In the News
Davids, whose district includes the Kansas City metropolitan area, is the only Democratic member of Kansas' congressional delegation. The Kansas Republican Party and the National Republican Congressional Committee desperately want to change that.
Shortly after the congresswoman was sworn in for her second term, the NRCC announced Davids was among the 47 House Democrats the GOP campaign arm was targeting as it plots a Republican takeover of the lower chamber for the 2022 midterms. (Earlier this month, the NRCC added 10 additional Democrats to their target list).
It's been a little more than 100 days since the five Indigenous members were sworn into the 117th Congress. A lot has happened since then.
In January, millions watched as a mob violently charged the U.S. Capitol during the insurrection. Two weeks later, President Joe Biden became the nation's 46th president. He began a series of presidential actions hours after his inauguration to honor the nation's relationship to tribal nations. Then in February members of Congress voted to impeach former President Donald Trump a second time.
Local lawmakers are raising awareness about eligibility for the new child tax credit and encouraging taxpayers to file on time so they can receive their payments.
The American Rescue Plan, which lawmakers passed in March, boosted the maximum child tax credit, expanded eligibility and implemented advance monthly payments for qualifying families.
Kansas' Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids helped spearhead the expansion. She said it's crucial relief and will benefit thousands in the 3rd District, including Kansas City, Kansas; Olathe; Lenexa; and all the way down to Louisburg.
Right before Crystal Henry and her husband were about to have their second child last year, both of their cars died and a tree fell on their garage. Their pandemic relief checks became a safety net amid the unexpected expenses.
This year, the Merriam couple expects more than $7,000 from another aid program — the Child Tax Credit — that will soon help keep them afloat as childcare costs consume more than a fifth of their income.
"It was hard for me to believe that it was really happening," Henry said of discovering the credit.
Federal funds are available to help restaurants rebuild and recover from losses experienced in the pandemic.
The funds are through the U.S. Small Business Administration. They are part of the American Rescue Plan passed by Congress.
About $28.6 billion has been appropriated nationally for restaurants that qualify to receive the SBA award funds, according to Michael Barrera, SBA district director for the Kansas City area. He discussed the program during a Facebook video presentation with U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist.
Click above to watch Rep. Davids with Ali Velshi
Kansas City area lawmakers are hoping to steer millions in federal money to the region for a fleet of electric buses and improved traffic flow on one of Kansas' most congested highways as Congress revives earmark requests — a practice halted a decade ago amid a backlash against government spending.
Kansas Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids and Missouri Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver Tuesday submitted a pair of requests for federal aid for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority to purchase zero fare electric buses that would serve both sides of the state line.
Representative Sharice Davids, one of the first two Native American women to serve in Congress, says, "Paying attention, learning the issues, showing up, listening and really trying to be as engaged as possible with tribal communities is going to go a really long way to helping address some of the disparities we've seen over centuries."
Rep. Sharice Davids at a House Small Business Committee hearing on Tuesday asked government oversight officials to address issues of fraud and identity theft in small business loan programs in order to help victims of fraud in Johnson County.