Rep. Sykes Votes Against Energy & Water Bill that Raises Prices, Neglects Critical Infrastructure Investments
WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Representative Emilia Sykes (OH-13) voted against H.R. 4553 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026. This bill raises energy prices and jeopardizes the United States' energy independence while neglecting crucial investments in critical clean water and sewer infrastructure in Ohio’s 13th Congressional District.
“As temperatures chill and Ohioans prepare for winter weather, I will not support a Republican-led bill that raises energy prices,” said Rep. Sykes. “I voted against this bill because it does nothing to lower costs for my constituents and it neglects vital investments in clean water and sewer infrastructure in Summit and Stark Counties.”
Watch Rep. Sykes’ Floor remarks here.
Earlier this year, Republicans passed and President Trump signed into law, H.R. 1 the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill.” That legislation is expected to raise energy prices by an average of $410 a year for Ohio families. Congresswoman Sykes offered seven amendments to that bill, including adding her bill, the Lower Your Taxes Act, to the legislation to lower costs for families. The amendments were voted down on a party-line vote.
Last year, the House passed the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act, which includes several provisions that Rep. Sykes advocated for on behalf of the people of Ohio’s 13th Congressional District, including:
- Summit County Environmental Infrastructure New Authority: Creates and authorizes Summit County Environmental Infrastructure New Authority at $25 million to fund projects such as Akron Water Main Replacement, Akron Lead Service Line Replacement, Castle Boulevard Storm Water Improvements in Akron, West Market Street Waterline Replacement in Fairlawn, New Franklin South Main Street Storm Water replacement in Village of New Franklin, Stratford Street Waterline in Barberton, Rosemont Preserve in Fairlawn.
- Stark County Environmental Infrastructure New Authority: Creates and authorizes Stark County Environmental Infrastructure Authority at $23.9 million to fund projects such as the Cromer Water Storage Reservoir Replacement Project in Canton, Ohio Erie Canalway Lock IV Park updates, and the Sanitary Sewer Project for the Community of North Lawrence.
The Water Resources Development Act of 2024 was an authorizing bill which created new authorities to fund Summit and Stark County Environmental Infrastructure Authorities. To fulfill those authorities, Congress must appropriate funds in the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act to provide the funding that was previously authorized. This bill fails to provide that funding, leaving Summit and Stark Counties without the funds needed to make these important infrastructure improvements.
The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act harms Americans by:
- Increasing energy costs, jeopardizing energy independence, and hurting United States’ competitiveness by slashing the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy programs nearly in half, revoking more than $5 billion from the Department of Energy’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law resources, and eliminating funding for the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.
- Weakening national security and leaving Americans more vulnerable to nuclear threats by cutting the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation account by 17 percent.
- Abandoning commitments to communities to clean up radioactive waste by eliminating funding for the Corps of Engineers’ Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program and cutting the Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management by 9 percent.
Rep. Sykes is a Member of the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment within the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over matters relating to water resources development, conservation and management, water pollution control and water infrastructure, and hazardous waste cleanup.