Hi John.

I hope you and your family are well! I know good ideas can come from Republicans and Democrats. So today, I wanted to give an update on how we’re working together to stop wasteful spending.

Congress must do a better job of protecting taxpayers and rebuilding trust between people and their government. This begins with rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse.

As a member of the House Small Business Committee, I’ve worked with Republicans to conduct oversight of emergency small business relief programs. These initiatives were crucial for saving jobs during the pandemic. Unfortunately, we also saw inexcusably high rates of fraud in these programs. We must insist on higher standards, hold criminals accountable, and protect taxpayers.

That’s why I helped pass bipartisan laws last year to crack down on this fraud. And recently, we held an oversight hearing to keep pushing for accountability.

Please click here to watch me ask questions of the Small Business Administrator.

Some initiatives, like the Paycheck Protection Program, were incredibly valuable in the pandemic. They kept many local businesses afloat and workers on the job. Unfortunately, we also saw clear abuses that we must address.

For example, nearly $1 million in fraudulent Economic Injury Disaster Loans were taken out in the names of Johnson County residents. I called on the SBA to investigate these claims and hold victims blameless. I’m pleased to share that together with the SBA, our team has been able to directly help some of the folks who were impacted.

I also helped lead two bipartisan laws that go after this kind of fraud. The new laws extend the statute of limitations on pandemic relief-related fraud. This means holding more bad actors accountable and ensuring Kansans have more time to get help.

When we’re actually focused on solutions – not politics – we can find concrete, bipartisan, and common sense ways to reduce our debt.

But the last thing we need is more division and empty promises. Unfortunately, some are continuing to push extreme proposals. That includes threats to Social Security, Medicare, veterans’ benefits, and the health of our economy. Balancing our budget requires pragmatism – not extremism. I won't stand idly by while some use this as an excuse to undermine the middle class and our economy.

It’s an honor and a privilege to serve you in the U.S. House of Representatives. If you have any questions or would like to share your views, please feel free to contact me.

My warmest regards,

Sharice L. Davids
Member of Congress

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