After being stuck in another country for five days, more than one hundred Bay Area residents are headed home today — thanks to one lawmaker. For the past two weeks, the Saratoga and Lynbrook high school bands have been performing in concert halls in Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic. Once their tour ended, the...
Silicon Valley official looks to ban leaded fuel nationally
Santa Clara County’s fight to ban leaded aviation fuel might lead to changes nationwide—with one elected official poised to speak before Congress this week. Supervisor Cindy Chavez, who has led efforts to ban the fuel at county-owned airports will testify in front of the Congressional Oversight Environmental Subcommittee on Thursday. The subcommittee, chaired by Silicon...
San Jose lawmaker speaks on investigating Capitol attack
In her 28 years in Congress, Zoe Lofgren has done it all. She has led committees on immigration, judiciary issues and technology. She’s participated in impeachment proceedings for three sitting presidents, serving as a manager for that of former President Donald Trump. And now she is participating in an effort to preserve democracy in the...
Clinton honors Mineta at San Jose memorial
Norm Mineta, former U.S. secretary of transportation and San Jose’s first Asian American mayor, is being laid to rest in his hometown. Family, friends and colleagues shared warm memories, funny anecdotes of Mineta’s charismatic personality and powerful stories of his accomplishments and fortitude at a Thursday memorial at the San Jose Civic Center. Mineta died...
Silicon Valley congressman meets with Ukrainian official
Kyiv, Ukraine may be more than 6,000 miles from Santa Clara County, but the two regions share a partnership highlighted by a recent meeting between government officials. Silicon Valley Rep. Ro Khanna met with Ukraine Consul General Dmytro Kushneruk on Monday to discuss the needs of his country and how the Bay Area can help. Ukraine has...
Proposed congressional boundaries could split San Jose
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo is urging a state commission not to adopt political boundaries that would potentially weaken the power of Silicon Valley’s biggest city. Liccardo is asking the California Citizens Redistricting Commission to not approve a map that will split San Jose across four congressional districts. Most of the city is now located in...
San Jose advocates say new federal immigration guidance falls short
President Joe Biden’s administration recently unveiled new immigration guidelines—and reactions are mixed in San Jose. While some local advocates say the guidance is lacking, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, chair of the House Immigration and Citizenship Subcommittee, is applauding the new policy. “(It is) an important step in the right direction, particularly after the prior administration undermined...
San Jose congresswoman reflects back on 20-year war in Afghanistan
Washington, D.C.— Rep. Zoe Lofgren stood before her House colleagues two decades ago and called for unity in the wake of the deadliest terrorist attack in United States history. It had been just three days since the 9/11 attacks in New York and Washington wounded the Pentagon and turned the twin towers into a fiery...
Silicon Valley lawmaker wants updates on COVID shot for kids
Washington, D.C.—As students nationwide return to in-person learning, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont) is calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to update Congress about the development of a COVID-19 vaccination for children. Three COVID vaccines are currently available in the United States, including Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Pfizer recently obtained full approval...
Silicon Valley congressman, nonprofits voice support for Afghan refugees
Samir has barely slept in weeks. The East Bay resident, who came to the United States from Afghanistan in 2014, spends much of his nights staring at the ceiling, worrying about his mother and other relatives back home. “I have no idea what to do about them,” said Samir, whose last name is being withheld...