Rep. Sykes Unveils Affordability Agenda to Address the Cost of Living Crisis

Rep. Sykes Unveils Affordability Agenda to Address the Cost of Living Crisis

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13), in collaboration with the New Democrat Coalition, released her Affordability Agenda, a policy roadmap to help make life more affordable for Ohio's 13th Congressional District's constituents by focusing on lowering the five core costs that are too high for hardworking people: health care, housing, energy, family care, and household essentials like groceries.

Despite promising to lower prices "on day one" and "end inflation," President Trump and Republicans in Congress have failed to lower the cost of living as their billionaire-first agenda makes life more expensive across the board for hardworking Americans.

With the Affordability Agenda, Rep. Sykes is offering a better path forward to lower everyday costs in the short- and long-term by rolling back harmful policies pushed by Republicans in Washington, promoting competition and supporting small businesses to boost consumer choice, and breaking down regulatory barriers across the government to meet the needs of everyday Americans.

"Every day I hear from my constituents that the cost of living is too high and only getting worse. Our economy is unaffordable for working people, and it's putting the American dream out of reach. I know folks in Ohio's 13th Congressional District are looking for real solutions, not lip service from politicians in Washington," said Rep. Sykes.

"That's what this Affordability Agenda is all about: laying out a strategy to quickly and legitimately lower the costs that are stressing working people, from housing, health care, gas, and groceries.

"It's time to renew the promise of affordability and the American dream. Let's get to work."

Affordability Agenda Toplines

Groceries & Household Essentials

• Restore certainty by rolling back Trump's tariffs and advancing smarter, durable trade policies.
• Support small producers and crack down on price-gouging corporations to increase competition in the food marketplace.
• Lower internet bills by restarting the Affordable Connectivity Program.
• Increase the minimum wage and ensure workers have a seat at the table.

Health Care

• Reduce monthly costs by extending ACA tax credits and expanding access to prescription price caps.
• Protect patients from surprise medical bills and aggressive debt collection.
• Expand access to care by fully funding Medicaid and strengthening Medicare's guaranteed benefits.
• Increase competition and transparency while cracking down on fraud and abuse.

Housing

• Cut red tape and update permitting and zoning to build four million homes in the next decade.
• Level the playing field by eliminating unfair tax breaks to private equity and large investors.
• Utilize innovative construction technologies to accelerate home production.
• Build more affordable homes by increasing Low-Income Housing Tax Credit allocations and community benefits.

Energy

• Reform permitting rules to make it faster and cheaper to build energy transmission and generation infrastructure.
• Ensure energy is available and abundant by establishing a level playing field for all forms of energy.
• Reallocate electric grid costs to protect consumers from price hikes due to manufacturing and data center development.
• Invest in energy efficiency and home heating & cooling to lower residential energy costs.

Families

• Create a national paid family and medical leave program that covers all Americans.
• Support working families with expanded access to tax cuts and universal pre-K.
• Leverage federal resources and foster public-private partnerships to enhance care options and paid leave access.
• Invest in the home health and long-term care workforce to care for aging Americans.