Davids Hosts Transportation Secretary Buttigieg in Kansas City, KS to Highlight Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s Investments in the Kansas Third
Today, Representative Sharice Davids welcomed U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to Kansas City, KS to tout the bipartisan infrastructure law, which has already started to advance long-overdue infrastructure projects in the Kansas Third. Davids serves as Vice Chair of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee and met with the President and senior White House officials multipletimes during the bill's drafting before voting to pass it into law last November. She is the only member of the Kansas delegation to vote for the bill.
Davids welcomes Secretary Buttigieg to Kansas City, KS to highlight the bipartisan infrastructure law
"When Secretary Buttigieg was confirmed last year, I invited him to Kansas not only to try some of our world-famous KC BBQ, but also to show off the innovation and spirit behind many of our local infrastructure projects, including the US 69 expansion and KCATA buses," said Davids. "We have already seen examples of how the historic bipartisan infrastructure bill has positively affected our community, from repairing local bridges to ensuring clean drinking water for all to putting Kansans to work. I am proud to have voted to keep our roads safe and our children healthy, and to create good, union jobs here in our community."
"Having seen Representative Davids in action, in the oval office and in her leadership with the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, she is one of the architects of this infrastructure law that we are here to talk about," said Secretary Buttigieg. "When I have run into her in Washington, all she does is talk about Kansas and encourage me to visit the Third District. Now I can see why."
Davids hosted a roundtable at the University of Kansas Medical Center campus with Secretary Buttigieg, local elected officials, labor leaders, and community members to spotlight how the bipartisan infrastructure law will create local jobs and spur economic growth across the Kansas Third, including in communities that are traditionally overlooked. Secretary Buttigieg and Davids then boarded a zero-emission KCATA bus to tour US 69, where the 167th Interchange modernization is advancing due to the investments from the bipartisan infrastructure law. On the bus, they discussed the need to improve safety, promote clean transit, and tackle supply chain issues in the Kansas City area.
Finally, Davids joined Secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation Julie Lorenz, Kansas City, KS Mayor Tyrone Garner, Legislative Director of SMART TD Ty Dragoo, and Secretary Buttigieg at the Rock Island and Cesar Chavez Bridges. Davids highlighted the bridges for their complementary purposes as infrastructure and economic projects in the Kansas Third: Rock Island for its transformation from a rail bridge into an entertainment destination, and Cesar Chavez for its potential modernization to support additional traffic and pedestrian accessibility. Among the attendees were local labor and business community leaders, elected officials, and transportation authorities.
Davids delivers remarks on the bipartisan infrastructure law alongside Secretary Buttigieg and local leaders
"The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, combined with our IKE program, means we can address long-standing transportation needs and reimagine new 21st century infrastructure to strengthen our communities now and position us for the future," said Secretary Julie Lorenz, Kansas Department of Transportation. "It was great to join Secretary Buttigieg and Representative Davids in Kansas City to discuss how federal, state, local governments and the private sector can partner together to deliver these investments for Kansas."
"Infrastructure enhancements are one my top priorities for Wyandotte County. Kansas City, KS has more than 270 bridges, and much of our annual maintenance on these structures has been deferred due to budget constraints," said Mayor Tyrone Garner, Kansas City, KS. "I am excited about the opportunity to build on partnerships with the Biden Administration, Secretary Buttigieg, Representative Davids, and the rest of our Kansas legislative delegation. As the Vice Chair of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Rep. Davids has an in-depth knowledge of the infrastructure needs of Wyandotte County. Today's visit allows us to highlight our dire infrastructure needs that are critical to making Wyandotte County a hub of economic growth and prosperity."
"The bipartisan infrastructure law is innovative legislation that will bring thousands of jobs to the state of Kansas," said Ty Dragoo, Kansas State Legislative Director of SMART TD. "My organization is uniquely qualified to reap its benefits because we are the men and women that physically transport the products created by our great unions and building trades. Representative Davids was there when this much-needed legislation was drafted, and she voted to pass it into law. I am proud of both her and Secretary Buttigieg's work to highlight the new law's benefits."
Davids and Secretary Buttigieg at Slap's BBQ in Kansas City, KS
The bipartisan infrastructure law, which will put 30,000 construction workers on the job in the Kansas City area, marks the largest investment in America's physical infrastructure in generations, including funding for transportation, water, high-speed internet, and clean energy. The bill is paid for through a combination of new revenues and savings and has been called the most fiscally responsible infrastructure bill in at least a decade by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Among its provisions for Kansas include:
- $2.6 billion for highways
- $225 million for bridge replacement and repairs
- $272 million to improve public transportation options
- a minimum of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage
- access to $3.5 billion flood mitigation assistance program
- $454 million to improve water infrastructure and ensure clean drinking water across the state
- $109 million for airports
Davids previously announced the bipartisan infrastructure law is bringing more than $13 million for airports in the Third District, $79 million for water infrastructure across Kansas, $225 million over five years to repair and modernize Kansas bridges, and over $500 million for existing federal highway and bridge programs in Kansas. For more information on the expected impact of the infrastructure law on Kansas, see over a dozen statements of support from Kansas City-area leaders here, and read Davids' State of our Systems reports on local infrastructure needs here.