Rep. Sykes Pushes to Lower Health Costs, Expand Care

Rep. Sykes Pushes to Lower Health Costs, Expand Care

Marks National Public Health Week, highlights "food is medicine" and mental health efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13), who holds a Master of Public Health (MPH), is recognizing National Public Health Week, observed April 6-12. This year's theme, "Ready. Set. Action!", highlights how public health has improved daily life, safeguarded families, and strengthened communities, while calling on leaders to build a healthier future.

"This week is a reminder that public health progress does not happen by accident," said Rep. Sykes. "I know it takes intentional action to lower costs, expand access to care, and keep our communities safe. That is the work I am focused on delivering for families across Ohio's 13th Congressional District and nationwide."

Rep. Sykes has focused on lowering health care costs and expanding coverage, including supporting legislation to make Affordable Care Act tax credits permanent through the Health Care Affordability Act of 2025. Nearly 29,000 people in Ohio's 13th District relied on ACA subsidies to afford coverage before Republicans let them expire at the end of last year.

She has also raised concerns about new federal policies that have increased costs and reduced access to care. Rep. Sykes opposed Republicans' Big Ugly Bill, now signed into law, which cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid and canceled coverage for millions of Americans.

She is also leading efforts to improve outcomes for families, including legislation to protect infants from toxic contaminants in baby food (INFANTS Act) and to address the maternal health crisis, particularly for Black mothers (Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act).

Rep. Sykes has worked to expand access to mental health care through her bipartisan Mental Health Improvement Act, now law as part of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act, which supports training for behavioral health professionals.

Recognizing that public health extends beyond the doctor's office, Rep. Sykes has advanced policies to keep communities safe and healthy, including her Safer Homes and Families Package to support survivors of domestic violence through stronger protections and trauma-informed care. As part of this effort, she introduced the Better Care for Domestic Violence Survivors Act to train health care providers to better identify and support survivors.

Rep. Sykes understands that addressing the social determinants of health are critical to improving public health, including food insecurity. While serving in the Ohio House of Representatives, she secured state funding for a pilot program establishing food farmacies in Summit County. The $1 million grant supported three new food farmacies at Akron Children's Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, and Summa Health System with the support of the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank. In Congress, she has continued this work by introducing the Food Farmacy Act, which would expand access to nutritious foods and provide nutritional guidance. She also introduced the Healthy Food Access for All Americans Act to expand access to healthy foods in underserved communities and reduce the number of food deserts nationwide.

She continues to advocate for access to reproductive health care, including contraception (Right to Contraception Act), IVF (Access to Family Building Act), and abortion services (Women's Health Protection Act), and for science-based policies that protect families from preventable diseases. She has urged federal officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to maintain evidence-based vaccine recommendations.

Her office also assists constituents in accessing Medicare and Medicaid, resolving coverage issues, and securing needed care.