Episode 184: We Need Dignity In This Digital Age
We are living in a digital explosion. Opportunities are seemingly everywhere but out of reach for too many Americans, especially those already marginalized. The pandemic has heightened the need to close the digital divide, expand education access to credentialed courses in the field, and an immediate call for a digital Bill of Rights. To have the conversation on how we bring dignity to this digital age, L. Joy brings self proclaimed Progressive Capitalist Congressman Ro Khanna to the front of the class.
Homework:
Read: Ro Khanna’s Op-Ed for the New York Times: Introducing the Internet Bill of Rights https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/04/opinion/ro-khanna-internet-bill-of-rights.html
Read: The Intertwined Freedom Movements Of GandhiI And Martin Luther King Jr. x John Lewis & Ro Khanna https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2018/04/05/the-intertwined-freedom-movements-gandhi-and-martin-luther-king/BmVLzhgwgJZE1Oz4CWiF4M/story.html
Our Guest:
Congressman Ro Khanna is proud to serve as the Representative for California’s 17th District, the heart of Silicon Valley. Ro was elected to his first term in Congress in 2016.
As Silicon Valley’s representative in Congress, Ro is a Progressive Capitalist who has led the way on tech policy and job creation, working across the aisle to pass multiple bills into law. His new book, Dignity in a Digital Age, is a roadmap to bridging the digital divide and rebuilding the middle class while providing dignity to every individual in a digital age.
Ro was named as the Democrat most likely to get work done during the Trump Administration, passing five bills into law during the Trump administration
As Deputy Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Ro worked directly with the Biden Administration to encourage progressive members to pass the infrastructure bill. He was instrumental in negotiations between the moderate and progressive wings of the Democratic party, and appeared on Face the Nation at the request of the White House to secure the votes to pass the historic infrastructure bill.
Always focused on job creation, in 2021 Ro worked with Leader Schumer to lead the way on the largest government investment in science and technology since the Space Race. Ro's Endless Frontiers Act creates accessible, good, and high-paying jobs and invests $250 billion in science and technology hubs across the country. Ro also led the way on crafting an Essential Workers Bill of Rights to provide protections to essential frontline workers. Ro passed the VALOR Act, increasing job training and availability for veterans after completion of their service, and is a leading voice for veterans on the Armed Services Committee, where he initiated a Pentagon audit that revealed price gouging by a private contractor, leading to a $16.1 million refund to the government.
In line with Ro's commitment to end unauthorized wars, Ro successfully passed the first War Powers Act in Congressional history. He successfully pressured the Trump Administration end of the United State's practice of refueling Saudi war planes bombing innocent civilians in Yemen.
Ro has been a leading voice on tech issues and policy. In the aftermath of massive data leaks, he was tasked by Speaker Pelosi with crafting a comprehensive Internet Bill of Rights giving individuals greater control over their personal data, and has been a pragmatic voice on holding tech companies accountable.
As Chairman of the House Oversight Subcommittee on the Environment, Ro has held public utilities and polluters accountable for their actions, holding hearings and calling for accountability in the aftermath of the PG&E-caused wildfires in California and the Texas energy disasters and the very first Congressional hearing with the leaders of Big Oil under sworn testimony to put a stop to climate disinformation, and influencing America's elected representatives.
As a member of the Agriculture committee, Ro has worked to ensure that large agriculture corporations are held accountable and play by the same rules as everyone else. Ro has worked on ensuring farmers have the ability to protect and maintain their family farms, have the right to repair, and can pursue the same American dream the generations before them did.
Ro has worked across the aisle while remaining committed to progressive principles and policies that will ensure a more competitive, prosperous economy for all.
