Davids Votes Against Partisan Government Funding Package, Urges Bipartisan Solutions

Today, Representative Sharice Davids voted against a partisan government funding package that fails to meet the needs of Kansas families and risks harmful consequences for our country. Davids strongly opposed the package’s provision allowing unlimited spending over the next two years — an unprecedented move. She continues to urge Congress to work across the aisle to prevent a government shutdown and ensure the protection of essential services for Kansans.

“Congress has a responsibility to keep the government running, not play political games with people’s livelihoods behind closed doors,” said Davids. “I urged House leaders to remove their congressional pay raise, which they did — but the fact remains: this partisan package falls short of what Kansans need and deserve. While I support the Farm Bill extension included, I cannot support a package that allows for unprecedented, unlimited spending for the next two years. I will keep pushing for real bipartisan solutions that provide stability, lower costs, and protect critical services for families in Kansas and across the country.”

In addition to its partisan nature and allowance of unlimited spending, Davids was also disappointed by the removal of provisions intended to protect American companies from foreign interference by China. Key measures to reduce prescription drug costs and lower gas prices by enabling year-round E15 sales, which support Kansas' agricultural economy, were also taken out of the package.

This week’s bipartisan negotiations were derailed by the influence of President-elect Trump and Elon Musk. With bipartisanship being the only path forward to avoid a shutdown, Davids highlighted the serious consequences Kansas could face, especially during the holiday season. If Congress fails to pass a bipartisan funding bill:

• Kansans receiving Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits would experience service delays, including disruptions to verifying benefits and the issuance of new cards.
• There are almost 20,000 federal workers in Kansas who may be furloughed. A bipartisan report found that the last three government shutdowns led to the equivalent of 56,940 years in lost productivity from federal workers.
• The distribution of important food assistance programs, including SNAP, could be disrupted, leaving some Kansans — including women, children, and the elderly — without nutritious food.
• Small businesses may encounter delays in receiving loans from the federal government. Moody’s Analytics estimated that the 2018-2019 shutdown delayed more than $2 billion in loans to small businesses.
• Travelers could face longer lines at airport security checkpoints and flight delays during a shutdown, which would also delay passport processing times even further.

Earlier this week, Davids called on House leadership to remove the cost-of-living adjustment, a provision criticized by both Republicans and Democrats. She stressed that the focus should remain on keeping the government open, especially at a time when working families are struggling with high costs. Her call was heeded. Davids also pushed for the inclusion of direct disaster assistance for producers and a one-year extension of the Farm Bill to protect Kansas farmers, ranchers, and the broader public from unnecessary uncertainty.