Rep. Sykes Opposes House Republicans’ Harmful Default on America Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Emilia Strong Sykes (OH-13) issued the following statement regarding House Passage of H.R. 2811, House Republicans’ “Default on America Act.” The Default on America Act is a harmful wish list of unpopular, extreme priorities that would cut jobs in the economy, strip away health care and food assistance from hardworking Americans, undermine our global competitiveness, hurt our nation’s veterans, and send the stock market into a rapid decline.
“The Default on America Act would have devastating and far-reaching impacts on the people of Ohio’s 13th District. This harmful legislation would rip away critical health care and food assistance from hardworking Ohioans, kill thousands of local jobs, cut funding for childcare, undermine our response to the opioid crisis, and endanger the safety of our communities. I refuse to support any legislation that cuts Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and programs that are vital to the well-being of children, seniors, veterans, small business owners, and families in our district. Congress needs to find real bipartisan solutions, not partisan politics. It’s time to raise the debt ceiling to protect Americans’ livelihoods,” said Rep. Sykes.
House Republicans' Default on America Act would be catastrophic for people in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District. The Act would:
- Put 421,000 people at risk of losing Medicaid coverage in Ohio.
- Threaten access to food assistance for 39,000 people aged 50-55 in Ohio.
- Eliminate preschool and childcare for at least 12,300 children in Ohio.
- Increase housing costs for at least 23,300 people in Ohio.
- Make college more expensive for at least 198,300 students in Ohio.
- Eliminate at least 5 air traffic control towers in Ohio.
- Cut at least 330 rail safety inspection days in Ohio.
- Repeal investments in cleaner, cheaper energy — threatening at least 3,900 clean energy and manufacturing jobs announced in Ohio since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.
- Kill approximately 7,600 jobs in OH-13 alone. Nationwide, a default could cut more than 7 million jobs.
- Jeopardize Social Security payments for 110,000 families in OH-13.
- Put health benefits at risk for 322,000 people in OH-13 who rely on Medicare, Medicaid, or Veterans Affairs health coverage.
- Increase lifetime mortgage costs for the typical homeowner in Ohio by $30,000.
- Raise the costs of a new car loan for the typical American by $800.
- Threaten the retirement savings of 109,800 people near retirement in OH-13, eliminating $20,000 from the typical retirement portfolio.
During today’s House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing, Rep. Sykes emphasized the Default on America Act would hinder our ability to protect our national security, be competitive with China, develop our workforce, and bolster economic activity at home.
This morning, Rep. Sykes joined Members of the House Democratic Caucus in calling on Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans to uphold their obligation to protect the full faith and credit of the United States through a clean debt ceiling increase.
House Democrats continue to make it clear that while debate on spending and economic responsibility is welcome, negotiations over spending must be distinct from the threat of economic default, and any cuts to Social Security and Medicare are off the table.