WATCH: Davids Highlights Mounting Economic Pressures on Kansas Families, Demands Solutions to Lower Costs

Image October 28, 2026 Press Release Today, Representative Sharice Davids (KS-03) and Defend America Action hosted a virtual press briefing alongside Kansas House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard and healthcare policy expert Jessica Schubel to address the growing cost-of-living crisis hitting households across the state. "Every day, Kansans are making impossible choices between paying for groceries, filling up their gas tanks, or keeping their health coverage. I was raised by a single mom, so I get it. But too many politicians in D.C. are completely out of touch with what that feels like,” said Davids . “We don't need political games or policies that treat Kansas families and farmers like collateral damage. We need common-sense, bipartisan solutions that lower costs and give everyday people a fair shot to get ahead." During the call, Davids highlighted how rising grocery bills, record utility and fuel prices, housing crunches, and federal healthcare cuts are squeezing working families, agricultural producers, and small business owners. Grounding her remarks in stories from local constituents — including a Kansas pastor overwhelmed by community requests for emergency bill assistance — Davids called for pragmatic, bipartisan action to lower everyday expenses rather than partisan D.C. games. A full recording of today’s virtual press briefing can be watched HERE . Recent economic data and state reporting detail the compounding cost burdens facing Kansas households and key industries: Rising Cost of Living & Grocery Prices: The average Kansas household has paid an estimated $4,400 more for everyday essentials since early 2025. Grocery costs remain elevated, with ground beef hitting a record high of over $7 per pound and local food banks like Harvesters reporting record demand for assistance. Kansas Home Insurance & Housing Crunch: Kansas homeowners now pay the fourth-highest home insurance premiums in the country — averaging $4,095 annually (71 percent above the national average). Meanwhile, a Kansas worker must earn $21.70 an hour to afford a modest two-bedroom rental, and homebuilders estimate that federal tariffs add nearly $10,900 in material costs per new home built. Agricultural Sector Strain: Spiking diesel prices and global supply disruptions caused fertilizer costs to double during planting season, costing Kansas farmers an estimated $83.2 million more in fuel expenses. Concurrently, policy changes waiving foreign beef tariffs have undercut domestic producers in Kansas’s $11.7 billion cattle sector. Healthcare & ACA Premium Spikes: Recent federal budget cuts stripped healthcare coverage from thousands of Kansans, while the expiration of ACA tax credits caused insurance premiums to skyrocket for over 182,000 Kansans — resulting in an average 181 percent premium increase for impacted enrollees. Over 15 Kansas healthcare facilities face budget cuts, reduced service capacity, or closure threats. Energy & Fuel Costs: Regular gas in Kansas reached $4.00 per gallon last week (up 44.8 percent from last year), while diesel hit an all-time state record of $6.25 per gallon on September 22. In addition, state regulators approved an energy rate increase, further raising monthly utility bills for Kansas families. Davids has worked to lower costs for Kansans, including capping insulin at $35 for seniors, lowering prescription drug prices through Medicare negotiation , expanding affordable housing supply, strengthening Kansas agriculture and local food systems, supporting year-round E15 fuel access to lower prices at the pump, and extending Affordable Care Act tax credits that help families afford health coverage. She has fought reckless tariffs and extreme Medicaid cuts that are closing rural hospitals and increasing healthcare costs for Kansas families. Davids was raised by a single mom who served in the Army for 20 years. She knows what it’s like to struggle to put food on the table, stretch every dollar, and make difficult choices between paying for groceries, healthcare, gas, or rent. That experience continues to shape her focus on lowering costs for working families and making sure everyday people — not just billionaires and large corporations — have a fair shot at getting ahead. Issues : Jobs, Economy & Small Businesses Making Government Work for Kansans