{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/passed-davids-secures-federal-investment-14-local-projects-kansas-third", "PASSED: Davids Secures Federal Investment for 14 Local Projects in the Kansas Third", "2024-03-06", "2024", "2024-03", "Democrat", "House", "KS", "Sharice Davids", "D000629", "davids.house.gov", "davids", "https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Image\n\nMarch 6, 2024\n\nProjects included in bipartisan funding package needed to avert a shutdown\n\nToday, Representative Sharice Davids announced that $14.8 million is coming to the Third District of Kansas to benefit local projects. If accepted by local recipients, the projects will help purchase new law enforcement training vehicles, modernize a bridge that connects Kansas and Missouri, improve water access during extreme weather, and more. Out of hundreds of bipartisan submissions, 14 Davids-requested projects were passed by the U.S. House of Representatives today as part of a broader bipartisan government funding bill. The president is expected to sign the projects into law this week.\n\n\u201cMy job is to advocate for the Third District in Washington and make sure the priorities of folks in our community are being addressed,\u201d said Davids. \u201cOur team worked in tandem with local officials and conducted detailed reviews of each proposal to ensure they met strong standards with a high return on investment. I\u2019ve long fought for responsible budget policies that protect taxpayers, and these investments maintain that commitment to fiscal responsibility while making a difference for Kansas.\u201d\n\nThese 14 projects were included in the bipartisan government funding package that funds six federal agencies and averts a partial government shutdown this Friday. Davids has consistently called for a bipartisan, commonsense solution that keeps our government open for the long term and protects Kansans\u2019 ability to support their families. Before March 22, Congress must pass an additional government funding package to fund six other federal agencies.\n\n\u201cSince coming to Congress, it\u2019s been my mission to ensure the federal government actually works as it\u2019s intended and makes life easier for Kansans,\u201d said Davids. \u201cWhile it took longer than I\u2019d have hoped, Republicans and Democrats have united behind legislation that keeps our government open, lowers costs for hardworking Kansans, creates good-paying jobs, protects women\u2019s rights, honors our commitments to veterans, and confronts the climate crisis. I urge Congressional leadership to continue negotiating in a bipartisan manner on the additional funding bills needed to avert a costly shutdown.\u201d\n\nEach of the 14 Davids-requested projects were submitted in tandem with local officials and selected for their potential to improve health and safety in the community, bring economic opportunity to the Third District, and tackle climate change. Appropriations requests are subject to strict transparency and accountability rules, which can be found here.\n\nRead more about how each project will improve lives in our community, if accepted by local recipients:\n\nRoads and Bridges\n\nThe Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City was awarded $3,500,000 towards a complete reconstruction of the Kansas Avenue Bridge, which connects Kansas and Missouri and supports 8,000 daily trips. The project will reconnect the two states using modern streetscapes with improved pedestrian, bicycle, and ADA accommodations.\n\nThis was a joint request with Representative Jake LaTurner (R-KS-02).\n\nThe City of Overland Park was awarded $1,466,279 toreconfigure 82nd Street at Metcalf Blvd. with a traffic signal and small park. The project will allow for safer travel through the Metcalf corridor for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. The project will help the roadway match the City's Vision Metcalf Plan to address aging infrastructure along Metcalf Avenue.\n\nThe City of Leawood was awarded $500,000 to raise an important roadway above the floodplain, reducing emergency response times and enhancing the safety of Leadwood citizens. Bike lanes and two pedestrian crossings will also be added along the road, which houses the current Justice Center and a future fire department facility.\n\nThe City of Mission was awarded $850,000 to make roadway improvements that include pavement reconstruction, curb and gutter replacement, and the installation of new sidewalks and streetlights. These improvements, which will enhance safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists traveling through the Foxridge corridor, also include a new stormwater system to address flooding.\n\nPublic Safety\n\nJohnson County Community College\u2019s Johnson County Regional Police Academy was awarded $150,000 to help purchase three law enforcement training vehicles for their Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center. Recruits will utilize these vehicles to enhance their training opportunities, allowing for the rehearsal of more realistic traffic stop and driving scenarios.\n\nThe City of Overland Park was awarded $850,000 to update 190 traffic signal controllers that are too old for future maintenance. This project would improve safety for drivers and help ensure the city\u2019s systems are less susceptible to cyber threats. The City's current traffic signal controllers, which conduct real-time road traffic control, are too outdated for upgrades, posing safety risks for the essential daily commutes of Kansans.\n\nWater\n\nJohnson County Wastewater was awarded $1,509,000 to relocate, modify, and protect sanitary sewage lines along Highway US-69. The project, identified as a necessity by the Kansas Department of Transportation, will address safety and congestion issues that have been identified along Highway US 69 for the past 25 years.\n\nThe City of Edgerton was awarded $959,752 to install 2,000 feet of new sewage pipe, which is a project that has stalled due to high-cost hurdles and the intersection of a water way, rail line, and high-pressure gas pipeline. The project will pave the way for population growth and continued success at logistic Park Kansas City, which already generates about 3.4 percent of the entire state's economic output.\n\nThe City of Olathe was awarded $791,000 toreplace the existing generator at the Renner Water Pump Station, making the facility compliant with modern electrical, building, and safety code requirements. The current generator, which is required to provide reliable standby power during extreme weather events, is at the end of its service life and spare parts are no longer available for repairs.\n\nThe City of Olathe was awarded $959,752 to install backup generators at two of the City's underground water wells, providing necessary risk mitigation during extreme weather events. Currently, if power is lost, the City loses almost half of its water capacity, as two of the four wells do not have backup capabilities.\n\nThe City of Gardner was awarded $850,000 to construct new underground water pipes that move wastewater to the water treatment facility. Gardner has the highest projected growth rate in Johnson County through 2030 and this project will ensure the City\u2019s water infrastructure can keep up with projected population growth.\n\nThe City of De Soto was awarded $959,752 to replace aging equipment at the City\u2019s water treatment plant, which will soon support the largest economic development project in the state of Kansas, the Panasonic EV Battery plant. The project will also ensure the plant meets safety standards when supporting more than 9,300 new acres of development.\n\nThe City of Garnett was awarded $959,752 to help construct a new water treatment plant that will provide safe, reliable, and affordable drinking water to 3,400 Kansans. The current plant, constructed in the 1930's, no longer meets regulatory guidelines. Without construction of a new plant, the City may cease water treatment and be forced to truck it from more than 28 miles away.\n\nThe City of De Soto was awarded $500,000 to build a new water tower, a crucial component for supporting the upcoming Panasonic EV battery plant and managing water flow across the 9,300 acres of new development. The new tower, in conjunction with the existing Astra Water Tower, will also provide fire protection for billions of dollars in government and private investment.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T20:32:04Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://davids.house.gov/media/press-releases/passed-davids-secures-federal-investment-14-local-projects-kansas-third"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 5.271636880934238, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}