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Congressman Khanna Meets with Silicon Valley's REALTORS®


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Friday, August 24, 2018

At far right, SILVAR NAR Director Leannah Hunt asks Congressman Ro Khanna a question.

U.S. Representative Ro Khanna met with members of SILVAR, the Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS® (SCCAOR), and Bay East Association of REALTORS® at the SCCAOR office on Wednesday. Khanna represents the 17th Congressional District, which includes the cities of Cupertino, Fremont, Milpitas, Newark, San Jose, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale.

Khanna said he is proud of Silicon Valley because the region is the economic engine of the country and provides its citizens with many economic opportunities for growth and success. Khanna noted it is the valley's turn to give back to the country and expand these economic opportunities to the rest of the country. Only then will the country be able to break out of its gridlock and be competitive in relation to the rest of the world.

"We have the best and the brightest. When you think of the valley, you don't just think of the engineers and people in high tech. You also think of the electricians, the REALTORS®, dentists, doctors. It's the community that works cooperatively toward economic achievement, which has resulted in economic success," said Khanna. "We are privileged, our kids are privileged, because of all the opportunities we have living in the valley, but we aren't going to make it as a nation if those economic opportunities aren't extended to the rest of the country."

Khanna's goal in Congress is to create economic opportunities and a pathway for people regardless of where they live. To that end, Khanna shared his three concrete ideas to make this happen: 1) install high speed internet for all, which will enable anyone across the country to work for high tech and other companies that are based anywhere in the country, including California; 2) create technical institutes across the country, much like land grants, with two-year certifications in different industries to prepare people for real life skills; 3) provide tax incentives for companies to hire people in places that have been left out of economic progress.

The U.S. Representative said a disconnect exists because the rest of the country views the coasts as doing well and feels left out. The answer to that is to expand economic opportunities and jobs to these places.

"Our responsibility is to give back to this country ... We need to make a concerted effort to show we care about the rest of America first and that we are patriots first. We have an obligation to the nation," said Khanna.

Asked about a solution to California's housing crisis, Khanna replied price control has not worked and he is against states mandating to cities the amount of housing they should build without giving them money to build. He said the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) should incentivize the construction of affordable housing by giving states grants instead of imposing mandates.


The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

For further information, please contact Rose Meily at SILVAR Public Affairs, email , or phone (408) 200-0109.

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