Middleboro Review 2: What you need to know about me

Sunday, February 20, 2022

What you need to know about me

Hi, thank you for joining our campaign.

Whether you have been a supporter of this campaign for years, or you just made your first donation today, I want to make sure you know who I am and what I stand for. If you’re short on time, will you consider pitching in $3 to keep up our campaign’s momentum?

Let me start by introducing myself:

I’m Ro Khanna, the Representative for California’s 17th District in the 117th Congress. I am running for re-election to continue serving Silicon Valley — and your support means the world to me.

I was first elected to Congress in 2016, where I co-founded the NO PAC Caucus. Back in 2017, there were only three members of that caucus. It’s been five years and I am still one of only six members of Congress who does not accept PAC contributions. And I promise you I will never accept PAC money, continuing my efforts to keep politics and special interest money separate.

But my story begins much earlier.

My commitment to public service was inspired early on by my grandfather. When I was young he would tell me stories about participating in Gandhi’s independence movement in India and how he spent several years in jail for promoting human rights. My grandfather’s vision for human dignity and justice lives on in my belief that the American Dream should be attainable to all and should continue to inspire future generations.

Following that same dream, my parents immigrated to the United States — coming from India to seek opportunity and a better life for their children. I was born soon after they immigrated.

I learned the value of education and hard work from my parents and benefited from a quality public school education. My experiences as a student and as the son of a teacher are why I advocate for universal public education and the cancellation of student loan debt for working families.

I graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in economics from the University of Chicago, and received a law degree from Yale University. After law school, I followed my mother’s example and became a lecturer in the Department of Economics at Stanford University and an Adjunct Professor at Santa Clara Law School.

In 2009, President Obama appointed me to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce. I broke new ground when I organized clean technology trade missions and expanded the Green Embassy program, which allows American clean technology firms to showcase their products in our embassies overseas. I also served on the White House Business Council, working with both business and labor for policies that promote bringing back American manufacturing jobs. Under my leadership, American exports grew dramatically.

Now, in Congress, I serve as Chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee on the Environment, a member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, the Committee on Agriculture, and the Committee on Armed Services. In and out of Congress, I use my voice to share a progressive vision that promotes good jobs and wages for the 17th district and the United States of America.

I am proud of my history of championing progressive values, advocating for workers and small businesses, and continuing to push for the policies that Americans deserve. I know we can win on key priorities like a Green New Deal, Medicare for All, and an Internet Bill of Rights, but we can’t do it without the support of people like you, Frank.

If you’re with me, and ready to further your support of my re-election campaign, please consider making your next donation today. Every dollar helps our campaign share our progressive vision with every voter in our district.

Thank you for putting your faith in me and the American Dream we all strive for. It’s an honor to serve the American people.

Together,

Ro Khanna