Tag: U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids

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

Rep. Davids votes to strengthen supply chains, boost American manufacturing and promote workforce development

U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., recently voted to pass major economic legislation aimed at addressing current supply chain issues and promoting long-term American competitiveness.

The America Competes Act contains several of Davids’ priorities, including incentives for domestic semiconductor manufacturing, resources to strengthen supply chains and reduce inflation, and policies that will promote American global leadership among countries like China. Davids’ amendment also passed the House, ensuring that small and mid-sized manufacturers are given opportunities to participate in federal supply chain upgrades.

Speaking on the House floor last week, Rep. Davids drove home the need to address rising costs by making more goods in America, citing manufacturers in the Third District that stand ready to pitch in, hire, and train workers.

Rep. Davids’ speech is on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v1CCJcO6aU.

“For years, we have been too reliant on goods made in other countries. The pandemic has exacerbated and exposed that reality, with shortages from personal protective equipment to ventilators to semiconductor chips. Those supply chain weaknesses continue to contribute to rising prices and inflation,” Rep. Davids said. “We should be making more in America, and we have many small businesses in Kansas and across the country that are willing and able to step up to the plate.”

The America Competes Act includes a program to reexamine and update the Strategic National Stockpile supply chain to avoid medical equipment shortages during national emergencies, as we saw early in the pandemic. Davids’ amendment ensures that small and medium manufacturers are considered in that program, not just big corporations. She has been a champion of American manufacturing throughout the pandemic, introducing legislation last year that was inspired by the story of Lenexa-based manufacturer Dentec Safety Specialists. The Supplies Act would create a grant program for small and medium manufacturers that shift their production to manufacture PPE.

Additionally, the America Competes Act delivers incentives for domestic semiconductor, or “chip,” production. According to a Joint Economic Committee report, the U.S. has lost over a quarter of its manufacturing jobs since 2000, and production of critical materials like chips—which are used in computers, cars, washing machines, and more—has increasingly moved overseas. This shortage has been contributing to inflation and supply chain difficulties across industries. Rep. Davids recently visited local medical device suppliers who have been struggling to serve patients as their CPAP machines and oxygen monitors require chips and are delayed by the ongoing shortage.

“Chips are essential components of the things Kansans use every day, from cars to computers to CPAP machines, and the shortage has been driving prices up across industries. I voted to incentivize manufacturing of these crucial materials here at home, so we can start to bring down costs on those everyday items and bolster domestic manufacturing jobs,” Rep. Davids said.

“The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce is excited to see the America Competes Act pass out of the U.S. House today and head to Conference Committee along with the already Senate-passed USICA. These bills are critical to advancing the technological capabilities of our nation while bringing new investments in research, innovation, and American manufacturing to the Greater Kansas City region,” said Joe Reardon, president and CEO of Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, in a statement last week. “Particularly, the Chamber is happy that both bills establish a regional technology and innovation hub program that incentivizes collaborative partnerships to promote and support regional technology and innovation hubs. The Chamber will continue to advocate for those hubs to be included in the final bill on behalf of the Kansas City region. And we will continue to advocate for legislation that turbocharges our research capacity to lead the technologies of the future, solidifies and accelerates U.S. production of critical semiconductor chips, strengthens the supply chain to make more goods in America, and advances our global competitiveness.”

The America Competes Act has a bipartisan companion in the Senate and support from the National Association of Manufacturers and the AFL-CIO. A fact sheet on the America Competes Act is available here from the Joint Economic Committee, of which Davids is a member.

  • Story from Rep. Sharice Davids’ office