Davids to Bring Johnson County Community College Student to State Of The Union Address

Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced that she will be joined by Jessica Kidd, a recent graduate of the Johnson County Community College (JCCC) Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program, at the State of the Union address. Kidd, an Overland Park resident, was one of 300 students in the expanding CDL program and plans to use the certification to support her family with a stable job in trucking.

"I'm excited to have Jessica join me at the State of the Union. A fellow JCCC Cavalier, she got her commercial driver's license so she could join the growing trucking industry and provide for her family," said Davids. "In the last two years, we've passed major, bipartisan laws on infrastructure and domestic manufacturing, and I'm thrilled that Kansans like Jessica are benefiting from job creation in critical industries like trucking as a result. Now, my focus is on oversight and implementation so that our communities and workers see the full impact of those laws."

"Having my CDL means I can be a provider and support my fiancée's business—and JCCC's program gives me the flexibility I need to be able to attend class and continue working to provide for my family," said Jessica Kidd. "I'm excited to attend the State of the Union with Rep. Davids. We agree that these types of programs and jobs are important to support, and I am glad to see someone in Congress who cares about Kansans like me and my family."

Through her leadership in passing bipartisan legislation like the CHIPS and Science Act and the infrastructure law, Davids has worked to address supply chain challenges and support Kansas' economy. She hosted U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh on a visit to JCCC's CDL program last October in order to highlight those efforts, and introduced legislation to support female truck drivers alongside Senator Jerry Moran last Congress. Heading into her third term, Davids has cited implementation of the bipartisan infrastructure law and CHIPS and Science Act as major priorities.

The President's State of the Union address will take place on February 7, 2023 at the U.S. Capitol.