In the News

As Congress begins crafting its fourth coronavirus stimulus package, Silicon Valley Rep. Ro Khanna and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren have proposed an Essential Workers Bill of Rights to help protect laborers on the frontlines of the crisis.

The pair of progressive Democratic lawmakers have called on their colleagues to wrap some of the policies from their proposal into the upcoming relief package.

Over 80 million taxpayers have already received stimulus checks, however, it could be months before all stimulus checks have been issued. In the meantime, millions of Americans are out of work and there is no definitive timeline for businesses to reopen and the economy to get back on track.

As the COVID-19 pandemic pushes our economy deeper into a recession, it's clear that many Americans are still struggling.

The United States should use funding to prevent China from taking over international bodies like the World Health Organization, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) told his constituents on Thursday.

President Donald Trump cut off U.S. funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday, as Republican allies accuse the organization of functioning as "a propaganda arm of the China Communist Party" amid the coronavirus pandemic. Khanna, a leading progressive voice on foreign policy, argued that the move would actually exacerbate the problem.

Bay Area-based U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara, teamed up with Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, on Monday to propose a federal "Essential Workers Bill of Rights," demanding that frontline healthcare workers, federal and state workers, grocers, pharmacists and janitors be covered in the next Covid-19 coronavirus federal stimulus package.

The proposed Essential Workers Bill of Rights asks for 10 specific things directly related to the health and wellness, physically and financially, of workers deemed essential during the pandemic.

Microsoft created a chatbot that makes COVID-19 healthcare systems more efficient, and the CDC is using it. Apple designed, and is shipping, a new type of face shield for healthcare workers. IBM is loaning supercomputing power to scientists and universities who are trying to understand the spread of the virus. Tech billionaires, including Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and most recently Jack Dorsey, pledged donations to food banks and other resources supporting people through the pandemic.

In this edition of CPI Talks we have the pleasure of speaking with U.S. Representative Ro Khanna, of California's 17th Congressional District.

Thank you, Representative Khanna, for sharing your time for this interview with CPI.

1. The "tech giants" have come under enhanced scrutiny at a regulatory and political level in recent years and months. What do you see as the main antitrust challenges posed by these companies? Do you think new legislation or regulation is required, or do you believe more rigorous enforcement of the existing antitrust toolkit would be appropriate?

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is considering waiving a rule that would bar certain small businesses from receiving much-needed bailout money through the government's coronavirus stimulus plan after a bipartisan push by lawmakers to fold in sinking startups as recipients under the program.Rep.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Ro Khanna, who represents a large part of Silicon Valley, are asking the Trump administration to protect start-ups as it carries out relief payments for small businesses under the CARES Act.