Davids Wins “Champion of the Shippers” Award for Work Strengthening Supply Chains

Today, Representative Sharice Davids was given the "Champion of the Shippers" award from the Shippers Coalition for her leadership in ensuring a strong domestic supply chain. Davids, Vice Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, has worked diligently to lower costs for Kansas families and businesses through increased domestic manufacturing and improved American competitiveness.

"From higher prices to delays in necessary supplies, all Kansans have felt the effects of recent supply chain backlogs. That's exactly why I've been squarely focused on shoring up our supply chain and lowering costs for Kansas businesses and families," said Davids. "It is an honor to be recognized by the Shippers Coalition for this work, but there's still more to do. We've got to keep lowering prices of gas and groceries, while also ensuring businesses in the Kansas Third have what they need to support their workforce and contribute to our economy."

"The Shippers Coalition salutes Congresswoman Sharice Davids as a Champion of the Shippers for the 117th Congress," said Alexis Oberg, Deputy Executive Director, Shippers Coalition. "Congresswoman Davids has been a staunch advocate for solutions that increase flexibility in the supply chain, ensuring American companies can easily move goods throughout the U.S. transportation system. The last two years have shown how delicate and integrated the supply chain is, and we are proud to have Congresswoman Davids as a champion for our issues."

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Representative Davids receiving the Shippers Coalition's "Champion of the Shippers" award outside the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee room.

"Representative Davids is a champion for common-sense legislative solutions to the supply chain bottlenecks and challenges facing the U.S. dairy industry," said Michael Dykes, President and CEO of International Dairy Foods Association. "IDFA is especially grateful for her leadership in recent years to increase the federal truck gross vehicle weight limit, a proposal that is estimated to reduce industry transportation costs by tens of millions of dollars annually and revert that money back into investment in our dairy industry."

"Representative Davids knows that manufacturing more in America means we must be able to move more in America," said Chris Jahn, President and Chief Executive Officer of American Chemistry Council. "The expansion of U.S. chemical manufacturing means our transportation needs are growing. With announced investments of more than $200 billion and over 350 chemical manufacturing projects, we expect to add more than one million additional shipments a year across all modes of transportation by 2030. We appreciate her leadership to help create opportunities to grow our economy and her efforts to improve the nation's freight transportation network."

In July, Davids voted to pass major, bipartisan legislation aimed at lowering costs for Kansas families and strengthening domestic manufacturing. She served alongside Sen. Jerry Moran as a key negotiator on the package. Her additional work to strengthen supply chains include:

• Cosponsoring the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, a new law aimed at addressing supply chain snags and reducing dependence on goods produced outside of the United States.
• Holding multipleroundtables with Kansas business, manufacturing, and technology leaders on how recent legislation to improve supply chains will help boost their business' financial security.
• Meeting with President Biden at the White House to urge him to pass a supply chain and economic package that invests in American manufacturing.
• Voting to pass the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act to shore up the food and agriculture supply chain, assure fair competition in the meat and poultry sectors, and lower food and gasoline costs.
• Working a ‘Sharice's Shift' delivering packages with UPS to highlight her work to improve supply chain issues and boost employment in the trucking industry amid driver shortages.

In recent months, Davids visited a variety of local businesses including Cherub Medical Supplies, Ronawk, Johnson County Railroad, and General Motors, all who have been impacted by recent supply chain backlogs. She also visited three local manufacturers as part of her "Made in Kansas" tour to learn how she can better support them in Congress.

• At A&K Railroad Materials, Davids shared her support for investing in infrastructure and domestic supply chains and heard about A&K's impact on both the local economy and national transportation networks.
• At Knit-Rite, a medical textile manufacturer, Davids discussed her work, including the Davids-sponsored SUPPLIES Act, to support American-made medical supplies, particularly small and mid-sized manufacturers.
• At Stryten Energy, a leading manufacturer of advanced battery and energy storage technology, Davids discussed her work to support innovation and workforce development, so that Kansas workers can continue to compete against countries like China.