Davids Secures Temporary Win for Kansas Manufacturers, Pushes for Permanent Fix

Today, Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) announced that, following her advocacy, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will temporarily restore funding to the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program — including Kansas Manufacturing Solutions (KMS), which supports small and mid-sized manufacturers across the state.

The program’s funding, which had been cut under the Trump Administration, will now continue “through the end of the fiscal year.” While this short-term victory came after a push from Davids, she emphasized that it is not a permanent solution and renewed her call for long-term protections through her Defend American Manufacturing Act.

“This short-term fix is a step in the right direction, but Kansas manufacturers deserve more than temporary solutions,” said Davids. “We need to make sure this funding isn’t subject to political whims, which is why I introduced the Defend American Manufacturing Act — to provide long-term certainty for state manufacturing offices across the country, like Kansas Manufacturing Solutions, that are critical to job creation and local economic growth.”

For nearly 40 years, the MEP program has helped small and mid-sized manufacturers become more efficient, strengthen supply chains, and grow their businesses. Through 51 cost-effective public-private centers in every state and Puerto Rico, MEPs offer services like workforce training, cybersecurity support, and market expansion strategies. In 2024 alone, the program created or saved over 108,000 manufacturing jobs, generated $15 billion in sales, and saved local businesses $2.6 billion.

Today, the Trump Administration temporarily rescinded their decision to pull nearly $13 million from MEP centers, which blindsided states like Kansas, Delaware, and others. Davids' Defend American Manufacturing Act would require NIST to renew and award MEP centers annually, freeing the program’s funding from politically motivated decision by future administrations.

Kansas’ MEP, known as KMS, has made a tremendous impact on the state’s economy, where 86 percent of the yearly exports are manufactured goods. In 2024, KMS created or retained 2,339 jobs, spurred $122 million in new investment, saved local businesses $14.3 million, and generated $328 million in sales. In Kansas’ Third District alone, KMS assisted 552 manufacturers and more than 30,000 manufacturing employees last year.

Last week, Davids and Representative Sarah McBride (D-DE-01) also called on NIST to reverse its decision to halt funding for MEP centers, emphasizing the need for stability as local manufacturers face rising costs from Trump’s tariffs.