Rep. Sykes Hosts Hundreds of Constituents for Community Conversation in Fairlawn
FAIRLAWN, Ohio — In Case You Missed It, Yesterday, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) held a Community Conversation for more than 200 people at the Fairlawn Kiwanis Community Center. During this Community Conversation, Rep. Sykes discussed her work to protect Social Security and Medicaid and other issues being faced by seniors. Rep. Sykes’ Community Conversation comes in the wake of House Republicans’ push to pass a Reconciliation bill that would leave an estimated 27,896 people in Ohio's 13th Congressional District at risk of losing health care coverage, including 17,696 people who receive Medicaid coverage and 10,200 people who receive coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Rep. Sykes was joined at the Community Conversation by special guests Abigail Morgan, President and CEO of Direction Home of Akron-Canton, and Norm Wernet, State Director of the Ohio Alliance of Retired Americans.
“I was honored to meet with constituents from all corners of Ohio’s 13th Congressional District who came to the Community Conversation to make their voices heard. When I was first elected, I told the people of Ohio’s 13th Congressional District ‘it may be my name on the ballot, but we’re all going to Congress together.’ And I made that promise because as a representative, it is my responsibility to make sure that my constituents' needs are being addressed in Washington,” said. Rep. Sykes. “The people in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District need lower costs and they need access to care. Nobody that I represent has demanded that we kick our grandmothers out of nursing homes.”
Rep. Sykes outlined updates on the federal budget, including the House Republicans’ Reconciliation bill that passed out of the House Rules Committee last week. The bill is bad for Ohio’s 13th Congressional District because it takes away resources from hardworking families. If this version of the Reconciliation bill as written becomes law, an estimated 27,896 people in Ohio's 13th Congressional District are at risk of losing health care coverage, including 17,696 people who receive Medicaid coverage and 10,200 people who receive coverage under the Affordable Care Act. These cuts would have far reaching effects on the local economy as hospital systems are the largest employer, employing roughly 30,000 people throughout the District.
She also discussed the importance of protecting Medicaid, which is critical for our community, because our largest employer, healthcare systems, rely on Medicaid payments. Seniors, the disabled, pregnant mothers, and children also rely on Medicaid to cover healthcare expenses.
Rep. Sykes was joined at the Community Conversation by special guests Abigail Morgan, President and CEO of Direction Home of Akron-Canton, and Norm Wernet, State Director of the Ohio Alliance of Retired Americans.
"We at Direction Home Akron Canton have worked with Congresswoman Sykes since her days at the Ohio Statehouse and appreciate her ongoing dedication to the older Ohioans we all serve. Medicare, Medicaid and other federal supports are vital to our older family, friends, and neighbors. We would not be able to provide the services and options that allow people to live where they want to call home without these vital programs. We have an amazing advocate in the Congresswoman for older adults in our area, and look forward to working through challenging times for the betterment of our region,” said Abigail Morgan, President and CEO of Direction Home of Akron-Canton.
“We work and build our communities and earn Social Security and Medicare for our lives after a life of work. Medicaid is our primary source for funding long term care as our vulnerabilities increase with age. We created these systems as basic foundations for retirement security because the private sector would not. We must organize and advocate to protect, preserve and pass them on to the generations to follow,” said Norm Wernet, State Director of the Ohio Alliance of Retired Americans.
WATCH: Rep. Sykes Debates Republican Reconciliation Bill on House Floor
WATCH: Rep. Sykes Uplifts the Story of a Constituent who relies on Medicaid Coverage
WATCH: Rep. Sykes Introduces Amendments to the Reconciliation Bill