Hi Friend.

I wanted to share some great news! Yesterday, I voted for a major new bipartisan infrastructure bill. It has now passed the House of Representatives, and the President will soon sign it into law.

This is a major win for Kansas and an incredible economic opportunity. The pandemic has cost hundreds of thousands of lives and millions of jobs. We need a major economic plan to recover and rebuild from this once-in-a-generation crisis. This new law will help create new good-paying jobs and help lower cost burdens on hardworking Kansans. It has strong Made in America provisions and investments to expand our ports, which will help strengthen and streamline backlogged supply chains. That will help ease inflation pressures in our economy and lower costs for hardworking Kansans.

I sent an update recently on this bill and what it means for Kansas. I hope you’ll read that update below and click here to learn more about it in the Kansas City Star.

This is an issue that’s near and dear to me. I’m honored to serve you as Vice Chair on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee – the first Kansan to serve on the committee in ten years. And this bipartisan bill will make a difference for Kansas. It could help support crucial local projects that have long needed attention. That includes expanding U.S. 69 in Overland Park, strengthening flood safety projects, repairing bridges such as the Central Avenue bridge in KCK, and so much more.

It is an honor to serve you. I hope you’ll read on for more, and always feel free to contact me to share your views or ask questions.

My warmest regards,

Sharice L. Davids
Member of Congress

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Hi Friend.

Today I wanted to share an update on an issue that’s near and dear to me: rebuilding our infrastructure.

I’ll admit it – I’m an “infrastructure nerd.” I specialized in infrastructure issues as a White House fellow in both the Obama and Trump Administrations. I’m honored to now serve you as Vice Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I’m fortunate to be the first Kansan to serve on this committee in more than 10 years.

Rebuilding our infrastructure is an incredible economic opportunity. The pandemic has cost hundreds of thousands of lives and millions of jobs. We need a major economic plan to recover and rebuild from this once-in-a -generation crisis. And we can do that in part by rebuilding our roads, bridges, railways, public transit, by investing in clean energy, and much more.

That’s why I’m supporting a major bipartisan infrastructure bill. It has already been passed by the Senate, and if passed by the House it would create new good-paying jobs, spur economic development, and lower costs for hardworking families. Click here to learn more about it in the Kansas City Star.

I recently visited the Central Avenue Bridge in KCK to draw attention to our region’s infrastructure needs. At 103 years old, the Central Avenue Bridge was closed earlier this year after officials reported a “fear of failure.”

Our region is a major infrastructure hub. Our highways, railroads, and rivers all help transport goods and services around our country.

But it’s also clear that our local infrastructure needs serious attention. Decades of underinvestment have led to growing needs in the Kansas City Metro area.

We have to only look at our bridges for an example of that need. My office recently unveiled an investigative report on the state of bridges in our community. Here are just some of the key findings:

The bipartisan infrastructure bill would finally help us meaningfully address these challenges. Using past funding as a guide, Kansas can expect to receive $2.8 billion for road and bridge improvements alone. And the bill is paid for without raising taxes on people who make less than $400,000 a year.

Independent studies show these investments have multiplier effects on our economy. They create jobs, improve productivity, and help lower costs for hardworking families.

The pandemic has exacerbated long running trends of rising shipping costs and supply chain issues. Goods are now stuck in our ports and supplies can’t get to the right places in time, leading to higher prices. But in reality, we’ve been dependent on supplies made in other countries for far too long. The bipartisan infrastructure bill can help change that. With strong Made in American provisions for U.S. goods and jobs, we can lower cost pressures on everyday items.

And more than that, the bipartisan infrastructure will finally help us tackle local projects that we’ve needed to address for years.

Last week, I joined KC Metro leaders to celebrate the final phase of construction on the Kansas City levees. This project will help reduce the risk of flooding, improve reliability and resilience, and create jobs. I’ve advocated for flood safety at the federal level, helping to secure funding for the national levee safety initiative.

Here are just a few ways the bipartisan infrastructure bill could help make a difference for Kansas:

• Expanding U.S. 69 in Overland Park. We’ve long needed to reduce traffic and improve safety on US 69. That’s why I’ve made sure to bring attention to this project during my meetings with senior White House staff on infrastructure issues. I also voted for the American Rescue Plan, which provided funds to the Kansas Department of Transportation, which is overseeing improvements along US 69.

• Support for local electric vehicles. This bipartisan deal has historic investments in clean energy transmission, public transit, and electric vehicles. I’ve pushed to support KCATA’s investment in electric buses and this bipartisan bill can help us move forward.

I got to check out some new electric buses earlier this year with my friend and colleague Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.

• Investing in flood safety projects. Our region has long struggled with flood control. That makes projects like the Turkey Creek levee project in the City of Merriam especially critical for protecting our communities. The bipartisan infrastructure bill can help support flood control projects like this to ensure safety and economic development.

I was glad to get a progress update on construction at Turkey Creek last year.

For the people sitting in traffic on U.S. 69, or waiting for the bus in Wyandotte County, or wondering why that one road floods every year no matter how many times we fix it – these projects can’t wait.

It’s time for us to pass this bipartisan bill to move our economy forward. It’s broadly supported by our local business community, labor unions, and elected officials. It’s fundamental for rebuilding our economy so it can work better for everyone – not just those at the very top.

It is an honor to serve you in the U.S. House of Representatives. If you have questions about this infrastructure bill or anything else, you’re always welcome to contact me.

My warmest regards,

Sharice L. Davids
Member of Congress

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