October 2018
Good afternoon. I would like to provide a few updates about recent developments in Congress and share some important information.
Introducing an Internet Bill of Rights
Online privacy and the protection of personal data is now a critical priority for American consumers. The government's response to the Equifax breach, Cambridge Analytica scandal and other serious violations exposed an information gap among members of Congress. I was proud that House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi tasked me, as one of Silicon Valley's representatives, to outline ten principles which we can use to guide legislation defining clear and concise online protections.
In consultation with the founder of the world wide web, Tim Berners Lee, and other technologists, I proposed the Internet Bill of Rights, which is further elaborated in a piece in TIME Magazine. As we continue to live more of our lives online, and as technology continues to rapidly advance, it is vital that we establish reasonable and robust protections, just as our forefathers did when laying the foundation of our nation.
Raising Wages for 350,000 Amazon Employees
Amazon has bowed to pressure after Senator Sanders and I introduced legislation taking on corporate welfare and the big companies that rake in massive profits on the backs of severely underpaid workers.
In a victory for hundreds of thousands of Amazon workers, the company announced that wages for all employees, including part-time and seasonal, will go up to at least $15 an hour. It is the responsibility of all corporations, especially those making billions of dollars, to ensure that those who work hard for them are justly compensated and can afford to put food on the table and a roof over their heads.
Fighting Airplane Noise in the South Bay
Thank you to all who have shared their concerns with airplane noise over their homes. Last month, I wrote a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) asking for the disruptive Bay Side Visual flight path to be eliminated. I am pleased to announce that the FAA responded that our request has been granted, and the route into the San Carlos Airport has been canceled. This is a big victory for all residents in the area.
Town hall
It was great to see so many of you and to answer your questions at my October town hall meeting in Milpitas. I hope to see you at my next town hall starting at 1:00 PM on Sunday, November 4th in the multipurpose room at Braly Elementary School in Sunnyvale. If you can't make it, you can watch on Facebook Live. Please be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @RepRoKhanna.
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Senator Warren Joins the Fight Against War in Yemen
The catastrophic war in Yemen continues to wreak havoc on the lives of millions of innocent civilians. Ports are still blockaded, restricting the flow of food, clean water, and medicine to the many who have been unfairly caught in the crossfire of this proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Senator Warren joined me in a CNN op-ed calling for an end to U.S. complicity in the widespread suffering caused by our military assistance of the Saudi-led coalition.
Responding to Khashoggi Killing
Earlier this month, journalist and U.S. resident Jamal Khashoggi was brutally murdered, reportedly at the direction of the highest level of the Saudi dictatorship. This is just another example in a long string of human rights abuses by the Saudi regime, including the cruel bombing campaign and starvation siege being carried out by the Saudi-led coalition against millions of innocent Yemenis. I wrote an op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle calling for an end to U.S. military aid to Saudi Arabia and further reconsideration of our alliance with this authoritarian and abusive dictatorship.
Videos
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Constituent Services
Case workers in my Santa Clara office are available to help Silicon Valley 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.