March 2018
Good afternoon. I would like to provide a few updates on recent developments in Congress and share some important information.
Steve Kerr comes to Newark Memorial to talk gun violence
On March 12th, Warriors Head Coach Steve Kerr joined me at Newark Memorial High School for a discussion with Matt Deitsch, Stoneman Douglas High School graduate and Community Outreach Director for March for Our Lives. Coach Kerr, Matt, and I talked with students about what we can do to reduce gun violence and prevent further tragedies. This past Saturday, more than 800 marches from San Jose to Washington, DC showed the youth of America are driving this conversation and that it is time for Congress to respond.
Gender Equity Forum
I am working to make gender diversity a greater priority in the tech workforce. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women hold only one quarter of computing jobs and 11 percent of executive roles in Silicon Valley. In response to this imbalance, I convened leaders from Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Cisco, Atipica and others for a forum on the "leaky pipeline" of women in male-dominated fields and what we can do to support women joining and advancing in these industries. We're proud of the success that tech employers have had in shaping Silicon Valley, but much work remains to be done to advance equality for all. The panelists agreed that employers should be required to provide data indicating their gender balance across all job categories, and that they should be held accountable for areas in which women are not afforded an equal opportunity, including promotion to senior management and funding of start-ups by venture capitalists.
Congressional Vietnam Veteran Commemoration
This morning I hosted the first Congressional Vietnam War 50th Anniversary commemoration event in Northern California at Moffett Air National Guard Base, home of the 129th Rescue Wing. Working with the Vietnam Veteran Commemorative Partner Program, we honored CA-17 heroes who served between November 1, 1955 and May 15, 1975. We presented presidential proclamations and pins issued by the Department of Defense in recognition of their time in service to our nation. Many thanks to Colonel Lokensgard of the 129th Air National Guard, and Tony Codero, representing the U.S. Vietnam War Commemoration Department, for their participation.
Town hall
It was great to see so many of you and to answer your questions at my March town hall meeting in Sunnyvale. I hope to see you at my next town hall starting at noon on Sunday, April 22nd at Independence High School in San Jose. If you can't make it, you can watch on Facebook Live. And be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @RepRoKhanna.
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Protecting Health Care Workers
I introduced a bill that makes health care facilities safer for patients and staff. A 2016 Government Accountability Office report found that health care workers are 5 to 12 times more likely to encounter workplace violence than all other workers. The "Health Care Workplace Violence Prevention Act" requires facilities to create and implement specific plans aimed at curbing violence and preventing danger. Read more from NBC News here.
Broadband Bill
As we know in the Silicon Valley, broadband is a crucial utility in the 21st century. So much of our day-to-day lives depends on a reliable, high-speed internet connection. However, an estimated 23 million poor and rural Americans live without broadband connectivity, excluding them from vast swathes of society and the economy. I introduced a bipartisan bill to study the effects of broadband access, so that Congress and the Trump administration can understand the value of investing in access. Wired Magazine dives into the "Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband Act of 2017" here.
Videos
Full recap of the gun violence town hall with Steve Kerr and Matt Deitsch
Constituent Services
Case workers in my Santa Clara office are available to help CA-17 residents navigate through the bureaucracy of federal agencies. My staff can assist with immigration or visa issues, Social Security payments and VA paperwork, among other areas. Visit my website for more information.