nThe Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act:\n\nEnsures that the services offered by burgeoning USDA Service Centers\n\nare delivered consistently across Service Centers,\n\nare responsive to the unique conservation challenges posed by urban environments like stormwater runoff, and\n\ninclude TA for local zoning and accessing USDA services in a scale-appropriate way;\n\nImproves access to funding offered through grants and cooperative agreements by\n\nexpanding eligibility to agriculture cooperatives, business entities, or producer networks,\n\nensuring explicitly that microgrants can be offered under grant activities to supplement effective education and training with small but impactful investments, and\n\nenabling communities to scale composting and food waste initiatives to develop food waste-to-energy projects\n\nSupports data collection focused on understanding the extent and impact of urban agriculture on community food security by\n\nfunding hydroponic, aquaponic, aeroponic, and other controlled-environment agriculture research under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, and\n\ndirecting the National Agricultural Statistics Service to complete an urban, indoor, and emerging agricultural production data census.\n\nensures the program can sustain its accelerating growth by providing mandatory funding at $15 million in FY24 and increasing it gradually to reach $50 million by FY28.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/representatives-kaptur-and-boyle-announce-2-million-usda-rural", "Representatives Kaptur and Boyle Announce $2 Million USDA Rural Development Award for EnviroKure in Hicksville, OH and Philadelphia, PA", "2023-10-17", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy & Water, and Congressman Brendan Boyle (PA-02) Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee announced a $2,036,112 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Grant through the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP) for EnviroKure of Hicksville, Ohio in Defiance County, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in Philadelphia County. This Rural Development investment will be used to assist farmers, ranchers, and rural small business in developing alternative fertilizers to help expand the food production of the nation's farmers. EnviroKure has developed advanced aqueous composting technology to up-cycle chicken manure into a high-value liquid biofertilizer that directly improves plant and soil health, and increases crop productivity. These funds will be used to double annual production in Hicksville, OH, treating up to 3,000,000 acres. The total project cost is $4,999,382, with $2,036,111 provided by this major USDA Rural Development FPEP grant award.\n\n\u201cEnviroKure is a pioneering organization in the agriculture industry that produces biofertilizers to build healthy soil for farming while reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and other crop inputs. Their facility expansion in Hicksville is critical to strengthen the bioeconomy for Northwest Ohio\u2019s agriculture landscape,\u201d said Congresswoman Kaptur. \u201cAs a senior member of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, I have always fought for further investment in our farmers and growers across our region, and I continue to do so every single day in Washington. I am glad to work with Congressman Boyle on this important funding that will help both of our regions. I often say what America makes and grows, makes and grows America, and this award will help us to continue to make and grow more in Defiance County, and across our nation for generations to come.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the Ranking Member on the House Budget Committee, I am fighting to ensure the American agriculture industry is equipped with the tools necessary to deliver for the American people,\u201d said Congressman Boyle. \u201cEnviroKure\u2019s commitment to providing sustainable environmental solutions is a prime example of the entrepreneurship and creativity that takes place across my congressional district every day. EnviroKure\u2019s work has revolutionized the fertilizer industry by converting chicken waste into profitable, high-value fertilizer that will make food healthier and more sustainable. It is projects precisely like this one that highlight the broad impact that the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP) has on communities and businesses throughout the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am proud of the work we do at EnviroKure to develop groundbreaking, environmentally friendly solutions that help farmers to enhance food production in a sustainable and profitable manner,\u201d said Joseph Steck, EnviroKure\u2019s President and founder. \u201cThe Fertilizer Production Expansion Program grant will enable us to expand production, accelerating our growth substantially.\u201d\n\nFounded in Philadelphia in 2011, EnviroKure has developed and commercialized climate-friendly technology that harnesses the underutilized potential of manure, enabling farmers to increase food production sustainably and profitably. EnviroKure\u2019s products improve soil health and directly enhance plant health and productivity. The products have significant acceptance among US farmers, thanks to rigorous field testing across crop types. The Hicksville, OH production facility expansion will double biofertilizer production and utilize more than 20,000 tons of manure annually. More information about EnviroKure can be found by clicking here.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-kaptur-announces-39-million-usda-rural-development-award", "Congresswoman Kaptur Announces $3.9 Million USDA Rural Development Award for Growers Mineral in Milan, Erie County", "2023-10-16", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) announced a $3.935 Million United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Grant through the Fertilizer Production Expansion Program (FPEP) for Growers Mineral of Milan, Ohio in Erie County. This Rural Development investment will be used to help offset the costs associated with constructing a new facility, purchase of new processing, and manufacturing equipment, and climate-smart equipment. The new facility is projected to increase fertilizer production by 279% by 2027 with enough product to support 832,000 acres of approximately 4,000 end user farmers. The total project cost is $8,630,701, with $4,695,101 provided by Growers Mineral, and the remaining balance coming from this major USDA Rural Development FPEP grant award.\n\n\u201cI am thrilled to see these dollars coming back home to help farmers in Erie County and across Northwest Ohio,\u201d said Rep. Kaptur. \u201cAs a senior member of the House Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee, I have long fought for more investment in our farmers and growers across our region, and I continue to do so every single day in Washington. I often say what America makes and grows, makes and grows America, and this award will help us to continue to make and grow more in Erie County, and across Ohio for generations to come.\u201d\n\nGrowers Mineral, Corp. remains a family-owned business in Milan, OH operated by a close-knit leadership team dedicated to the production, sale, and delivery of three products: GMS, Soil Conditioner, and Nutritional Additive (NA). The company has expanded its service area to 27 US states, as well as parts of Canada. You can learn more about Growers Mineral by clicking here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-introduces-lower-your-taxes-act-put-more-money-pockets-working", "Rep. Sykes Introduces Lower Your Taxes Act To Put More Money In The Pockets Of Working People In Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District", "2023-10-16", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) introduced the Lower Your Taxes Act to lower costs for Ohio workers and families and grow the middle class by expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC), and to pay for those expansions by making wealthy corporations pay their fair share in taxes.\n\n\u201cWhen I ran for Congress, I promised to fight for lower costs and to expand opportunity. The Lower Your Taxes Act does exactly that,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cBy expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, we\u2019re investing in working people and putting more of your hard-earned money back into your pocket at a time when families need it the most. Wealthy corporations making record profits should not pay less in taxes than the hardworking people and families in our communities \u2014 it\u2019s time we put the needs of the American people first to grow the middle class.\u201d\n\nThe Lower Your Taxes Act would improve the EITC and the CTC by:\n\nExpanding the EITC by doubling the credit percentage for families with children and increasing the credit five-fold for those without children;\n\nRemoving the EITC age cap and allow individuals to begin taking the credit at 18 years of age instead of 25 years of age and eliminates the age cap of 65 years of age;\n\nLinking the earned income amount and the phaseout amount to inflation to ensure recipients receive the most generous benefit possible;\n\nIncreasing the EITC phaseout percentage, the earned income amount, and the phaseout amount, all of which increase the amount of money put back in the pockets of qualifying families;\n\nEliminating any marriage penalties for married couples filing jointly versus marries couples filing individually;\n\nRequiring that the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service provide notification to filers who do not take the EITC to make them aware that they could receive a more substantial tax refund had they taken that credit; and\n\nReinstating the American Rescue Plan Act Child Tax Credit expansion where payments to families with a child under six would rise to $350/month and payments for a child over six would rise to $300/month.\n\nThe Lower Your Taxes Act would also ensure wealthy corporations pay their fair share in taxes by:\n\nCracking down on corporate greed by modifying the corporate alternative minimum tax to create a 25% tax bracket for corporate profits over the amount of $5 billion;\n\nReturning the corporate tax rate to 28% from 21%, eliminating the Trump Tax Plan that prioritized tax breaks for large corporations at the expense of working people;\n\nIncreasing the excise tax rate for corporate stock buybacks to 4% from 1%; and\n\nTreating the capital gains of individuals with over $1 million in personal income as taxable income, as opposed to capital gains.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-kaptur-announces-18-million-hhs-samhsa-award-erie-county", "Congresswoman Kaptur Announces $1.8 Million HHS SAMHSA Award for Erie County Health Department", "2023-10-12", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) announced a $1.8 Million Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) award to the Erie County Health Department from the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This will bring $375,000 in funding back to Erie County each year for the next five years to help address behavioral health and mental health needs. This funding follows $2 Million which Rep. Kaptur directed to Erie County last year to help construct and open a new 4,000-square-foot facility for Behavioral Health Transitional Support Housing by the Erie County Health Department.\n\n\u201cAs we mark World Mental Health Day this week, it is important to see funding like this coming back home to our communities in Northwest Ohio, including Erie County. In Congress I have long championed availability and expansion of mental health services and have advocated for robust funding while serving on the House Appropriations Committee to expand access to mental health care across our region so our citizens have the resources they need to heal, recover, and thrive,\u201d said Rep. Kaptur. \u201cStudies have shown a significant increase in mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, over the past three years. This HHS funding will help to ensure that our medical providers have access to the support and funding they so desperately need to address behavioral health and mental health needs they face in our communities.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis grant will allow enhanced care coordination . . . a vital component of care for those vulnerable populations we serve,\u201d said Erie County Health Commissioner Pete Schade. \u201cVital community education coupled with a behavioral workforce using robust referral system will certainly unite stakeholders while improving the quality of life for all in our region, for those in treatment and for those in our communities. Erie County Health Department wishes to thank all the supporters of this initiative, and we wish to recognize our Congresswoman who is a leader and champion for the needs of our people.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-kaptur-statement-chaos-republican-conference-and", "Congresswoman Kaptur Statement On Chaos In The Republican Conference And Inability To Hold An Election For A New Speaker Of The House", "2023-10-12", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy & Water, senior member of the House Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense and Agriculture, and longest serving woman in the history of Congress released the following statement on the chaos in the Republican Conference amidst their inability to hold a vote to elect a new Speaker of the House:\n\n\u201cToday is day nine of internal chaos inside the Republican Conference. Their disorder and indecision to elect a Speaker of the House of Representatives imperils the national security of our nation. On the other side of the US Capitol\u2014for which millions of our citizens have fought and died to preserve\u2014one Republican Senator has made it his mission to hold up hundreds of confirmations of nominees to fill key positions at the US Department of Defense. Enemies abroad pay attention to these dangerous and unpatriotic acts of irresponsibility.\n\n\u201cThe House cannot allow such partisan warfare to cripple the operations of the government of the United States, and passing of a budget comprised of 12 appropriations bills for 2024. Those 12 bills should have passed the House before September 30th to operate the government of the United States and they now hang in limbo. The total of those bills must conform to the 2024 Budget agreement, which the Republican Party failed to prepare in a timely manner last spring.\n\n\u201cEven though chaos reigns on the other side of the aisle due to a small band of malcontents, our House must gravitate to the Big Middle to rescue our Republic from radical extremists who only disrupt and create chaos. These fringe extremists have not demonstrated any will nor inclination to compromise to produce bipartisan bills that can pass both the House and Senate to yield progress for the American people. Our first responsibility is to \u2018protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic,\u2019 and the US House of Representatives must restore regular Order for the sake of our Republic.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-announces-11-million-oriana-house-inc-improve-substance-abuse", "Rep. Sykes Announces $1.1 Million To Oriana House, Inc. To Improve Substance Abuse Treatment Outcomes For Adults In Reentry", "2023-10-12", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "AKRON, OH \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) announced the U.S. Department of Justice awarded a $1,125,000 grant to Oriana House, Inc. in Akron, Ohio to create the COACH Program (Coaches Operating Alongside Clients for Healing) to provide substance disorder treatment services to individuals charged with felony offenses in Summit County, Ohio.\n\n\u201cToo many families in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District have been devastated by the effects of substance abuse within their households. To combat this public health crisis in our communities, it is necessary to have strong federal support. I am pleased to see that Oriana House, Inc. has been awarded these vital resources to help support effective, evidence-based substance abuse treatment and improve recovery outcomes for adults in our community,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cThis innovative COACH Program will provide critical guidance to people on their journey to recovery and offer a second chance at life while prioritizing their health and well-being.\u201d\n\nOriana House, Inc. is a non-profit community corrections agency dedicated to helping people triumph over addiction and mental illness. The organization provides community corrections programs that help direct individuals to a healthier and more responsible lifestyle. The COACH program will implement services pre-release, post-release while on pretrial supervision, and in the community throughout the entire treatment episode. Pre-release services will include substance use disorder screening, treatment referrals, and engagement with a strategically assigned Recovery Coach (RC).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-joins-bipartisan-resolution-standing-israel", "Rep. Sykes Joins Bipartisan Resolution Standing With Israel", "2023-10-11", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) joined a bipartisan resolution introduced by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Ranking Member Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) standing with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists and condemning Hamas\u2019 brutal war against Israel.\n\n\u201cI strongly condemn the violent and horrific attack by the terrorist organization Hamas on the State of Israel. Attacks on innocent civilians are heinous and never justified. I am praying for the families in mourning and communities impacted by this violence,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cI stand firmly and unequivocally with the Israeli people, the right for Israel to exist, and reaffirm my commitment to supporting the State of Israel in its right to defend itself. We will not let terrorists win.\u201d\n\nThe text of the resolution can be found here.\n\nRep. Sykes also signed on to a bipartisan letter to U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken urging him to direct the U.S. Embassy in Israel to submit an evacuation request so President Biden can direct a Noncombatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) to evacuate American citizens currently in Israel. Given the escalating situation and suspension of flights in and out of Israel, it is imperative that we do all we can to bring Americans home safely.\n\nIn August, Rep. Sykes, as part of a group of 24 House Democrats led by Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Steny Hoyer, traveled to Israel to gain a firsthand understanding of challenges in the region, and bolster one of America\u2019s most strategic and impactful international relationships.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-hosts-beyond-stars-event-after-launching-girls-steam-initiative", "Rep. Sykes Hosts \u201cBeyond the Stars\u201d Event After Launching Girls In S.T.E.A.M. Initiative", "2023-10-10", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "CANTON, OH \u2014 This week, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) hosted the first event of her Girls in S.T.E.A.M. initiative, which aims to inspire and empower girls and young women in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District to pursue professions in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math to solve real-world problems which will improve our communities.\n\nThe \u201cBeyond the Stars\u201d event at the William McKinley Museum in Canton event highlighted space exploration with a focus on the upcoming solar eclipse in April 2024, where Northeast Ohio will lie within the path of totality for nearly four minutes of total darkness.\n\n\u201cEmpowering and encouraging girls to become more involved in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics allows them to be well rounded with the ability to pursue a future of their choosing. Exposure to S.T.E.A.M. fields early gives girls the ability to see what they can be, and my office looks forward to supporting their futures. This is only the beginning of the Girls in S.T.E.A.M. program, and I look forward to continuing to host events that will unlock the limitless potential of young girls and women in our communities,\u201d said Rep. Sykes.\n\nStudents learned about the wonders of space through hands-on planetarium activities, a museum tour, and a panel discussion with women leaders from the NASA Glenn Research Center about their careers in S.T.E.A.M. fields. Students also had the opportunity to watch a special video from NASA astronaut Dr. Kate Rubin, who was the first person to sequence DNA in space. Dr. Rubin has logged a total of 300 days in space, the fourth most days in space by a U.S. female astronaut.\n\n\u201cYou have the ability to do absolutely anything you want to do if you set your mind to it, and that is what I hope to inspire in young girls so they too can reach for the stars,\u201d said Ra-Deon Sledge, NASA Glenn Research Center Chief of Staff.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-hosts-luxembourg-ambassador-bintner-bakshian-during-official-visit", "Rep. Sykes Hosts Luxembourg Ambassador Bintner-Bakshian During Official Visit To Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District", "2023-10-10", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "AKRON, OH \u2014 Last week, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) welcomed Her Excellency Nicole Bintner-Bakshian, Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to the United States, to Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District at her office in Akron. During their meeting, Rep. Sykes and Ambassador Bintner-Bakshian discussed the cultural ties between Ohio and Luxembourg, the significance of major manufacturers like Goodyear Tire Co. in Luxembourg and Akron, and opportunities to strengthen the ongoing relationship between Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District and Luxembourg.\n\n\u201cI was glad to welcome Ambassador Bintner-Bakshian to Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cLuxembourg and Northeast Ohio are uniquely connected through a rich history of shared cultural values and economic endeavors. I look forward to continuing to strengthen this mutually beneficial relationship and advance opportunities that will improve the lives of people in both Northeast Ohio and Luxembourg.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt was a true honor to be so warmly welcomed by Representative Sykes. Luxembourg has had long and strong historical ties with Ohio, especially with Representative Sykes\u2019 district: Goodyear was the first American company that set up a production facility in Luxembourg. It has been exciting to discover Akron\u2019s dynamic economic environment and we feel a strong connection given our locations at the center of our respective regions. I appreciated my exchange with Representative Sykes on the importance of the US and Luxembourg engagement as NATO allies, in particular in our joint support to Ukraine,\u201d said Ambassador Bintner-Bakshian.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-kaptur-statement-hamas-terror-attacks-israel", "Congresswoman Kaptur Statement on Hamas Terror Attacks in Israel", "2023-10-08", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Toledo, OH \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), longest serving woman in the history of Congress and Co-Chair and Founder of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus released the following statement on the terror attacks carried out this weekend by Hamas in Israel:\n\n\"I continue to be horrified and dismayed by the brutality of Hamas terrorists attacking innocent Israeli civilians of all ages. The fingerprints of Iranian strategy and technology are as present here as they are in attacks against Ukraine.\n\n\"Destruction of innocent people is never morally justifiable. I stand resolutely against all terror and stand with the Israeli people as they encounter the darkest days in the history of the modern state.\n\n\"Our House must restore order expeditiously to be an effective instrument for the people of our nation and to meet our nation\u2019s responsibilities as leader of the free world.\"\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-brown-statement-condemning-terrorist-attacks-against-israel", "Congresswoman Brown Statement Condemning Terrorist Attacks Against Israel", "2023-10-07", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Shontel M. Brown", "B001313", "shontelbrown.house.gov", "shontelbrown", "https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) releases the following statement:\n\n\u201cI am appalled by and strongly condemn the terror attacks by Hamas against Israel and I am closely following this unprovoked assault. I send my deep and sincere condolences to the families mourning, the Israeli people, and the Jewish community. The United States must continue to stand with Israel in its defense.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases/after-brown-pressley-inquiry-fda-proposes-ban-harmful-chemicals-hair-relaxers", "After Brown, Pressley Inquiry, FDA Proposes Ban on Harmful Chemicals in Hair Relaxers", "2023-10-06", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Shontel M. Brown", "B001313", "shontelbrown.house.gov", "shontelbrown", "https://shontelbrown.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) applauded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration\u2019s (FDA) proposed rule to ban certain harmful chemicals in hair smoothing or hair straightening products. The FDA\u2019s proposal, which follows a March letter from Reps. Brown and Pressley calling for an investigation by the agency into the health risks posed by chemical hair straighteners, would ban formaldehyde and other formaldehyde-releasing chemicals as an ingredient in these products.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of women across the country, especially Black women, I applaud the FDA\u2019s new proposed rule banning formaldehyde and other harmful chemicals from hair straighteners,\u201d said Rep. Brown. \u201cThank you to Administrator Califf, the entire team at the FDA, and the Biden-Harris Administration for hearing our voices and taking this necessary next step. We must ensure the products American consumers buy and use are safe, and I look forward to working with my colleagues and the Administration to implement this proposed rule.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe FDA\u2019s proposal to ban these harmful chemicals in hair straighteners and relaxers is a win for public health \u2013 especially the health of Black women who are disproportionately put at risk by these products as a result of systemic racism and anti-Black hair sentiment,\u201d said Rep. Pressley. \u201cRegardless of how we wear our hair, we should be allowed to show up in the world without putting our health at risk. I applaud the FDA for being responsive to our calls and advancing a rule that will help prevent manufacturers from making a profit at the expense of our health. The Administration should finalize this rule without delay.\u201d\n\nIn their letter, Pressley and Brown noted that due to anti-Black hair sentiment, Black women use these products at a higher rate to relax their hair, likely putting them at a higher risk of developing uterine cancer and other negative health outcomes.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-hosts-military-service-academy-webinar-encourages-students-ohios", "Rep. Sykes Hosts Military Service Academy Webinar, Encourages Students In Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District Apply To Prestigious Program", "2023-10-05", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "AKRON, OH \u2014 Yesterday, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) hosted an informational webinar about the U.S. Service Academy Nomination Process.\n\n\u201cAttending a Military Service Academy is a prestigious opportunity for those in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District who have an interest in a career in military service. As your Congresswoman, it\u2019s an honor to put forth some of the best and brightest in our community to serve our country and defend our nation\u2019s freedom,\u201d said Rep. Sykes.\n\nMembers of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies. The honor of attending a service academy comes with an obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation.\n\nThe deadline to submit an application to Rep. Sykes\u2019 office is October 20, 2023. For more information on this process, contact Rep. Sykes\u2019 office at 330-400-5350 or view her website here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/beatty-garcia-norcross-jayapal-warren-and-55-members-of-congress-urge-biden-administration-to-support-cost-free-aid-for-low-and-middle-income-countries", "Beatty, Garc\u00eda, Norcross, Jayapal, Warren, and 55 Members of Congress Urge Biden Administration to Support Cost-Free Aid for Low- and Middle-Income Countries", "2023-10-04", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Joyce Beatty", "B001281", "beatty.house.gov", "beatty", "https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Reps. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Jes\u00fas \u201cChuy\u201d Garc\u00eda (IL-04), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) led 55 of their colleagues in a letter urging the Biden Administration to support a new issuance of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).\n\nThe IMF estimates 56% of low-income countries are in or at high risk of falling into debt distress. Not only does this precarious situation have profound humanitarian consequences for people around the world, but it also endangers export-related jobs for millions of American workers. SDRs are a powerful and readily available tool to stabilize the economies of debt-burdened countries at zero cost to the U.S. taxpayers.\n\nNumerous countries around the world have also recently called for a new SDR allocation of the same size or greater than in 2021. Recently, the African Union called for such an allocation, as did Colombian President Gustavo Petro in his UN General Assembly speech last month.\n\nNotably, the 2021 issuance did not benefit countries that are subject to financial sanctions or whose governments are not recognized by the IMF. Countries with large amounts of foreign reserves are also ineligible under IMF rules. And according to the IMF\u2019s recent two-year ex-post assessment, the 2021 issuance \u201ccontinues to benefit the global economy\u201d and did not contribute to global inflation.\n\nA new issuance of SDRs would both protect American jobs and offer a cost-free opportunity for developing countries to shore up their budgets for basic programs, including public health, education, and poverty alleviation.\n\n\u201cI am proud to join so many of my colleagues in calling on the Biden Administration to support a new issuance of International Monetary Fund Special Drawing Rights,\u201d said Rep. Beatty, Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on National Security, Illicit Finance, and International Financial Institutions. \u201cIn the face of multiple global crises, this resource is absolutely vital to promote global economic stability, continued development in low-income countries, and resilient U.S. export markets. It\u2019s also pivotal in saving key manufacturing and union jobs for Americans spanning Central Ohio and across the country.\u201d\n\n\u201cSDRs are a powerful tool to alleviate poverty and help developing countries around the world fund health care, infrastructure, food access, and more. SDRs cost American taxpayers $0 and also boost export-related jobs here at home. A few years ago, the IMF issued hundreds of billions of dollars in SDRs, and this economic aid was a lifeline for developing nations during the pandemic. It is incumbent upon the Biden administration to support a new allocation of SDRs from the IMF as countries around the world continue to face converging crises.\u201d said Rep. Garc\u00eda.\n\n\u201cAs developing countries around the world continue to feel the combined effects of simultaneous crises, it is powerfully important that the Biden administration support a new allocation of IMF SDRs to provide much-needed relief at no cost to the federal government,\u201dsaid Sen. Warren.\n\n\u201cIssuing a new round of Special Drawing Rights will stabilize economies around the world and ensure that developing nations can continue to import high-quality American-made products and goods. America powers the global economy, and the new SDRs will support American jobs and small businesses,\u201d said Rep. Norcross, Co-Chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus.\n\n\u201cIn 2021, the Biden Administration made a momentous decision to support hundreds of billions of dollars in financial support to developing countries through the IMF\u2014all at no cost to U.S. taxpayers. This was a critical lifeline to hundreds of lower-income countries weathering the devastating impacts of the pandemic,\u201d said Rep. Jayapal, Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. \u201cWith disturbing evidence that the developing world continues to face strong economic headwinds, including persistent poverty and hunger, I am proud to join other Congressional progressives in urging the Administration to follow up on its important initiative with a new unilateral allocation of Special Drawing Rights at the IMF, which will boost U.S. export jobs and help ensure a strong global economic recovery going into 2024.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe labor movement strongly supports the call for a new allocation of SDRs which represent a transformative measure needed to avoid future shocks and job loss related to climate; health; debt; and digitalization; among other challenges,\u201d said Catherine Feingold, AFL-CIO International Director.\n\n\u201cA new SDR issuance is a critical measure to provide rapid relief to countries hit by the global debt crisis, alongside intersecting social and economic crises, which severely reduce spending for health and social services,\u201d said Cate Oswald, Principal Chief Program Officer at Partners In Health.\u201cIn health centers and hospitals around the world, healthcare workers \u2014 including Partners In Health staff \u2014 bear witness to the tragic embodiment of these crises: ill health, unnecessary suffering, and preventable deaths. That\u2019s why we call on President Biden to support a new issuance of SDRs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe US economy lost about 2 million export-related jobs in 2020 due to the loss of demand from the rest of the world, during the world recession. So this new issuance, like the last one, could save many US jobs going forward, at the same time that it saves lives throughout the world,\u201d said Mark Weisbrot, Research Co-Director, Center for Economic and Policy Research.\n\n\u201cForeign Policy for America is proud to join with congressional leaders and this extraordinary coalition in calling on the Administration to support a new allocation of Special Drawing Rights at the IMF,\u201dsaid Andrew Albertson, Executive Director, Foreign Policy for America. \u201cSupporting this allocation is both the right thing to do and the smart thing to do. At no cost to American taxpayers, it will strengthen the resilience of debt-burdened, climate vulnerable developing countries confronting multiple global crises; expand trade and investment opportunities for American businesses; and fortify our partnerships around the world by demonstrating US responsiveness to developing countries' needs at a time of growing global competition.\n\n\u201cAs a Catholic Christian, I hear the call of faith to put persons first who are the poorest among us. A broad range of Catholic organizations and others have called for a new release of Special Drawing Rights. The 2021 release of Special Drawing Rights likely saved hundreds of thousands of lives. Let\u2019s do it again! President Biden can act and ensure that these funds are unlocked,\u201dsaid Sister Diane Koorie, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas.\n\n\u201cIn this letter a record number of members of Congress are calling for the release of Special Drawing Rights for global crisis relief, recognizing that our prosperity in the U.S. is linked to the well-being of people around the world. Organizations representing tens of millions of Americans support this letter,\u201d said Isaac Evans-Frantz, Action Corps Executive Director.\n\nAlong with Reps. Beatty, Garc\u00eda, Jayapal, Norcross, and Senator Warren, the letter was also signed by 49 Members of Congress and five U.S. Senators.\n\nThis letter was also endorsed by:AFL-CIO, Action Corps, ActionAid USA, Advocacy Network for Africa, Africa Faith and Justice Network, American Friends Service Committee, Association of Concerned Africa Scholars (USA), Center for American Progress, Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), Demand Progress, Friends of the Earth US, Justice Is Global, National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Oxfam America, Partners in Health (PIH), Peace Action New York State, Public Citizen, Sisters of Mercy \u2013 Justice Team, and United Church of Christ, Justice and Local Church Ministries (UCC).\n\nTo see the full letter, click HERE.\n\nFor inquiries, please contact Todd Valentine at Todd.Valentine@mail.house.gov", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-kaptur-announces-more-10-million-award-bipartisan", "Congresswoman Kaptur Announces More Than $10 Million Award from Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal to Napoleon, Defiance, & Western Railway in Partnership with Ohio Rail Development Commission", "2023-10-04", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Defiance, OH \u2013 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) announced a $10,792,157 award for major rail upgrades for Napoleon, Defiance, & Western Railway (NDW) in partnership with Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) though funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure law, also known as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This project involves development, final design, and construction activities for various track improvements, upgrades to multiple grade crossings, and bridge rehabilitation work \u2014 part of a multi-phase effort to improve the NDW. This project will improve safety, and increase ability to meet existing and anticipated demand, while enhancing performance with upgrades to the track to FRA Class 1 track standard from excepted track. NDW interchanges with CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway, and freight traffic must travel on NDW\u2019s tracks before rail cars are interchanged with the Class 1 railroads. ORDC and NDW will match 30% of Federal funds being allocated for this project.\n\n\u201cI am encouraged to see new investment in rail coming to Northern Ohio, and I know that this will be transformative for Patriot Rail, and the people of Defiance. This proposal promises to turn one of the worst railroad tracks in America into an engine of economic development in Ohio,\u201d said Rep. Kaptur. \u201cThis line saw 48 derailments in 2022 alone, underscoring the importance and urgent need for safety and reliability of commercial rail in Northern Ohio. Our communities have seen the harm that comes, after major derailments such as the ones seen in Sandusky and East Palestine, Ohio within the past year. Rail safety was a major impetus for our desire to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and now we are seeing investment and opportunity coming back to our region. We must continue to work together to make our communities safer, and this is an important step forward in doing just that.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Patriot Rail Napoleon, Defiance & Western Railway provides first and last mile service transporting products to and from customer facilities in Ohio to locations across the country,\u201d said Patriot Rail CEO John Fenton. \u201cWe are privileged to work with the Ohio Rail Development Commission and the Ohio Congressional delegation including Rep. Kaptur to receive this federal CRISI award and invest these vital grant funds to increase safety, reliability, and efficiency for our customers and the communities we serve. We deeply appreciate our continued partnership with ORDC to enhance the rail services and options we provide to shippers in the State of Ohio.\u201d\n\nThis investments follows a September 22, 2023 roundtable discussion on the future of passenger rail in Northern Ohio and the Great Lakes Region hosted by Congresswoman Kaptur, with participants including international, national, regional, and local transit, labor, and civic leaders, including Amit Bose, Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, Stephen Gardner, CEO of Amtrak, and Eddie Hall, President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen. Please reach out to the office of Congresswoman Kaptur for a full list of participants.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-sykes-moulton-fitzpatrick-and-bacon-lead-letter-calling-robust-investment", "Reps. Sykes, Moulton, Fitzpatrick, and Bacon Lead Letter Calling For Robust Investment In Passenger Rail To Connect Our Communities", "2023-10-04", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 This week, Rep. Emilia Sykes (OH-13) led a letter with Reps. Seth Moulton (MA-06), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Don Bacon (NE-02), and 74 additional House members to House and Senate leadership calling for any upcoming government funding package to include robust funding for Amtrak and its passenger rail services.\n\nThe Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA, commonly referred to as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law) authorizes multi-year funding for Amtrak\u2019s major capital projects and state-of-good repair work along the Northeastern Corridor (NEC). The IIJA authorized funding was nearly doubled for the National Network, from $1.2 billion in Fiscal Year (FY)21 to $2.3 billion in FY22, and increased for the NEC from $600 million in FY21 to $1.57 billion in FY22.\n\nUnfortunately, the House Appropriations Committee has proposed slashing Amtrak\u2019s annual appropriation by 64% from FY23. This devastating cut to our national passenger rail service would undermine the IIJA\u2019s affirmation that intercity rail is an essential part of American transportation.\n\n\u201cUnderfunding Amtrak\u2019s annual appropriations will undermine necessary state-of-good repair work, inhibit progress on other capital projects, and runs counter to the interests of millions of our constituents who rely on efficient and reliable rail service \u2026 Amtrak has and will continue to play a critical role in shaping the future of American transportation by spurring capital development, enabling regional connectivity, connecting workers to employers, and improving regional tax revenue. To that end, we encourage you to provide robust funding for Amtrak and its passenger rail services in the final Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations legislation,\u201d wrote members.\n\n\"As the nation\u2019s largest transportation labor federation, we are dismayed by this attempt to shrink Amtrak's budget to the level it was a decade ago, leading to service cuts, significant layoffs, and the loss of thousands of jobs,\" said Greg Regan, President of the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO. \"In short, slashing Amtrak's funding would be disastrous for America's passenger rail system, passengers, and workers. We strongly support an increase in authorized funding for Amtrak and urge congressional appropriators to make the necessary investments to support the largest-ever expansion of our national passenger rail network as envisioned by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\"\n\n\u201cThe suppliers, bankers, businesses, and rail education community reliant on the Northeast Rail Corridor are disappointed in the significant and harmful reduction of funding for Amtrak\u2019s Northeast Corridor Account and the elimination of funding altogether for the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program in the FY 2024 House T-HUD appropriations bill. The plans to drastically cut, or eliminate altogether, funding for these critical programs will impact not only the communities spanning from D.C. to Boston but the entire U.S. economy,\u201d said Mike Friedberg, Executive Director of the Coalition for the Northeast Corridor (CNEC). \u201cSlashing the NEC Amtrak funding from $1.3 billion to $99 million would interrupt service and cause an immense strain on the millions of commuters, leisure travelers, and businesspeople who rely on this corridor daily. Likewise, zeroing out of the Federal State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail program will negatively impact jobs in the Northeast related to rail construction, manufacturing, and the supply chain in addition to all non-rail-related businesses that rely on the NEC for employee transportation.\u201d\n\nRep. Sykes has been a strong proponent for rail safety and the expansion of passenger rail during her time in Congress. New efforts by states, including Ohio\u2019s proposal to connect major metropolitan areas like Northeast Ohio, Central Ohio, and Southwest Ohio by rail, strongly depend upon Congress appropriating robust funding for Amtrak. Rep. Sykes has also advocated for an Amtrak expansion route in Akron-Canton so residents in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District can be better connected to economic, educational, and healthcare opportunities across the state.\n\nRead the full letter below.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-joyce-beatty-applauds-ohio-state-university-emeritus-professor-pierre-agostini-on-nobel-prize-award", "Rep. Joyce Beatty Applauds  Ohio State University Emeritus Professor Pierre Agostini  on Nobel Prize Award", "2023-10-03", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Joyce Beatty", "B001281", "beatty.house.gov", "beatty", "https://beatty.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Columbus, OH \u2014 \u201cI am elated to congratulate Ohio State Emeritus Professor Pierre Agostini on winning the Nobel Prize in Physics,\u201d said Congresswoman Joyce Beatty (OH-03). \u201cIt has long been said that the Nobel Prize is awarded to those who have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind. Professor Agostini\u2019s research in physics is being recognized for giving humanity new tools for processing electrons inside atoms and molecules and serves as the pinnacle for the example of academic excellence from Central Ohio to the rest of the world. I thank Professor Agostini for his commitment to academic rigor, curiosity, and achievement while making an indelible imprint on all of humanity.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-statement-house-republican-leadership-chaos", "Rep. Sykes Statement On House Republican Leadership Chaos", "2023-10-03", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Rep. Emilia Sykes (OH-13) issued a statement on the latest House Republican leadership chaos just days after she put people over politics to keep our government open and critical services running for the people of Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District:\n\n\u201cAfter months of chaos that brought our country to the brink of a catastrophic government shutdown, House Republicans\u2019 failure to lead continues to completely upend the congressional calendar, forcing members back to Washington for a last-minute vote at a time when I was supposed to be in our district meeting with community leaders, hosting roundtables, touring manufacturing facilities, and visiting small businesses,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cWhile a personal family matter prevented me from attending this last-minute vote, I would have solemnly voted in favor of the resolution to vacate the Speaker\u2019s chair. My constituents deserve a Speaker of the House who will work together with any member, no matter their party, to find common ground and bipartisan solutions.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-member-kaptur-statement-house-rules-committee-2024-energy-and", "Ranking Member Kaptur Statement to House Rules Committee on the 2024 Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Funding Bill", "2023-10-02", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the House Rules Committee in opposition to the fiscal year 2024 Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies bill:\n\n\u2013 As Prepared for Delivery \u2013\n\nThe U.S. economy is growing at record rates. We are producing historic levels of job growth due to laws enacted by the last Congress. With this historic job growth, revenues are now coming into the private sector and the Federal government at much higher levels than before because \u2014 post pandemic \u2014 millions more people are working. Companies are earning money. Indeed, our nation has bent the debt curve as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product for the first time in modern history, as we begin to pay down our nation\u2019s accumulated debt.\n\nThus, I am unable to concur with my able colleague Chair Fleischman on this Appropriations bill. I prefer a more realistic Energy and Water allocation that meets the critical energy and water needs of our nation.\n\nAsk the citizens of Maui or the State of Washington, or along the drought-stricken Mississippi Louisianan corridor as saltwater creeps north, or the flood victims in New York City.\n\nEnergy and water security are national security, but the nondefense spending in this bill is $5.4 billion lower \u2014 22 percent lower \u2014 than last year\u2019s effective level. It repeals over $5 billion for critical energy programs from the Inflation Reduction Act that would have helped American families save money on their monthly energy bills while simultaneously creating thousands of jobs in new energy technologies.\n\nFor Energy and Water needs, it is not overstatement to say people in our nation live or die by decisions being made here in Congress. Since World War II, America paid a terrible price for its unconscious slide into foreign dependency on imported energy. While we have made strides toward energy independence, after half century of effort, we still haven\u2019t scored at the home plate of U.S. energy independence in perpetuity.\n\nNews outlets are correctly reporting that Russia\u2019s unprovoked war on Ukraine is being waged on more than one front, including energy, through the manipulation of global oil and gas prices due to reserves Russia controls. Again, energy resources are intricately bound to the fate of Liberty halfway around our world.\n\nAnd hasn\u2019t our nation learned repeatedly \u2014 the hard way \u2014 that when gasoline prices top $4 dollars a gallon, our economy is thrown into deep recession?\n\nEnergy allows our private sector\u2019s ability to flourish with millions of living wage jobs in energy production and conservation. Meanwhile, imaginative technologies are being created by America\u2019s amazing inventors in new building materials, solar and electrified windows, biofuels, geothermal and thermal heat recovery, and wind and wave energy, to name a few.\n\nOn our water responsibilities, new, major engineering challenges lie before America. New York City has just been hit again with major flooding and record rainfall of over 8 inches, following the devastation and flooded subways it endured during Hurricane Sandy.\n\nOur big cities are not prepared for these deluges of water, nor frankly, are our farmers when more field washouts are occurring every year due to climate change.\n\nThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation are needed now more than ever to handle regional approaches to new and changing water flows, whether it\u2019s down the Mississippi, in the Great Lakes, or the dry, irrigated West.\n\nThere is an old expression: \u201cDon\u2019t try to fool Mother Nature.\u201d I would say, \u201cDon\u2019t ignore Mother Nature.\u201d This is one such moment in American history. Global population has now risen to over 8 billion people. In our nation, it is predicted that we will reach 400 million by 2050. Thus, we cannot pretend the impact of human activity on Planet Earth is negligible.\n\nAnd so I must express that the Energy and Water Appropriation bill before us is completely inadequate. It does not meet our country\u2019s needs in this new era of climate change. We must robustly meet the needs of the future, not flounder in the past.\n\nIn other areas of this bill, I continue to be troubled by the unsustainable spending in DOE\u2019s weapons program, and cuts to nuclear nonproliferation programs.\n\nFinally, the bill includes numerous controversial poison pill policy riders that sadly show extremist Republicans are not interested in bills that can gain bipartisan support and become law.\n\nWith that, I\u2019ll close my remarks, and I express opposition to this bill. American can and must do better on the New Age Frontiers of Energy and Water.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ranking-member-kaptur-statement-house-rules-committee-2024-energy-and-0", "Ranking Member Kaptur Statement to House Rules Committee on the 2024 Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Funding Bill", "2023-10-02", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the House Rules Committee in opposition to the fiscal year 2024 Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies bill:\n\n\u2013 As Prepared for Delivery \u2013\n\nThe U.S. economy is growing at record rates. We are producing historic levels of job growth due to laws enacted by the last Congress. With this historic job growth, revenues are now coming into the private sector and the Federal government at much higher levels than before because \u2014 post pandemic \u2014 millions more people are working. Companies are earning money. Indeed, our nation has bent the debt curve as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product for the first time in modern history, as we begin to pay down our nation\u2019s accumulated debt.\n\nThus, I am unable to concur with my able colleague Chair Fleischman on this Appropriations bill. I prefer a more realistic Energy and Water allocation that meets the critical energy and water needs of our nation.\n\nAsk the citizens of Maui or the State of Washington, or along the drought-stricken Mississippi Louisianan corridor as saltwater creeps north, or the flood victims in New York City.\n\nEnergy and water security are national security, but the nondefense spending in this bill is $5.4 billion lower \u2014 22 percent lower \u2014 than last year\u2019s effective level. It repeals over $5 billion for critical energy programs from the Inflation Reduction Act that would have helped American families save money on their monthly energy bills while simultaneously creating thousands of jobs in new energy technologies.\n\nFor Energy and Water needs, it is not overstatement to say people in our nation live or die by decisions being made here in Congress. Since World War II, America paid a terrible price for its unconscious slide into foreign dependency on imported energy. While we have made strides toward energy independence, after half century of effort, we still haven\u2019t scored at the home plate of U.S. energy independence in perpetuity.\n\nNews outlets are correctly reporting that Russia\u2019s unprovoked war on Ukraine is being waged on more than one front, including energy, through the manipulation of global oil and gas prices due to reserves Russia controls. Again, energy resources are intricately bound to the fate of Liberty halfway around our world.\n\nAnd hasn\u2019t our nation learned repeatedly \u2014 the hard way \u2014 that when gasoline prices top $4 dollars a gallon, our economy is thrown into deep recession?\n\nEnergy allows our private sector\u2019s ability to flourish with millions of living wage jobs in energy production and conservation. Meanwhile, imaginative technologies are being created by America\u2019s amazing inventors in new building materials, solar and electrified windows, biofuels, geothermal and thermal heat recovery, and wind and wave energy, to name a few.\n\nOn our water responsibilities, new, major engineering challenges lie before America. New York City has just been hit again with major flooding and record rainfall of over 8 inches, following the devastation and flooded subways it endured during Hurricane Sandy.\n\nOur big cities are not prepared for these deluges of water, nor frankly, are our farmers when more field washouts are occurring every year due to climate change.\n\nThe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation are needed now more than ever to handle regional approaches to new and changing water flows, whether it\u2019s down the Mississippi, in the Great Lakes, or the dry, irrigated West.\n\nThere is an old expression: \u201cDon\u2019t try to fool Mother Nature.\u201d I would say, \u201cDon\u2019t ignore Mother Nature.\u201d This is one such moment in American history. Global population has now risen to over 8 billion people. In our nation, it is predicted that we will reach 400 million by 2050. Thus, we cannot pretend the impact of human activity on Planet Earth is negligible.\n\nAnd so I must express that the Energy and Water Appropriation bill before us is completely inadequate. It does not meet our country\u2019s needs in this new era of climate change. We must robustly meet the needs of the future, not flounder in the past.\n\nIn other areas of this bill, I continue to be troubled by the unsustainable spending in DOE\u2019s weapons program, and cuts to nuclear nonproliferation programs.\n\nFinally, the bill includes numerous controversial poison pill policy riders that sadly show extremist Republicans are not interested in bills that can gain bipartisan support and become law.\n\nWith that, I\u2019ll close my remarks, and I express opposition to this bill. American can and must do better on the New Age Frontiers of Energy and Water.\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-hosts-call-your-congresswoman-discuss-lowering-healthcare-costs", "Rep. Sykes Hosts \u201cCall With Your Congresswoman\u201d To Discuss Lowering Healthcare Costs For Seniors", "2023-10-02", "2023", "2023-10", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Last week, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) hosted a \u201cCall With Your Congresswoman\u201d to discuss Lowering Healthcare Costs for Seniors. During the call, Rep. Sykes outlined her actions to improve access to quality, affordable healthcare for seniors and families in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District.\n\n\u201cEvery person in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District deserves access to quality, affordable healthcare whenever they need it. But I know too many seniors and families in our district lay awake each night, worrying about what will happen if they get sick. In Congress, I\u2019m working every day to lower the cost of prescription drugs and health insurance, expand access to Medicaid, Medicare, and other life-saving healthcare, and make our communities healthier,\u201d said Rep. Sykes.\n\nRep. Sykes introduced the Mental Health Improvement Act, which would increase the number of behavioral health professionals to close gaps in mental health care that too often exist in communities throughout OH-13 and across the country. Rep. Sykes has also co-sponsored several pieces of legislation to strengthen Medicare access, including the Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act to ensure Medicare beneficiaries have coverage for innovative tests that can detect multiple types of cancer before symptoms develop, and the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act to ensure low-income patients in underserved communities across the nation can access quality healthcare providers.\n\nRep. Sykes was joined by a representative from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, who gave a presentation about how the Inflation Reduction Act provides meaningful financial relief to millions of Americans by improving access to affordable treatments and strengthening Medicare.\n\nThe Inflation Reduction Act:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:49:26Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/kaptur-statement-following-vote-pass-continuing-resolution-fund", "Kaptur Statement Following Vote To Pass Continuing Resolution To Fund Government Through November 17", "2023-09-30", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, DC \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water, Founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, and Dean of the Ohio Congressional Delegation released the following statement following her vote to pass H.R. 5860, the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2024 to fund government operations through 2024. The legislation passed with strong bipartisan support 334-92, and similarly this legislation passed with overwhelming bipartisan support from the Ohio Congressional Delegation 13-2 with the only No Vote\u2019s being Representatives Jim Jordan (OH-04) and Warren Davidson (OH-08).\n\n\u201cThough far from a perfect bipartisan, bicameral bill, the measure just passed temporarily\u2014for 45 days\u2014averts a shutdown of the United States Government. The chaos wrought by a small band of House MAGA extremist Members is very destructive to our country and Congress. Their confusion and intransigence would have gravely harmed our economy and achieved nothing. For example, it would have halted pay for our nation\u2019s military forces, taken food from hungry children, furloughed or required work without pay for federal workers handling food inspection, Social Security, flood insurance, passports, Border Patrol, and so much more.\n\n\u201cThe bill just passed extends the operations of our Federal Government for just a mere 45 days moving forward. The Republican Party with its thin majority has not been able to perform the basic duties of the Majority Party\u2014to prepare and pass a Budget for Fiscal Year 2024 followed by passage of 12 Departmental and Agency Appropriations\u2019 bills by September 30, 2023 to fund the operations of our nation\u2019s Federal Government.\n\n\u201cSo though this short term bill has passed, another vote must occur by November 17, 2023 to fund Federal operations going forward, causing more disruption in the operations of our highest levels of government. Meanwhile, this House Continuing Resolution, which is a temporary measure, now moves to the Senate where I hope it will pass immediately.\n\n\u201cThen on Monday, the House Rules Committee will continue its hearings on the majority of Appropriation bills that the Republican Leadership has been very late to complete.\n\n\"On the issue of US support for the valiant people and forces fighting for Liberty in Ukraine, the House Ukraine Caucus stands with you. Today, due to a handful of House MAGA extremists, a 45-day extension of US government operations until November 17, was able to briefly halt US assistance for Ukraine inside the 45-day window of that temporary Continuing Resolution. Though this is a hard slap in the face of Liberty, it will not hold going forward. The vast majority of House Members fully support Ukraine\u2014in fact 82%\u2014based on recent votes just this month supporting assistance to Ukraine. I, along with Members of our Ukraine Caucus, fully support Ukraine\u2019s quest for territorial sovereignty, independence, and accession to the Western community of democratic nations.\n\n\"Our 92-Member Ukraine Caucus gives no succor to the tyrannical regime of Putin and his butchering legions. We intend to assure that going forward the full will of the American people through the House is expressed in support of Ukraine. Freedom means never surrender, and the House Ukraine Caucus will never surrender to the whims of an extremist minority who choose tyranny over Liberty. Those who bequeathed Liberty to us knew its worth, and so must we.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-votes-keep-government-open-maintain-critical-services-people-ohios", "Rep. Sykes Votes To Keep The Government Open, Maintain Critical Services For People In Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District", "2023-09-30", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) issued a statement after voting in support of a continuing resolution (CR) to temporarily fund our government and keep critical services running for people and families in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District:\n\n\u201cFrom the beginning of this extremist manufactured crisis, I promised to work with anyone \u2014 Republican or Democrat \u2014 to keep critical government services running and avoid a government shutdown that would force our troops and law enforcement to work without pay, cut small businesses off from support they need, and make it harder for families to put food on their tables,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cThat\u2019s why I voted in favor of today\u2019s bill that would temporarily fund our government. Let me be clear \u2014 this bill is far from perfect, and our work is not yet done. This bill only funds our government for 45 days, meaning extreme Republicans can once again put the American people through the same chaos in just over a month. It\u2019s therefore imperative Congress immediately pass my Feed Our Families Act and Pay Our Military Act so our servicemembers and families won\u2019t have to go into the holiday season worrying if they will be able to pay their bills or feed their families.\u201d\n\nThe CR funds the government for 45 days through mid-November and includes a 90-day extension of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).\n\nUnfortunately, this legislation sets our nation up to let those most in need go hungry during the coldest months of the year. Because of how the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) distributes Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, if this short-term funding is allowed to lapse in 45 days, USDA may be unable to distribute food assistance benefits to the states for the month of December. That would leave nearly 40 million Americans unable to put food on the table during the holiday season.\n\nRep. Sykes\u2019 Feed Our Families Act would prevent this inadvertent tragedy from occurring by immediately appropriating three months of funding into SNAP\u2019s reserve account if Congress fails to do its most basic job by funding the government.\n\n\u201cThe holiday season should be when Americans take stock of the blessings in our lives, not struggle to make ends meet. We must immediately pass my Feed Our Families Act so no family has to worry about going hungry because of Congress\u2019 failure to fund SNAP,\u201d said Rep. Sykes.\n\nRep. Sykes also introduced the bipartisan Pay Our Military Act, which would provide appropriations for pay and support for all members of the Armed Forces, civilian personnel at the Department of Defense, members of the Coast Guard, necessary contractors, and reservists during a government shutdown.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-condemns-house-republicans-extreme-spending-cuts-drive-america", "Rep. Sykes Condemns House Republicans\u2019 Extreme Spending Cuts That Drive America Towards A Reckless Government Shutdown", "2023-09-29", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Yesterday, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) voted against House Republicans\u2019 extreme funding bills that would hurt our servicemembers and weaken our national security.\n\n\u201cJust days from the end of the fiscal year, House Republicans\u2019 partisan antics are looking more likely than ever to result in a government shutdown that interrupts critical government services, hurts small businesses, forces our troops to serve without pay, and furlough over 6,000 federal workers in Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District alone,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cInstead of working across the aisle to avoid a shutdown, extreme politicians are ramming through devastating cuts to vital programs and services like healthcare, food assistance and our national security. Our neighbors simply cannot afford these cuts at a time when the cost-of-living is already too high. These extreme, completely irresponsible proposals would only increase costs at a time when families are already struggling to make ends meet. I\u2019ll continue to put the needs of the people of Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District first, and work with any member to stop a shutdown and avoid the devastating consequences this would have for our communities.\u201d\n\nRep. Sykes has signed onto two letters to Speaker Kevin McCarthy, one with fellow first-term House Democrats and one with the New Democrat Coalition, both emphasizing the need to put the American people first, fund our essential government services, and avoid a government shutdown.\n\nShe has also introduced two bills\u2014 the Pay Our Military Act and the Feed Our Families Act \u2013 which put people over politics to protect Americans\u2019 livelihoods, and provide stability and certainty during a government shutdown. The Pay Our Military Act would ensure our servicemembers, the people who put their lives on the line every day to keep our country safe, continue to receive their paychecks during a government shutdown. The Feed Our Families Act would ensure families who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (also known as SNAP) to put food on their tables can still access their benefits during a shutdown.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-sykes-congress-must-put-people-over-politics-avoid-shutdown", "Rep. Sykes: Congress Must Put People Over Politics To Avoid A Shutdown", "2023-09-29", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Emilia Strong Sykes", "S001223", "sykes.house.gov", "sykes", "https://sykes.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) issued a statement after the House Republican Continuing Resolution that contained extreme funding cuts to vital government services failed on the House floor this afternoon. As a result, our country is recklessly charging towards a manufactured government shutdown with devastating consequences for the people of Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District:\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s clear with this latest bill that extreme politicians in Washington are still more focused on introducing irresponsible, reckless funding bills than working on a bipartisan solution to avoid a government shutdown,\u201d said Rep. Sykes. \u201cI will always put the people of Ohio\u2019s 13th Congressional District first. I refuse to support devastating cuts to the critical services our neighbors rely on, including slashing funding for Social Security, eliminating life-saving healthcare services, reducing food assistance to children and families, cutting K-12 education and laying off local educators, and defunding our law enforcement to make the border less secure. People in my district are tired of the political games\u2014 they want real leadership. It\u2019s why I\u2019ve introduced my Feed Our Families Act and the Pay Our Military Act to provide stability and certainty in the case of an extremist-manufactured shutdown. I\u2019m committed to working with anyone \u2014 Republicans or Democrats \u2014 to pass a realistic budget that invests in Northeast Ohioans and avoids a catastrophic government shutdown.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"], ["https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congresswoman-kaptur-announces-1-million-hhs-award-zepf-center", "Congresswoman Kaptur Announces $1 Million HHS Award to Zepf Center", "2023-09-28", "2023", "2023-09", "Democrat", "House", "OH", "Marcy Kaptur", "K000009", "kaptur.house.gov", "kaptur", "https://kaptur.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "Toledo, OH \u2014 Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09) announced a $1,000,000 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics Mental Health & Substance Abuse Service Grant award from the Center for Mental Health Services and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for the improvement and advancement of the Zepf Center. The Zepf Center has been a behavioral healthcare resource in Toledo for almost 50 years since its founding in 1974. With a rich history of helping those in need, Zepf is dedicated to treating patients with respect and providing hope. More about the Zepf Center and its history in providing mental health care is available here.\n\n\u201cThis major funding award for the Zepf Center will help those working to address mental illness in our communities to better serve those in need,\u201d said Congresswoman Kaptur. \u201cAt a time when the need for mental health services is on the rise in our region, and across the nation, it is important to see this kind of support coming back to our city and region from the Department of Health and Human Services. My work in Washington is always focused on ensuring that our community gets the proper support it needs, and I will always fight to help bolster vital services for our region. Mental Health care facilities such as Zepf are often at the front line providing help and hope in the continuum of care for those with mental health challenges in our region.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe CCBHC grant is a national model of care with proven outcomes to reduce crime, incarceration and access to mental health, addiction and crisis care,\u201d said Deb Flores, CEO of the Zepf Center. \u201cZepf Center is a proven behavioral health leader in NW Ohio and it\u2019s our mission to serve anyone in need of care.\u201d\n\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:37:48Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 372, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Democrat", "p1": "OH", "p2": "2023"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=OH&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 372, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=OH&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=OH&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 372, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=OH&year=2023&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=OH&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "OH", "label": "OH", "count": 372, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&year=2023", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=OH&year=2023", "results": [{"value": "2023", "label": "2023", "count": 372, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=OH", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2023-09-28,https~3A~2F~2Fkaptur~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fcongresswoman-kaptur-announces-1-million-hhs-award-zepf-center", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Democrat&state=OH&year=2023&_next=2023-09-28%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fkaptur~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fmedia-center~2Fpress-releases~2Fcongresswoman-kaptur-announces-1-million-hhs-award-zepf-center&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 421.7162560671568, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}