Tag: U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids

Rep. Davids backs attempt to lower gas prices

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., continued her efforts Wednesday to get relief to Kansas residents by suspending the federal gas tax.

CEOs of oil and gas companies testified before Congress Wednesday, answering allegations of price gouging.

Rep. Davids has urged President Biden and Congress to move forward on long-term energy and inflation solutions, including fixing the supply chains, making more products in America, and investing in a clean energy economy.

Davids has been focused on lowering costs for Kansans, including gas prices:

• She urged her colleagues to investigate potential price gouging by oil and gas companies, who have made record profits despite rising gas prices.
• She introduced legislation to suspend the federal gas tax through the end of the year, saving Kansans 18 cents per gallon at a time when gas prices are reaching new highs.
• After voting for bipartisan sanctions against Russian oil, she called on President Biden to take immediate action to protect American consumers from uncertainty and rising prices during these extraordinary circumstances, including by temporarily suspending the federal gas tax.
• Following Rep. Davids’ calls to take action on rising gas prices last fall, President Biden released 50 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. He has now authorized the largest release in history, providing a bridge to increased supply.
• Rep. Davids remains committed to long-term energy and inflation solutions, urging the president to protect Kansans from being used for leverage by dictators in the future by investing in renewable and alternative fuels—a position shared by former Navy Secretary Ray Mabus.
• She met with the president and New Democrat Coalition leaders last week to continue pushing for bipartisan legislation to fix the supply chains and make more goods in America, not China.

  • Information from Rep. Davids’ office

Rep. Davids announces $15.7 million to build levees, advance cancer treatment in the 3rd District

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids announced that more than $15.7 million is coming to projects in the 3rd District of Kansas, including a new cancer imaging machine for The University of Kansas Cancer Center, funding to protect Merriam homes and businesses from flooding with the Upper Turkey Creek project.

Out of hundreds of bipartisan submissions, eight Davids-requested projects were passed into law Thursday night as part of the broader government funding bill.

“My job is to advocate for the 3rd District in Washington, and I’m proud to announce many of our communities’ priorities are going to benefit from federal funding—from fixing our flood infrastructure to training the next generation of our workforce to enhancing our world-class cancer treatment center,” Rep. Davids said in a news release. “Our team worked in tandem with local officials and conducted detailed reviews of each proposal to ensure they met strong standards with a high return on investment. I’ve long fought for responsible budget policies to protect taxpayers, like pay-as-you-go rules, and these investments maintain that commitment to fiscal responsibility while making a difference for Kansas.”

This fiscal year, members of Congress were able to request federal resources for up to 10 projects with demonstrated community support. Each of the eight Davids-requested projects were submitted in tandem with local officials and selected for their potential to improve health and safety in the community, tackle climate change, and bring economic opportunity to the 3rd District:

• $1 million to purchase a VIS/Quantum X2 Ultra-High-Resolution Imaging Station for The University of Kansas Cancer Center.
• $500,000 to begin removal of Downtown Merriam, Kansas, from the floodplain through the Upper Turkey Creek flood risk management project.
• $4.8 million to purchase a Backup Engine Generator at WaterOne’s Ralph Wyss Pumping Station.
• $4 million to perform needed maintenance on critical infrastructure on the Fairfax Jersey Creek Upper Levee.
• $1.9 million to purchase equipment for the Automation Engineering Technology Program at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
• $3.4 million total across three economic development and green space initiatives in Kansas City, Kansas.

More about the projects:

A new imaging machine for The University of Kansas Cancer Center will give the state-of-the-art research and treatment facility a new tool to serve thousands of Kansans who are fighting cancer.

• “The University of Kansas Medical Center and The University of Kansas Cancer Center would like to thank Representative Sharice Davids for championing congressionally directed spending for the KU Cancer Center,” said Douglas A. Girod, chancellor of the University of Kansas. “These much-needed funds will be used to purchase ultra-high-resolution imaging equipment that will benefit the regional scientific community and will serve as a cornerstone in creating a state-of-the-art pre-clinical imaging facility unlike any other in the region. This equipment will have a direct positive impact to the thousands of Kansans who are battling cancer.”

Kickstarting removal of Downtown Merriam, Kansas, from the floodplain through the Upper Turkey Creek flood risk management project has been a longtime priority for the community. Hundreds of homes and over 80 businesses in Merriam will benefit from this project with increased safety and future economic development opportunity.

• “We appreciate Rep. Davids’ great efforts to get the additional Upper Turkey Creek funding included in the omnibus funding bill,” Mayor Bob Pape said. “With this additional funding the city can continue its efforts with the Army Corp of Engineers to mitigate future flooding in downtown Merriam which not only protects private property and increases safety, but will also spur additional investment.”

A Backup Engine Generator at WaterOne’s Ralph Wyss Pumping Station, which serves over 400,000 customers in Johnson County, will improve emergency preparedness and provide water to Kansas households even through storm and emergency situations.

• “The resilience of water service is the backbone of Kansas communities,” said Mike Armstrong, general manager of WaterOne. “Rep. Davids’ support of securing federal funds for this emergency power generator at WaterOne facilities helps us further safeguard reliable water service to over 400,000 Kansans and businesses.”

Performing needed maintenance on the Fairfax Jersey Creek Upper Levee will protect 120-plus businesses in Kansas City, Kansas, from flooding.

• “The Fairfax Drainage District and all of the many businesses in the Fairfax Industrial Park are very grateful to Representative’s Davids’ office for advocating for our $4 million project in the Omnibus funding bill,” said Steve Dailey, general manager of the Fairfax Drainage District of Wyandotte County, Kansas. “This project will allow us to fully access our under-seepage infrastructure for inspection and maintenance purposes which is so vital in keeping the Fairfax levee system healthy and reliable.”

The Automation Engineering Technology Program at Kansas City Kansas Community College allows students to train on real-life automation equipment as they prepare to enter the workforce.

• “Creation of this new downtown center will better the lives of tens of thousands of people in KCK for generations to come and could not be possible without the support of many. This project will move countless people from poverty to prosperity,” said Dr. Greg Mosier, president of Kansas City Kansas Community College. “Representative Davids’ support to obtain federal funds to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for KCKCC’s new Automation Engineering Program is crucial to the success of this project and will uplift residents of Wyandotte County by providing critical education and technical training opportunities along with desperately needed wraparound services. We are truly grateful for Rep. Davids’ commitment to this project and, most importantly, to the residents of Wyandotte County.”

Supporting economic development and green space initiatives in Kansas City, Kansas, through the 6th Street Bike Boulevard and Heritage Trail Connection, the Sumner Area Green Corridor, and the Klamm Park Trail will improve quality of life in Wyandotte County.

• “We are grateful to Representative Davids and her team for the ongoing support in ensuring Wyandotte County-Kansas City, Kansas, is included in impactful funding opportunities that help reinforce our vision to have Wyandotte County- Kansas City, Kansas, be one of the top places where people choose to live, work, and raise a family,” said Mayor Tyrone Garner. “As part of my platform commitment, I am determined to bring attention to our infrastructure needs such as roads, sidewalks and parks in areas that need most improvement. We are beyond grateful for the Omnibus funding bill which gives Wyandotte County, specifically 3rd Congressional District, a direct benefactor of what true unified and invested leadership and positive community impact looks like. This is a great first step in meeting the numerous needs of Wyandotte County. We look forward to collaborating to meet additional identified community needs moving forward.”

  • Story from Rep. Davids’ office

Funding announced for local law enforcement and community organizations tackling domestic violence and sexual assault crimes

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., recently announced federal funding for six local organizations to strengthen law enforcement and community-based responsiveness to victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, rape and stalking.

Kansas received more than $1.8 million through these awards, with six agencies receiving $511,813.

Recipients of the 2022 S.T.O.P. VAWA grant award in the Kansas 3rd District included:

• $147,409 to the Unified Government District Attorney’s Office in Wyandotte County.
• $84,616 to the Unified Government Legal Department in Wyandotte County.
• $61,060 to the Gardner Police Department in Johnson County.
• $46,650 to Friends of Yates in Wyandotte County.
• $41,621 to Safehome in Johnson County.

Recipients of the 2022 SASP grant award in the Kansas 3rd District include:
• $130,457 to the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault in Wyandotte County.

“Our local law enforcement officers and community-based support organizations do life-saving work to ensure all victims and survivors of domestic abuse receive the care, protection, and justice they deserve—and that offenders are brought to justice,” Rep. Davids said. “I am proud to have voted twice to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act and to bring this crucial funding to our community.”

“We fund and focus on issues that we deem important. Governor Kelly and Representative Davids support of VAWA and related grant funds focused on stopping violence against women and children has allowed the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office to support survivors of domestic violence in a transformational manner,” said Mark A. Dupree Sr., district attorney of Wyandotte County. “These grant funds provide the necessary resources for our office to effectively prosecute and hold offenders accountable, while also allowing us the ability to support survivors of domestic violence, by pursuing protective and preventative efforts.”

“In Wyandotte County and beyond, providers of domestic violence services, victims, and their dependent children are so grateful to Representative Davids for all she does—both through her votes and by using her voice—to advocate for domestic violence services and funding,” said LaDora Lattimore, executive director-CEO-emeritus of Friends of Yates. “We are grateful for this grant and look forward to continuing to serve our community.”

Rep. Davids has voted twice to reauthorize the bipartisan, long-term Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and became the second Native woman to preside over the House floor during the VAWA reauthorization in 2019. Davids also secured strong measures in the bill to addresses the crisis of violence against Native women and girls. The reauthorization provides funding and access for tribes to federal criminal information databases and expands tribal jurisdiction to cover the crimes of domestic and sexual Violence, sex trafficking, and more.

In fiscal year 2022, Rep. Davids submitted a Commerce-Justice-Science budget request which included $233 million for S.T.O.P. VAWA and $100 million for SASP.

  • Story from Rep. Sharice Davids’ office