Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, Congresswoman Emilia Strong Sykes grew up on the city’s west side and has dedicated her career to strengthening her community.
For 8 years, Emilia served as the State Representative for Ohio House District 34, otherwise known as the “Birthplace of Champions.” During that time, she served for four years in Democratic leadership, including three years as the House Minority Leader. In her first year as the leader of the House Democratic caucus, despite serving in the minority, the percentage of bipartisan bills passed in the Ohio House was nearly double each of the previous four years combined.
In 2022, Congresswoman Sykes became the first Black person elected to represent Ohio’s 13th Congressional District, where she has committed to fighting for economic opportunity, safer communities and affordable healthcare for Northeast Ohioans, bringing along a spirit of bipartisan cooperation to get things done for those she serves.
Congresswoman Sykes has received numerous awards for her advocacy, including the EMILY’s List national Rising Star award, Legislator of the Year from the Ohio Minority Business Enterprise, the Champion for Children award from Summit County Children’s Services, and 30 for the Future award from the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce. Outside of elected office she engages her community as a lifelong member of her church, a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and a life member of the NAACP.
Congresswoman Sykes graduated with high honors from Kent State University with a B.A. in Psychology and later went on to the University of Florida, where she earned a Juris Doctor with a Certificate in Family Law and a Master of Public Health.
Congresswoman Sykes is a newlywed, married to Kevin Boyce and enjoys spending time with family, engaging in the arts, and enjoying the many blessings of life.
Committees & Caucuses
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has jurisdiction over all modes of transportation: aviation, maritime and waterborne transportation, highways, bridges, mass transit, and railroads. The Committee also has jurisdiction over other aspects of our national infrastructure, such as clean water and waste water management, the transport of resources by pipeline, flood damage reduction, the management of federally owned real estate and public buildings, the development of economically depressed rural and urban areas, disaster preparedness and response, and hazardous materials transportation.
In addition, the Transportation Committee has broad jurisdiction over the Department of Transportation, the U.S. Coast Guard, Amtrak, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Economic Development Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and others. The Committee also has jurisdiction over federal buildings, which includes the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, Vice-Ranking Member
The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology has jurisdiction over all energy research, development, and demonstration, and projects thereof and all federally owned or operated non-military energy laboratories; astronautical research and development, including resources, personnel, equipment, and facilities; civil aviation research and development; environmental research and development; marine research; commercial application of energy technology; National Institute of Standards and Technology, standardization of weights and measures and the metric system; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; National Science Foundation; National Weather Service; outer space, including exploration and control thereof; science scholarships; scientific research, development, and demonstration, and projects therefor. The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology shall review and study, on a continuing basis, laws, programs, and Government activities relating to non-military research and development.
- The Congressional Black Caucus: Environmental Justice, Clean Energy & Infrastructure Task Force
- The Bipartisan Women's Caucus, Vice-Chair
- The New Democrat Coalition, Vice-Chair of the Affordable Housing Taskforce
- The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
- The Bipartisan Congressional Tire Caucus, Democratic Lead
- The Democratic Women's Caucus
- The Equality Caucus
- The Congressional Ohio River Basin Caucus
- The Black Maternal Health Caucus
- The Heartland Caucus
- The Pro-Choice Caucus
- The Congressional Caucus on Black Women and Girls
- The House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force
- The Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition
- The Problem Solvers Caucus, Working Group on Pharmaceutical Affordability and Access
- The Future Forum
- The Labor Caucus
- The STEAM Caucus
- The Women in STEM Caucus
- The House Manufacturing Caucus
- The Congressional Voting Rights Caucus
- The Congressional Access to Legal Aid Caucus
- The Congressional Diabetes Caucus
- The Congressional Public Health Caucus
- The Congressional Steel Caucus
- The Congressional Fire Services Caucus
- The Congressional Caucus on Maternity Care
- The House Aerospace Caucus