Davids Visits Johnson County Railroad to Discuss Supply Chain Solutions

Statement

Today, Representative Sharice Davids visited Logistics Park Kansas City and the Johnson County Airport Commission New Century Shortline Railroad to discuss federal efforts to improve our supply chains and lower costs for Kansans.

The Johnson County railroad offers last-mile transportation for goods coming in from around the country to around 60 multinational companies. Shortline railroads touch approximately 25 percent of all rail cars moved in the United States and are critical to our supply chain, connecting businesses to our nation's broader rail network more efficiently and typically at a lower cost. Davids voted to increase support to these railroads through the bipartisan infrastructure law and help unstick our supply chains across the country.

Rep. Davids and Johnson County Commissioner Janeé Hanzlick ride the Johnson County short-line railroad in New Century, Kansas.

Rep. Davids and Johnson County Commissioner Janeé Hanzlick ride the Johnson County short-line railroad in New Century, Kansas.

"When we make more here at home, and when we invest in strong supply chains, we lower costs for folks at every point," said Davids. "Today I got to see how both the bipartisan infrastructure law and the new supply chain legislation we're working on in Congress will help the Kansas Third District continue to serve our entire country's transportation needs."

Davids is a leader on supply chain solutions in Congress, serving as a key negotiator and one of two Kansas lawmakers on a bipartisan committee working to finalize a pro-manufacturing bill in Congress. The bill is aimed at strengthening supply chains, reducing inflation, and increasing America's global competitiveness at a critical time when increased competition from China has cost the U.S. approximately 985,000 manufacturing jobs. Davids recently met with President Biden to emphasize the need to pass this package and address rising costs by making more goods in America and making our supply chains more resilient and robust.

Rep. Davids climbs a crane at Logistics Park Kansas City in Edgerton, Kansas.

Rep. Davids climbs a crane at Logistics Park Kansas City in Edgerton, Kansas.

"We have trained a record number of our staff to be engineers and conductors to ensure no disruptions in providing these critical services to our customers," said Aaron Otto, Executive Director of the Johnson County Airport Commission. "Additionally, we have invested record amounts of funds into the railroad's infrastructure to reduce possible disruptions caused by aging rails and ties. These investments have been made possible through grant programs."

"Freight railroads are a key component of the supply chain and will play an increasingly important role in U.S. goods movement," said Michael Frisinger, BNSF Railway's General Manager, Kansas Division. "Rail is the most-cost-effective and greenest way to move goods from where they are manufactured or imported to the markets where they are sold. We are pleased to show Congresswoman Davids BNSF's Logistic Park Kansas City intermodal facility where we serve the growing Midwest market and help our customers streamline their supply chain and lower carbon emissions."

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