Tag: U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids

Congresswoman tells of anxious moments

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Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

Rep. Sharice Davids might have been forced into using her skills as a mixed martial artist.

Davids, who is the Democrat congresswoman from the Third District of Kansas, was in Washington, D.C., when the angry mob hammered the Capitol Wednesday, Jan. 6. Fortunately, the mob never made it into the adjoining office building where Rep. Davids was.

Rep. Davids was the featured speaker Friday, Jan. 15, at a meeting of the Congressional Forum via Zoom. About 60 persons joined the meeting.

Rep. Davids said she was hesitant to wish everyone a Happy New Year because of the assault on the Capitol Building.

Rep. Davids said she was “shocked and outraged” with the assault on the Capitol.

In a prepared statement, she said, “The insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”

Rep. Davids voted to approve the articles of impeachment against President Donald J. Trump. He is the only president to have been impeached twice. Now it is up to U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the Democrat Speaker of the House, as to when she will send the impeachment articles to the U.S. Senate for trial.

Rep. Davids said it is important for Congress to move ahead with the necessary business of running the government. She said she will continue to serve on the Transportation and Small Business committees.

Rep. Davids thanked members of the Congressional Forum and other groups in the Third District for keeping her informed about needs and issues.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and the Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.

Congresswoman makes case for bipartisan cooperation

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Opinion column

by Murrel Bland

Despite what you may see and hear from the news media, there are bipartisan cooperative efforts to get things done in Congress.

This was the message from U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., who was the featured speaker at a meeting of the Congressional Forum via Zoom Friday, Sept. 18. She cited the progress on legislation that would provide funding for flood control. The Congressional Forum is a committee of the Kansas City, Kansas, Area Chamber of Commerce.

Rep. Davids said she favors emergency federal help for state and local governments; they cannot be expected to address these challenges on their own because of the coronavirus pandemic. She said more legislation also needs to help workers and small businesses.

Rep. Davids serves on the House Committee on Transportation that recently released its final report on the Boeing 737 MAX. Two of this aircraft crashed and killed 346 victims. She said that investigations indicated that the Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing put profit over safety. She said that aviation safety must be strengthened.

Steve Shondell, a longtime member of the Congressional Forum, asked about federal spending that would encumber debt for future generations.

Rep. Davids said that she is part of a bipartisan effort that supports a triggering mechanism that would warn Congress of excessive spending.

Rep. Davids said she expects a continuing resolution to be passed soon so that the federal government does not run out of money. She said she does not want to experience what she suffered through last year when there was disagreement on Congressional spending.

Rep. Davids is seeking re-election; her Republican opponent is Amanda Adkins. Both are residents of Johnson County.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is the executive director of Business West.

Congresswoman urges employers to take advantage of federal program

by Murrel Bland

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., encouraged business owners to take advantage of the federal Paycheck Protection Program if they haven’t done so. She was the featured speaker Friday, July 17, at a teleconference meeting via ZOOM of the Congressional Forum. The forum is a committee of the Kansas City, Kansas, Chamber of Commerce.

Rep. Davids said the deadline for the PPP has been extended to Saturday, Aug. 8. The program provides funding for employers who keep employees on the payroll. She said that the extension will help those who were missed, particularly small businesses and minority-owned firms.

Rep. Davids, who serves on the U. S. House Transportation and Infrastructure and Small Business committees, said the House passed a $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill July 1. The hope is that there will be bipartisan support for the bill that is in the U.S. Senate. The bill calls for $319 billion for highways, $105 billion for public transit and $100 billion for affordable housing.

Rep. Davids said she favors Medicaid expansion for some 150,000 Kansans not now covered. Although Medicaid is a federal program, it would have to be approved by the Kansas Legislature. The program is in effect in 37 states.

Rep. Davids said she has spent Friday morning visiting the work that is being done on the Turkey Creek Flood Control project. The $151 million project is a combined effort of the federal Corps of Engineers and the municipal governments of Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas. Underground pipes will run underneath railroad tracks to complete a pathway for storm water to travel into Turkey Creek. The project is expected to be complete next year. Construction on the project began in 2007. This should help prevent flooding along Southwest Boulevard.

Rep. Davids, a first-term Democrat officeholder, has no competition in the Aug. 4 primary election. However, four candidates are seeking the Republican Party’s nomination.

Murrel Bland is the former editor of The Wyandotte West and The Piper Press. He is executive director of Business West.