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After seeing concerns reports about large companies getting relief funds at the expense of local small businesses, Representative Sharice Davids called for the release of the complete list of businesses that have received emergency small business loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Representative Sharice Davids held a virtual roundtable today to discuss resources for local small businesses with representatives from the Enterprise Center in Johnson County and Kansas City Women's Business Center.
The panelists discussed a variety of small business issues, including businesses trying to switch their production to equipment needed amid the coronavirus, such as hand sanitizer and masks. They also discussed challenges with small business relief programs and the support their offices can provide businesses in navigating these programs.
Newly-released Small Business Administration (SBA) guidance will allow tribal small businesses that were previously excluded to access loans through the Paycheck Protection Program. While the CARES Act passed by Congress last month provided for tribal small businesses to access Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, the SBA had released an interim rule that excluded tribally-operated gaming businesses from accessing this critical assistance. Davids led a bipartisan, bicameral effort of 38 lawmakers urging the SBA to change their rule and today they did.
Representative Sharice Davids helped secure additional funding for small businesses, hospitals, health care workers and COVID-19 testing, voting for the "The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act" earlier today.
Representative Sharice Davids emphasized the importance of addressing health disparities in Wyandotte County yesterday during a Facebook Live with a Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, KS Public Health Department official.
Although black residents make up around 23 percent of Wyandotte County's population, they represent more than half of the people testing positive for COVID-19, as well as two-thirds of COVID-19-related deaths. Wyandotte County currently has the most confirmed positive cases of coronavirus in the state.
Representative Sharice Davids issued the following statement on the release of sensitive tribal government data related to CARES Act funds, as well as news that these funds are not being fairly distributed to tribes as intended.
As critical small business loan programs rapidly run out of money, Representative Sharice Davids urged congressional leaders to put partisan politics aside and reach a bipartisan consensus on funding for small business relief programs.
Representative Sharice Davids issued the following statement on the shortage of medical supplies needed to fight the coronavirus and keep frontline workers and their patients safe in Kansas:
"Kansas still doesn't have the supplies we need to tackle this public health crisis. It's unacceptable that we rank 50th among other states in per capita testing. And it's unacceptable that our calls to FEMA for more supplies aren't being met.
"The decision to overturn Governor Kelly's executive order is not only outrageous and irresponsible – it's putting lives at risk. Rather than work to ensure the health and safety of Kansans, extremists in the state legislature have created chaos and confusion and endangered our public health.
Representative Sharice Davids issued the following statement on community health centers in Kansas being awarded nearly $15.4 million in federal aid as part of Congress' latest coronavirus relief package, the CARES Act:
In the News
A Kansas City, Kansas, Underground Railroad site that sheltered enslaved people lacks federal recognition, and local lawmakers just introduced a bill to change that.
Why it matters: Quindaro Townsite is not open to the public, and the federal funding that comes with a National Historic Landmark designation would make that possible.
All members of the Kansas House delegation including Democrat Sharice Davids and Republicans Tracey Mann, Ron Estes and Derek Schmidt voted in favor of the bill.
An aviation safety bill seeking to address lessons learned from last year’s midair collision of a jet from Wichita with an Army helicopter near the nation’s capital was approved by the House Tuesday, but key senators and the families of the 67 victims think the bill still needs to be strengthened.
Transportation officials gathered on Capitol Hill to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup’s massive visitor influx.
U.S. Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS) said she hosted the second in a series of Capitol Hill briefings on Tuesday, April 14.
Increases in diesel and gasoline prices are already impacting farmers as they plant crops in Sumner County. Kansas State University economist Gregg Ibendahl estimates that the average Kansas grain farm will spend an additional $10,000 on fuel this season.
Kansas State-Olathe campus representatives joined other local governments Tuesday to highlight new federal funding secured in February by 3rd District Rep. Sharice Davids and Sen. Jerry Moran.
K-State Olathe is set to receive $5 million later this year to purchase lab equipment for the school’s supply chain research and advanced manufacturing curriculum. The equipment will support a $4 million expansion the campus opened in January for those programs.
On April 7, Rep. Sharice Davids joined local leaders to announce 14 projects in Kansas’ Third District totaling $17.8 million. The funding will support workforce training, flood mitigation, road and bridge safety, law enforcement, and other community priorities.
The FDA gave accelerated approval for a groundbreaking drug that helps treat Hunter syndrome, a rare disease that affects fewer than 500 people in the United States. It's mainly diagnosed among boys.
Hunter syndrome has not had an FDA-approved treatment in 20 years, until now.
Rep. Sharice Davids announced Monday that the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded the East Central Kansas Economic Opportunity Corporation’s (ECKAN) Head Start program with a new federal grant.
The $3.7 million will be used to continue providing early education opportunities and family support services to children and families in Anderson and Miami counties.
Representative Sharice Davids celebrated the reopening of the STARBASE facility at the Kansas City Readiness Center. The program offers hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) learning for elementary students at no cost to schools. Governor Laura Kelly, Senator Roger Marshall, Representative Derek Schmidt, and local leaders, teachers, and students joined the event.
Farm-state Dems say Argentina beef measure brings volatility, not lower prices
Two Ag Committee Democrats will argue to President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins today that recent efforts to increase imports of Argentinian beef will do little to lower prices while spurring market volatility.