March 2022
Good afternoon. I would like to provide you with a few updates about recent developments in Congress and share some important information.
Bringing Down Gas Prices and Putting Money Back in Your Pocket
The price of gasoline has been hovering around $6 in our district, and the price of a barrel of oil is double what it was before the pandemic. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has further disrupted an already volatile global oil market by reducing supply and leading governments to limit imports of Russian energy to help protect the Ukrainian people. At the same time, big oil companies are taking advantage of the crisis and reaping near-record profits. That is why Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and I introduced our bicameral Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax to curb profiteering by oil companies and provide Americans relief at the gas pump.
The Big Oil Windfall Profits Tax would provide consumers guaranteed relief while maintaining American competitiveness and reducing pressure on inflation by attacking corporate profiteering. In 2021, ExxonMobil's profits alone jumped over 60 percent over pre-pandemic levels. To address this, our bill would ensure that large oil companies that produce or import at least 300,000 barrels of oil per day pay a tax on their profits, while smaller oil companies remain exempt.
Revenue raised from the windfall profits of big oil companies will be returned to consumers in the form of a quarterly rebate, which would phase out for single filers who earn more than $75,000 in annual income and joint filers who earn more than $150,000. At $120 per barrel of oil, the levy would raise approximately $45 billion per year. At this price, single filers would receive approximately $240 each year, while joint filers would receive roughly $360 each year.
We cannot allow Big Oil giants like Exxon Mobil and Chevron to continue gouging consumers to make up for a dip in profits in 2020. Nor should we allow them to blame the current price of gas solely on the war in Ukraine. The prices we are paying at the pump are in large part a result of corporate greed and it is time they pay for it.
Banning Russian Oil
The Russian invasion of Ukraine is illegal and immoral – no country has the right to violate the sovereignty of another. Furthermore, the Russian military's deliberate targeting of civilians is a blatant violation of human rights and international law, and they must be held accountable. That is why I joined the bipartisan effort to ban the import of Russian oil.
The Severing Putin's Immense Gains from Oil Transfers (SPIGOT) Act would prohibit the importation of Russian oil and petroleum products into the United States, and mandate a plan to replace those imports with alternative, clean sources of energy. In addition to banning Russian oil and natural gas imports, the SPIGOT Act would highlight the connection between Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian oil oligarchs, and the human rights abuses they are directly responsible for.
Local Community Project Funding
Earlier this month, I voted to fund $11,905,000 in Community Project Funding (CPF) that I secured for CA-17. This funding was included in the government funding package and will respond directly to some of the most pressing needs in Santa Clara and Alameda counties. In total, I championed 9 CPFs including:
- All in Eats – $1 million, Alameda County
The funding will be used to retrofit an existing warehouse in Fremont, CA to offer commercial kitchens, a staging area for food distribution, and food recovery to prevent unnecessary waste. Additionally, the project will greatly expand a large-scale food hub in Fremont to power a circular food economy aimed at increasing food security, protecting the planet, and providing living wage jobs to the formerly incarcerated and other vulnerable populations.
- API Community Health Worker Pilot – $1 million, Santa Clara County
The funding will go toward training community health workers to provide culturally appropriate medical care in the Asian/Pacific Islander (API) community in Santa Clara County. Current efforts are being focused on three API sub-populations that have been most impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and are in dire need of additional funds. Community health clinics will also be able to incorporate these programs into a sustainable funding model.
- Cupertino Library – $1 million, City of Cupertino
The funding will be used to expand the Cupertino Library, which serves everyone in the community regardless of economic, social, or political affiliation. This expansion will provide a multi-purpose room for library programs for all ages, spill-over study spaces, and other community uses such as meetings, presentations, a venue for public speaking, and the creative arts.
- Fremont Housing Navigation Center – $500,000, City of Fremont
The funding will provide substance abuse counseling, employment assistance & other support needed to transition individuals into permanent housing.
- Pedestrian and Safe Routes to School Improvements Project – $880,000, City of Sunnyvale
The funding will allow the City of Sunnyvale to Implement pedestrian & Safe Routes to School improvements at two intersections near Columbia Middle School in the Sunnyvale Neighbors of Arbor Including LaLinda (SNAIL) neighborhood and at one intersection near Braly Elementary School in the Braly Corners neighborhood.
- San Jose Public Library – $1.5 million in partnership with Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-18), City of San Jose
The funding will provide professional training for family, friend, and neighbor (FFN) caregivers of children under the age of six. The current FFN Caregiver Support Network has provided 60 FFN caregivers from San Jose access to high-quality workforce development training in child development, which increases and enhances quality of childcare environments, providing more equitable outcomes for families seeking care and those providing care. The additional support will enable the existing successful pilot program to continue and allow for expanded digital inclusion and technology support for caregivers to access virtual programming and additional resources to enhance the care they provide.
- Santa Clara Bicycle Projects – $2,725,000, City of Santa Clara
The funding will complete traffic analyses, public outreach, design, and construction of bicycle facilities on three corridors (De La Cruz Blvd: Montague Expressway to Trimble Road, Lick Mill Blvd: Tasman Drive-Montague Expressway, and Scott Blvd: Calabazas Creek Trail to Saratoga Avenue). The project will enhance safety, improve mobility, and reduce vehicle emissions by implementing high priority bicycle projects identified in the Santa Clara Bicycle Plan Update 2018.
- South Milpitas Boulevard Extension Bridge – $3 million, City of Milpitas
The funding will extend the bridge over Pennitencia Creek and provide transit area development residents direct pedestrian and bicycle access to the Milpitas Transit Center, a key transit hub in Santa Clara County. This bridge aims to encourage transit ridership in the City to reduce carbon emissions.
- Student Wellness Center – $300,000 for the Santa Clara County Office of Education
The funding will be used to open a wellness center at a Santa Clara high school so students can receive critical, time-sensitive prevention and early intervention services to address student mental health and trauma. This funding will meet a critical, urgent student need during the COVID-19 recovery.
I was proud to vote to deliver $11,905,000 in CPFs to CA-17. This funding will be transformational. Investing in our libraries, mental health programs in schools, bike lanes, and more will make our communities safer, stronger, and more vibrant.
To submit CPF requests that would benefit CA-17 for next year, please use this link:
Community Project Funding Submission Form for FY23
Updates in the District
Our district office is staying abreast of all developments regarding the Ukrainian crisis and is working with both the US State Department and the local Ukrainian Consulate on related casework issues.
On recent visits home, I met with the Ukrainian Consul General, toured Community Project Funding sites in Milpitas, Sunnyvale and Santa Clara. I also visited Valley Transportation Authority's zero emissions bus program and met with members of the local Afghan American community. This summer I look forward to attending more community events and resuming live town halls.
Facebook Live Town Halls
Thank you to all who participated in March's Facebook Live town hall. Stay tuned for upcoming towns in April. Announcements will be coming soon. Please be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @RepRoKhanna.
Future of Water Act
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and I led a bicameral group of our colleagues in introducing the Future of Water Act, which would prohibit futures trading of water or water rights. Water is a basic human right that must be managed and protected as a public trust resource.
Large corporations should not be profiting off of water, especially as climate change threatens access to clean water. Water should be affordable, easily accessible, and guarded from markets prone to manipulation and speculation that could cause real-world price increases.
Public Lands Telecommunications Act
I re-introduced the Public Lands Telecommunications Act to unlock new opportunities for broadband infrastructure deployment on and near federal public lands. The legislation builds on proven successes of land use fees and gives public land management agencies the power to act as partners to improve connectivity in rural and remote communities.
Broadband connectivity is integral to our nation's economy, bridging the rural divide, and driving innovation. Reliable internet should be available regardless of geography or income.
Chance to Compete Act
I introduced the Chance to Compete Act (H.R. 6967), which is a bipartisan, bicameral bill that improves the federal hiring process by giving agencies the ability to share applicant assessments, allows subject matter experts to serve as interviewers, and move assessments toward focusing on the candidate's ability to perform the actual job rather than where or if they received their college degree.
I am committed to ensuring that everyone has a fair shot at building a strong economic future for themselves and their families. There's no reason a college degree should be required for a job if the candidate is able to demonstrate that they have the skills necessary to succeed in the role
Videos
Bringing down the price of gas
Big Oil denying climate change since the 1970s
Constituent Services
Caseworkers in my Santa Clara office are available to help Silicon Valley residents navigate the bureaucracy of federal agencies and any other concerns during the COVID-19 crisis. My staff can help you solve problems with immigration, visas, Social Security payments and VA paperwork, among other areas. Please call my office at (408) 436-2720 between 9:00am and 5:00pm Monday-Friday if you need assistance. Your call will be promptly answered (remotely) by my staff. You can also contact me online at any time at Khanna.house.gov/contact. While we are unable to meet in-person, my staff is ready to help. Visit my website for more information.