Month: April 2022

Small manufacturers should be included in federal supply chain legislation, according to U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist.

Rep. Davids visited Knit-Rite, a medical supply manufacturer in Kansas City, Kansas, on Thursday as part of her Made in Kansas tour to promote domestic manufacturing and supply chain solutions.

She announced the tour after being selected as a key negotiator for the House as lawmakers finalize a major, bipartisan supply chain package in Congress.

Knit-Rite has been in Kansas City for 99 years, producing medical textiles for amputees, orthotic users, diabetics, and people with other venous and sensitivity disorders.

They employ 100 people at their Kansas manufacturing facility, and recently worked with the Wyandotte Economic Development Council, along with Knit-Rite’s sister organization Thuasne USA, to bring 15 new employees to the area and expand their current 60,000 square foot facility by more than 50%. Rep. Davids joined Knit-Rite’s CEO and employees to discuss her work to support American-made medical supplies and manufacturing in Kansas.

Rep. Davids has been a strong advocate for small and mid-sized manufacturers, particularly medical suppliers. After hearing the story of Lenexa-based manufacturer Dentec Safety Specialists, Rep. Davids helped them secure federal funding to fill the shortage of masks during the pandemic. She introduced the Supplies Act, which would create a grant program for small and medium manufacturers that shift their production to medical supplies during future public health emergencies.

Now, she has been selected as a negotiator representing the House Small Business Committee as Congress moves ahead on this major, bipartisan supply chain package. Her amendment, which passed in the House version of the package, would ensure small businesses are considered in upgrades to the medical supply chain, not just big corporations.

“Knit-Rite is a great local success story for manufacturing and a true Made in Kansas business. As we’re working to fix our supply chains and lower costs, we have to make sure that these smaller manufacturers are included, particularly when it comes to critical materials like medical supplies,” Rep. Davids said. “It’s better for our economy and ultimately better for our patients. I’m going to continue advocating for our homegrown businesses and workforce as we work across the aisle to finalize supply chain legislation in Congress.”

“Knit-Rite has been a Kansas City company for 99 years, since our founding in 1923. I am proud that we have continued to grow, design and manufacture our specialty medical textiles here in Kansas City, Kansas, shipping product to over 50 countries around the world and providing stability and job opportunities for multiple generations of employees and families that have been part of the Knit-Rite family,” said Chris Vering, CEO of Knit-Rite. “Knit-Rite provides good paying jobs to those seeking a better life and work stability. To leave a legacy, we need to connect our high schoolers with businesses like ours that can provide them a stable, fruitful living for generations to come.”

Rep. Davids recently met with President Biden to emphasize the need to fix the supply chains and address rising costs by making more goods in America. The legislation she is working on now includes several priorities for the Kansas 3rd District, including incentives for domestic semiconductor production and policies to help American workers and industries compete against countries like China. She visited A&K Railroad Materials for the first stop in her Made in Kansas tour to highlight local manufacturers.

• Story from Rep. Davids’ office