Sharice Davids

Agriculture is the largest economic sector in the state of Kansas and has supported the livelihood of generations of Kansans. On the House Agriculture Committee, I work with both parties to ensure that every farmer, rancher, and producer in Kansas’ Third District has the tools to succeed, and that rural communities from Garnett to Bucyrus receive the attention and resources they need to thrive.

Economic success: Through my positions on the Agriculture, Small Business, and Transportation & Infrastructure Committees, I work to ensure farms and agribusinesses have fair and predictable rules based on reliable research and data that allow them to grow and contribute to our economy. That includes workforce, trade, and risk reduction policies that producers rely on. I also worked across the aisle to bring USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) offices to the Kansas City Metro region, bringing an estimated 700 good-paying federal jobs to our area.

Sustainable food systems: A healthy food system needs to work for producers, consumers, and the environment—it’s a matter of economic strength and national security. Investing in local food production, conservation, nutrition programs, and our state’s strong legacy of ag research helps ensure Kansas’ agriculture industry can succeed for generations to come.

Rural development: From broadband to housing to health care access, I am committed to advocating for rural Kansas. Through the bipartisan infrastructure law, I have voted to bring millions of dollars to Kansas for rural broadband expansion and secured federal funding to plug hazardous abandoned oil wells, fix aging roads and bridges, eliminate dangerous unmarked rail crossings, bring clean water to every Kansas home, and more.

 

Like our founding fathers, I believe our freedoms are sacred. But recently, we’ve seen extreme attempts to try and roll back those freedoms, which so many Americans have fought for and deserve. I’m dedicated to ensuring you can make your voice heard, make your own decisions, and live a safe and prosperous life, no matter your background.

Defending the freedom to choose: Health care decisions should be between you and your doctor – without the interference of politicians. I will always fight to ensure Kansas families have access to the full range of health care services they need, including reproductive health care.

Protecting voting rights: I believe that it’s long past time we returned power to the people, rather than big corporations and special interests. I’m supporting a sweeping package of reforms that will put the American people back in charge of our democracy by ending the dominance of big money in politics, protecting the right to vote for all eligible U.S. voters, and strengthening ethics laws for elected officials. I also introduced the bipartisan Native American Voting Rights Act to address unique barriers to voting for Tribal communities and Native Americans.

Keeping our communities safe: Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community. I secured federal funding for local police units, including helping purchase a new Mobile Command Unit at the Olathe Police Department, and I am actively working alongside local, state, and federal law enforcement to help end the fentanyl epidemic in our community. I also voted to pass historic, bipartisan gun violence prevention legislation to protect Kansas children and keep our schools safe.

Supporting equality for all Kansans: All hard-working Kansans should have an equal opportunity to work, own a business, go to school, and receive quality health care. That’s why I support the Equality Act, which would ensure LGBTQ+ Americans are afforded equal protection under the law. I will continue to advocate for LGBTQ+ folks, women, people of color, and other typically overlooked communities through my role in Congress.

I believe Kansas’ best future depends on building an economy that works for everyone, and that’s why I’m focused on making life more affordable for Kansas families and supporting our diverse and vibrant small business community. That includes supporting many paths to prosperity: whether it’s choosing to attend a four-year university or a trade school, taking over the family farm or starting a business.

I serve on the Small Business Committee, where I work to ensure small businesses have the tools they need to thrive. I believe Congress has a duty to taxpayers to be fiscally responsible, and I’m committed to cracking down on government waste, fraud, and abuse wherever possible.

Lowering costs for Kansans. I know many families are feeling the pinch from rising prices on everyday items. That’s why I've voted to secure American supply chains, boost U.S. manufacturing, and to reduce dependence on foreign oil. I also stood up to leaders in my own party by introducing a bill to suspend the federal gas tax. If you need any resources to get help with rising prices, please visit davids.house.gov/lowercosts.

Bringing jobs to the Kansas Third: I’ve worked across the aisle to help attract major employers to the Kansas City region, from the Panasonic Energy plant in Desoto that is expected to create 20,000 jobs to putting 30,000 construction workers on the job with the bipartisan infrastructure law.

Supporting small businesses: Entrepreneurship is baked into the DNA of the Kansas Third District. My goal is to listen to small business owners, both their concerns and successes, and work to support them through my work on the Small Business Committee. One example is my bipartisan bill to support female entrepreneurs, which has passed the House with broad support from both parties.

Protecting American workers: I believe that here at home, we have the talent and the grit to compete with any country on the global stage. I’ve voted to bring home millions of manufacturing jobs, pass Buy American laws for new construction projects, and boost apprenticeships and STEM education. I also believe that anyone who works hard and plays by the rules should be able to earn a decent living—which is why I voted to raise the federal minimum wage, which hasn’t been increased in nearly a decade, and shore up worker pensions.

I am a proud graduate of Kansas public schools and a first-generation college graduate. I worked my way from Johnson County Community College to Cornell Law School, so I know how valuable good education is for the success of our children. It’s important to note that success can have many paths — whether it’s a four-year institution or a trade school — and we need to support access to each of those opportunities for our students and future leaders.

Supporting public education: Every student should have access to quality public education, regardless of their ZIP Code, ability, or special needs. I support implementing a holistic approach to education, including access to quality public options from pre-K through secondary higher education.

Trades and technical programs: I’m focused on bringing manufacturing and supply chain jobs home, so we can make more in America. We must grow apprenticeships, support training and certification programs, and expose more students to STEM fields so that our workforce is prepared to take on those new jobs—like the 4,000 jobs coming to Johnson County with the new Panasonic Energy plant. To encourage that shift, I helped pass into law the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which makes invests in research and development, science education, and the STEM workforce.

Higher education affordability: I’m committed to making higher education more affordable, so our kids aren’t graduating with crushing debt. I’ve signed onto legislation to eliminate hidden fees that drive up the cost of student loans and protect students from bad actors. I’ve also been working to improve the public service loan forgiveness program so it actually works for our teachers, firefighters, and public servants.

I agree with the overwhelming majority of scientists who recognize that climate change is real, and that we must take action now to protect our planet for future generations. According to reports, the Kansas City-area is one of the five urban areas expected to experience the greatest rise in temperatures in the coming decades. We need innovative solutions to combat this crisis, grow our economy, and leave behind a healthier world for our children. By promoting clean energy technologies, protecting public lands and waters, and supporting sustainable projects at home, I’m working to build a healthier, more resilient Kansas.

Shifting to renewable energy: I believe we should create a world and an economy our grandchildren can thrive in. I voted to pass bipartisan investments in research and development, science education, and the STEM workforce to ensure we are well prepared to lead the globe in clean energy manufacturing and innovative climate technologies. I also supported the largest ever one-time federal investment in climate action through the Inflation Reduction Act. This historic legislation puts the United States on a path to eliminate 40% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and boosts domestic clean energy technology and production. On top of all of that, it cuts the federal deficit, saving taxpayers money.

Learn more about how landmark Inflation Reduction Act can help you save money on your energy bills.

Revitalizing our public lands and waters: Our public lands and waters boost our public health and our planet’s health. We must protect and revitalize these amazing landscapes to meet our climate and conservation goals and ensure every Kansan has equitable access to recreation opportunities. I’ve cosponsored legislation that does just that, including a bipartisan bill that designates two major trails right here in Kansas as National Trails. I’ve also supported the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, which would make the biggest ever investment in on-the-ground wildlife conservation to protect habitats and endangered plants and animals.

Bringing smart investments home: I voted for the bipartisan infrastructure law, which is helping implementclimate-friendly public transportation in Kansas like electric buses,expanding electric vehicle charging infrastructure,and increasing home weatherization funding to lower energy costs for families. I have also brought federal funding back to Kansas for local green space initiatives like the 6th St. Bike Boulevard and Heritage Trail Connection, the Sumner Area Green Corridor, and the Klamm Park Trail. Additionally, I voted to pass new tax breaks so Kansans can save money when buying electric vehicles and upgrading the energy efficiency of their homes.

Everyone should have access to quality, affordable health care, but far too many Kansans can’t get the care they need or are faced with skyrocketing costs. No one should ever have to choose between getting lifesaving treatment or going bankrupt. That’s why I’m dedicated to finding ways to lower the cost of health care and prescription drugs, strengthen the Affordable Care Act, expand Medicaid, and improve quality of care. 

Lowering health care and prescription drug costs: After years of fighting Big Pharma influence, I am proud we finally voted to allow Medicare to negotiate for lower drug prices, which will help both Medicare patients and those on private insurance save money. Additionally, I voted to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for seniors—now, I’m working to extend that cap to everyone.

Learn more about the Inflation Reduction Act and how it is helping lower health care costs for Kansans.

Preventing surprise medical bills: Medical emergencies are stressful enough without an unexpected bill showing up at your door. I worked across the aisle to pass a bipartisan law that eliminates surprise medical billing and protects patients. And after hearing about an Olathe family’s experience with an obscure insurance loophole that put them on the hook for thousands of dollars, I introduced legislation to close it.

Improving the Affordable Care Act: Thousands of Kansas rely on the Affordable Care Act’s protections for people with pre-existing conditions, and I will always fight to protect those guardrails. Additionally, I helped pass a law to lower premiums for people who buy their own insurance, saving Kansas families an average of $980 a year on health care costs.

Supporting mental health: I’ve supported legislation to expand mental health services, especially in schools and rural areas, because I believe that mental health is health. I also helped local law enforcement in Overland Park hire and train personnel to respond to mental and behavioral health crises, including opioid misuse and fentanyl poisoning.

Infrastructure touches every aspect of our daily lives — especially in the Kansas City metro area, which is home to several major transportation and shipping hubs. But too often, we don’t think about the infrastructure we use every day until something goes wrong.

As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I work in a bipartisan way to improve our roads and railways, transit, airports, water infrastructure, and more — so that our communities are safe and our economy is strong.

Focusing on Kansas: I’ve made it a priority to advocate for our local needs, from replacing lead pipes in Olathe to finally modernizing U.S. 69. I’ve brought the U.S. Secretary of Transportation and other leaders to our district to see Kansas projects in person, and I have secured federal funding to upgrade aging infrastructure needs across the district—like completing long-overdue updates to the Kansas City Levees system, advancing a vital project to lift downtown Merriam out of the floodplain and encourage community investment, and finally making upgrades to a dangerous stretch of K-68 in Miami County.

Creating jobs and spurring growth: Through my position on the committee, I helped shape and pass the bipartisan infrastructure law — a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure and economy that will put 30,000 construction workers on the job in the Kansas City area alone. To ensure that the impact of this law is good for Kansas workers, I’ve shadowed workers on highway projects in De Soto, stormwater maintenance work in Wyandotte County, and construction apprenticeships in Olathe through my “Sharice’s Shift” program.

Supply chain security: The most secure supply chain is one that starts in America. I’ve worked to ensure stronger and more flexible supply chains so we can avoid costly delays and lower costs from ship to shelf. That includes introducing legislation to help small and mid-sized manufacturers pivot their production during times of national emergency.

My mother served in the U.S. Army for twenty years. Her service taught me so much about honor, sacrifice, and dedication to country. After all that our service members and veterans have done for us, we must have their backs. They deserve nothing less than the quality health care, services, and access to jobs that they’ve earned.

Serving Kansas veterans: My office helps military and veteran constituents with casework and acts as a facilitator between federal, state, and local agencies. We also have a Wounded Warrior and a Gold Star Family Fellow on our team who work specifically with Kansas veterans, ensuring they have the benefits they deserve.

Are you a Kansas veteran looking for help with a VA or other government issue? Contact my office here.

Supporting veterans’ health: I have worked with Republicans and Democrats to pass legislation that supports veterans physical and mental health, including the Honoring our PACT Act, which is expected to help 3.5 million former servicemembers get healthcare. This landmark law is aimed at ensuring comprehensive healthcare for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits and airborne hazards while serving overseas.

For more information on how you or a loved one can take advantage of PACT Act benefits, click here.

Protecting veterans’ benefits: I’m committed to protecting and expanding benefits that our veterans have earned through bipartisan bills like the GUARD VA Benefits Act, which will protect former servicemembers from predatory companies charging them outrageous fees. I’m also supporting veterans and their families through legislation like the Major Richard Star Act and the Caring for Survivors Act – bills that enhance VA benefits for veterans with combat injuries and spouses and children who lost a family member in combat, respectively.

Lifting up veteran entrepreneurs: I've worked to help veterans transition their skills from service to business through my bill, the SERV Act. This bipartisan legislation helps veteran entrepreneurs succeed by examining the barriers they face, including lack of access to credit, and by increasing promotion of small business programs available to veterans.