Davids Works “Sharice’s Shift” at Local Grocery Store, Highlights Work to Lower Grocery Costs and Strengthen Supply Chains

ROELAND PARK, KS - Today, Representative Sharice Davids worked a "Sharice's Shift" at the Roeland Park Price Chopper to highlight her efforts to lower costs for Kansas families and strengthen U.S. supply chains. While our economy is experiencing record job creation, the cost of groceries and gas remains high. To help lower those costs, Davids, who was named a "Champion of the Shippers" by the Shippers Coalition, has worked to shore up our domestic supply chains, which eases inflationary pressures for Kansans.

“Hardworking Kansans, including the shoppers I spoke with today, continue to face higher prices at the grocery store and gas pump. While we’ve seen recent economic progress in record job creation and small business applications, there’s still so much more work needed to get those prices back down,” said Davids. “Finding bipartisan solutions to lower prices and build an economy that works for everyone — especially for folks in the middle- and working-classes — is my top priority.”

“Thank you, Representative Davids, for taking the time to visit our store and hear firsthand about how the various laws impact our business,” said Mike Beal, Chief Operating Officer, Ball's Food Stores. “Grocers like us play a vital role in the heart of every community. We are more than just a store, but we are a lifeline for many, ensuring our customers have access to fresh, affordable, and nutritious food and serve as a hub for supporting local products and farmers. We appreciate your recognition of the important role grocers play in their communities through the jobs provided and various services offered.”

During the "Sharice's Shift," Davids helped store employees unload deliveries from shipping trucks, stock grocery shelves, and bag groceries. Davids spoke with store management on the economic impact of independent grocers on Kansas communities and her work to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill. She also shared what she is doing in Congress to lower costs for hardworking Kansans and strengthen domestic supply chains, including by voting for the CHIPS and Science Act, which is bringing jobs to Kansas, lowering costs for consumers, and supporting workforce development.

Davids’ additional work to lower grocery costs and strengthen supply chains include:

• 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.
• Holding multipleroundtables with Kansas business, manufacturing, and technology leaders on how recent legislation to improve supply chains will help boost their businesses' financial security.
• 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.
• Meeting with President Biden at the White House to urge him to pass a supply chain and economic package that invests in American manufacturing.

As a member of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, Davids is also working to craft a bipartisan Farm Bill that supports Kansas farmers and lowers costs, including by securing agricultural supply chains to keep costs low and support our state’s largest economic sector. Davids previously hosted U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt to highlight lowering costs for processing, packaging, and consumer purchasing of locally sourced meats. She also joined other Kansas lawmakers in a bipartisan push for investigations into anti-competitive behavior in the meatpacking industry.

Davids has also worked a "Sharice's Shifts" with the KC Levee Project and at the K-10 Lexington Avenue exit, which will be the main roadway for Kansans traveling to the planned Panasonic Energy manufacturing facility. She also worked a shift at a local restaurant to highlight her work to improve supply chains and with UPS on her efforts to boost employment in the trucking industry amid driver shortages.