Davids Works “Sharice’s Shift” at Local Manufacturer, Celebrates New “Made In Kansas” Designation

OVERLAND PARK, KS - Today, Representative Sharice Davids worked a "Sharice's Shift" at Indra Air Traffic, Inc. (Indra), a local air traffic control system manufacturer, to highlight her efforts to make more goods in Kansas. As businesses across the country have grappled with higher costs due to supply chain disruptions, Davids voted for a major bipartisan law to invest in American manufacturing. Indra was recently accepted into the Kansas Department of Commerce’s “Made In Kansas” program in recognition of their Kansas-based operation.

"For years, our heavy reliance on foreign-made goods has not only disrupted our domestic supply chain but also led to rising prices," said Davids. "To address this issue and bring down costs, we must make more goods at home. Recent bipartisan legislation I backed in Congress is paving the way for Kansas, and businesses like Indra, to be a frontrunner in manufacturing, bolstering our economy and the financial security of our families."

“On behalf of the entire Indra Air Traffic team, it was my pleasure and honor to host Rep. Davids at our Overland Park manufacturing facility today. This facility produces safety critical, ground-based navigation aids that are essential to ensuring the safety of the flying public, the efficient transport of goods, and enhancing the capability of our military around the world. From Overland Park, we are extremely proud to manufacture "Made In Kansas" navigation aids that end up on all seven continents, and in more than 100 countries globally,” said Bill Colligan, CEO and General Manager, Indra Air Traffic, Inc. “I’d like to thank Rep. Davids for her hard work in Washington, which has contributed to an environment here in Kansas where high-tech manufacturing is thriving. I am confident that the quality of life, business climate and dedication to workforce development in Kansas, and the Overland Park area in particular, will enable Indra Air Traffic to expand our manufacturing presence right here in the third district due in no small part to the leadership shown by Rep. Davids.”

During the "Sharice's Shift," Davids helped Indra employees manufacture parts for Distance Measuring Equipment, which measures the distance from the aircraft to the runway. Davids spoke with Indra executives about her work in Congress to lower costs for hardworking Kansans and strengthen domestic supply chains — including by voting for the CHIPS and Science Act, which is bringing jobs to Kansas, lowering costs for consumers, and supporting workforce development. Davids saw how the technologies that Indra manufactures help ensure Americans can fly safely, which is one of Davids’ main priorities for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization process.

Davids’ additional work to strengthen domestic manufacturing and boost supply chains include:

• Holding multipleroundtables with Kansas business, manufacturing, and technology leaders on how recent legislation to improve supply chains will help boost their business' financial security.
• Cosponsoring the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, a law aimed at addressing supply chain snags and reducing dependence on goods produced outside of the United States.
• Meeting with President Biden at the White House to urge him to pass a supply chain and economic package that invests in American manufacturing.
• Voting to pass the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act to shore up the food and agriculture supply chain, assure fair competition in the meat and poultry sectors, and lower food and gasoline costs.

Davids, who was named a "Champion of the Shippers" by the Shippers Coalition, has also worked a "Sharice's Shifts" with the KC Levee Project and at the K-10 Lexington Avenue exit, which will be the main roadway for Kansans traveling to the planned Panasonic Energy manufacturing facility. She also worked a shift at a local restaurant to highlight her work to improve supply chains, at a local Price Chopper to discuss lowering grocery costs, and with UPS on her efforts to boost employment in the trucking industry amid driver shortages.