Tag: Congress

Kansas delegation denounces Russian ‘tyrant,’ urges support of Ukrainians

by Tim Carpenter, Kansas Reflector

Topeka — Members of the Kansas congressional delegation found unanimity in denouncing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and demanding imposition of the strongest available economic sanctions in reprisal.

U.S. House and U.S. Senate members from Kansas shared views on how President Joe Biden or Congress ought to respond to the invasion ordered by President Vladimir Putin of Russia. In statements, however, none echoed former President Donald Trump’s praise of Putin’s intellect or an assertion by former Kansas U.S. Rep. Mike Pompeo that Putin was an “elegantly sophisticated counterpart.”

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Republican, said the greatest breach of peace in Europe in nearly 80 years required NATO to demonstrate “strength and resolve” and for Biden to provide more defensive aid to Ukrainian allies. He said the United States needed to continue pursuit of economic penalties against Russia.

The U.S. Senate should develop a comprehensive and bipartisan package of sanctions against Russia in response to Putin’s “unprovoked invasion” of Ukraine, said GOP U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran.

“It is essential to demonstrate to the American public and the world that the Senate can work expeditiously and in a bipartisan manner to address matters of global security,” Moran said.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, who serves the 3rd District in the Kansas City, Kansas, area, said the United States had to make clear Russia couldn’t intimidate or invade allies or partner countries without consequence. She said Putin must be held responsible for “unjustified and unacceptable aggression.”

Amanda Adkins, who is seeking the GOP nomination in the 3rd District, said Biden “showed weakness in the midst of difficulty” in the presidential role of preserving economic and national security interests of the United States and strategic partners in Europe.

U.S. Rep. Ron Estes, a Republican who serves the 4th District around Wichita, said Putin was a tyrant who unleased military forces on a sovereign nation for “personal gain without regard to loss of life or even the will of his own people.”

“There must be consequences for such a reckless and dangerous action. President Biden should take a strong stance against this invasion of an independent nation,” Estes said.

U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, the GOP representative of the 2nd District in eastern Kansas, said innocent people of Ukraine had to be defended and “Putin and his thugs” should be held accountable. He said Biden ought to dramatically increase domestic energy production to offset instability in the world market.

Kansas Reflector stories, www.kansasreflector.com, may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.
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Rep. Davids introduces legislation to lower gas prices

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., has introduced a bill that would lower gas prices by temporarily suspending the federal gas tax through the end of the year, saving Kansans money at a time when gas prices are reaching their highest point in decades.

“People are feeling the strain from rising prices at the gas pump, and that’s not something I think we should ignore or dismiss. I’ve heard from Kansans who say the rise in gas prices is cutting into their savings for their kids’ education,” Rep. Davids said. “A temporary suspension of the federal gas tax is a commonsense step to give Kansans a break from the rising prices while still maintaining our commitment to infrastructure repairs and long-term inflation solutions.”

Rep. Davids also called for a renewed commitment to long-term energy and inflation solutions, noting the bipartisan infrastructure law’s historic investment in electric vehicles and highway repairs. She has been focused on concrete solutions to rising costs, including meeting recently with General Motors workers in Kansas City, Kansas, to share her support for crucial investments in domestic manufacturing and supply chains.

“We have to continue pushing for concrete solutions to reduce inflation, like fixing our supply chains, investing in clean energy, and making more goods in America. I will continue to work across the aisle to make that happen—but the fact is that Kansans need relief now,” Rep. Davids said.

The Gas Prices Relief Act would ensure the Highway Trust Fund remains solvent and that oil and gas companies pass along savings to consumers. In the House, the legislation is co-sponsored by Reps. O’Halleran, Schrier, Harder, Kildee, Correa, Slotkin, Cherfilus-McCormick, and Morelle and was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Mark Kelly. Specifically, it will deliver much-needed economic relief to Americans across the country by:

• Suspending the 18.4 cents per gallon federal gas tax until Jan. 1, 2023. Currently, the national average for the cost of a gallon of gas is nearly one dollar higher than it was at this time last year, according to AAA.
• Passing tax savings to Americans and not oil and gas companies by requiring the Secretary of the Treasury to monitor the program in order to ensure oil and gas companies pass along the lower prices to consumers. The bill also encourages the Secretary to take appropriate enforcement actions to ensure consumers see these savings. 
• Maintaining the integrity of the Highway Trust Fund by requiring the Department of the Treasury to make general fund transfers to keep the Highway Trust Fund solvent. 

Following Rep. Davids’ calls to take action on rising gas prices last fall, President Biden released 500 million barrels of oil from the Strategic National Reserve. A spokesman stated that Rep. Davids remains focused on concrete solutions to lower costs for Kansans and connect families with immediate relief, launching a new resource guide on her website at davids.house.gov/lowercosts and continuing her work on supply chain issues that are contributing to inflation.

  • Information from Rep. Sharice Davids’ office

Davids backs legislation to support women business owners

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., and Rep. Claudia Tenney, R-N.Y., have jointly introduced the Women’s Business Centers Improvement Act.

The legislation would increase access to resources and opportunities for female entrepreneurs in Kansas and across the country, according to Rep. Davids.

The bill passed the last Congress with unanimous bipartisan support and is being reintroduced this session.

The Women’s Business Center program was established 30 years ago to help women entreprenuers succeed, and now boasts 150 locations throughout the United States. These centers serve over 150,000 business owners annually, including the Kansas City WBC located in Fairway, Kansas, which reached more than 800 clients last year.

WBCs provide a full range of counseling and technical training services for small businesses and are instrumental to businesses that are navigating the pandemic, according to Rep. Davids’ office.

“Women-owned businesses employ 9.4 million people nationwide and contribute $1.2 trillion to our economy each year, but throughout the pandemic, female entrepreneurs have been more likely to close their doors. By properly funding resources like Women’s Business Centers, we can increase access to vital counseling and training services that help set entrepreneurs up for success,” Rep. Davids said. “The Third District has an amazing entrepreneurial ecosystem, and I’m proud to introduce bipartisan legislation that will spur even further innovation and economic opportunity here at home.”

The Women’s Business Centers Improvement Act reauthorizes the WBC program for four years, increases the authorization level from $18 million annually to $31.5 million, and increases the cap on individual center grants for the first time since the program began. The bill also establishes an accreditation program run by the Association of Small Business Development Centers to ensure all WBCs provide excellent service and counseling.

The Kansas City WBC serves Kansas entrepreneurs through business trainings, workshops, counseling, and access to capital programs targeted at female business owners. Throughout the pandemic, they have adapted many of their programs to be virtual, relying on SBA funding and the CARES Act to continue to service the strong entrepreneurial ecosystem in Kansas. The Kansas City WBC shared its work with Congress during a House Small Business Committee hearing chaired by Davids in June.

“We are a small team at the Kansas City Women’s Business Center, but we serve a strong, vibrant community of entrepreneurs. Part of the reason we were able to serve over 800 clients and adapt our services during the pandemic last year is because of the support of champions like Representative Davids,” said Sherry Turner, executive director of the Kansas City Women’s Business Center. “This bill would significantly increase our funding, allowing us to reach more women across Kansas and offer more trainings and services to help them succeed and thrive—which has compound effects that lift up our entire local economy.”

  • Story from Rep. Sharice Davids’ office