About Us
The Leadership Group’s Government Relations Committee and Team seek to amplify and advance our organization’s public policy positions at the local, state, and federal levels.
By proactively creating opportunities to engage our public-private stakeholders, we build diverse coalitions with a unified message, and achieve meaningful results that directly affect our quality of life.
Our goal is to engage in concerted, strategic advocacy efforts, build relationships, and positively impact public policy decisions that benefit the Silicon Valley Leadership Group’s legislative and regulatory agenda.
David Packard of Hewlett Packard was known to say, “Our job is not to sit on the sidelines and cheer nor jeer, our job is to get into the game and move the ball forward.”
Silicon Valley has long been known for its collaborative, “can-do” civic spirit. This spirit depends on our ability to deliver an effective message and succeed collectively with our community and public leaders in city hall, Sacramento, and Washington, D.C.
Kristen Petersen
Government Relations Senior Associate
[email protected]
408.501.7856
Aakash Vashee
Government Relations Associate
[email protected]
408.501.7880
Government Relations Committee
About
The Government Relations Committee engages Silicon Valley business leaders in a proactive dialogue with local, state, and federal public policy leaders.
Specifically, the Government Relations Committee seeks to:
- Increase Leadership Group member involvement in Sacramento, Washington D.C., and local outreach efforts in coordination with Leadership Group policy committees to deliver policy goals in a unified voice by engaging federal, statewide, and local elected officials, appointed officials and key staff members.
- Educate and build awareness of governance and fiscal reform proposals, voter, policy, advocacy efforts and best practices.
- Improve knowledge of Leadership Group mission, goals, and policy priorities with Sacramento elected and appointed officials, Washington D.C. public officials and Silicon Valley county and city officials
Meetings
Meetings are generally held on the third Tuesday each month from from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
A full agenda packet with location information, previous meeting minutes and policy briefing papers is distributed at least one week in advance.
Co-Chairs
Mike Potter, Senior Manager, State and Local Government Affairs, Cisco
Rahul Chandhok, Vice President of Public Affairs & Strategic Communications, San Francisco 49ers
Participating Member Companies
Cargill Salt
Lawrence Berkeley National Labs
Lawrence Livermore National Labs
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford
Palmer College of Chiropractic
Regional Medical Center of San Jose
San Mateo County Community College District
Silicon Valley Leadership Group
University of California Berkeley
Government Relations Workplan
Annual Federal and State Advocacy Trips
Staff Lead: Kristen Petersen, Senior Associate of Government Relations
Priority: At the Leadership Group we advocate for public policy at the state and federal level that is favorable towards member companies, amplifies their political voice and extends their influence. In addition to reaching a larger sphere of policy influence, these annual trips to Sacramento and Washington D.C. strengthen the Leadership Group’s credibility and network in order to better serve our member companies in a variety of policy fields.
Quantifiable Goals:
- engage at least 45 board members, CEOs and local public officials on each trip for the Washington, D.C. Advocacy Trip and/or the Sacramento Advocacy Trip
- 2019 Washington D.C. and Sacramento Advocacy Trips should recruit 45 participants each compared to 32 in Sacramento 2018 and 45 in Washington, D.C. in 2018
- execute at least one Washington, D.C. Advocacy Trip
- execute at least one Sacramento Advocacy Trip with increased Sacramento engagement throughout the year
Local Government Outreach
Staff Leads: Kristen Petersen, Senior Associate of Government Relations
Priority: At the Leadership Group we strive to connect local government officials to our member companies in seven different localized roundtables producing a worthwhile return on investment for our member companies. By moderating specific roundtable conversations we give a voice to our member companies and lend an ear to the city and county officials who work with us as partners in our mutual goals (i.e. Housing construction, traffic mitigation, facility expansion, autonomous vehicle expansion, etc.)
Quantifiable Goals:
- host at least seven localized roundtables
- engage local government officials from all five respective counties
- produce a quantifiable list of “win-wins” that were mutually agreed upon following roundtable meetings
Silicon Valley Outreach and Engagement
Staff Lead: Kristen Petersen, Senior Associate of Government Relations, Aakash Vashee, Associate of Government Relations
Priority: Through the creation of 60 strategic roundtables, the Leadership Group Government Relations team will connect Silicon Valley executives with stakeholders at the local, state, and federal levels of government. These roundtables provide an opportunity for members to create dialogue, to share ideas, and to build stronger relationships with other member companies and various stakeholders.
Quantifiable Goals:
- organize a total of 50 strategic roundtables between member company CEOs, C-suite officers, top government affairs professionals, women executives, and elected officials
- focus 7 localized roundtables on ten strategic Silicon Valley citiies
- account for each “win-win” policy agenda item in a quantifiable log which can be used to track roundtable progress
State Advocacy: Silicon Valley Caucus
Staff Lead: Kristen Petersen, Senior Associate of Government Relations
Priority: The Leadership Group’s Silicon Valley Caucus meetings represent a meaningful opportunity for our members because we bring together elected officials and member companies within their districts. By bringing together the elected officials representing the greater Silicon Valley region with the member companies within that region, ideas are shared, issues are raised, and a coalition representing Silicon Valley’s interests is solidified.
Quantifiable Goals:
- ensure Silicon Valley Caucus roundtables are executed three times each year
- target goal of 100 executive participants
- target goal of 13 legislators in attendance
Past Wins
Silicon Valley Legislative Caucus
The Silicon Valley Caucus includes 14 legislators: Senators Jim Beall, Anna Caballero, Steve Glazer, Jerry Hill, Bob Wieckowski, and Bill Monning; Assemblymembers Marc Berman, Kansen Chu, Ash Kalra, Evan Low, Kevin Mullin, Bill Quirk, Mark Stone, and Phil Ting. This allows those representing Silicon Valley to know the priority issues impacting quality of life and the cost of doing business in our region and state from a collective perspective.
The successful inaugural session hosted by SunPower CEO Tom Werner in Sacramento featured 12 Silicon Valley legislators and nearly 80 Leadership Group members many of whom were CEOs. The discussion focused on the challenges facing Silicon Valley on a global scale and legislators sharing challenges facing our state. With that foundation, we invested quarterly meetings in discussing specific ways we can work together to ensure our state’s success – through private sector job creation, a great quality of life for our workers, and a competitive business climate to meet the challenges of other states and nations. Subsequent sessions were hosted by Applied Materials Chairman and CEO Mike Splinter, Brocade Communications CEO Mike Klayko, Synopsys Chairman and CEO Aart de Geus, and Centrify CEO Tom Kemp.
Governance & Fiscal Reforms
The Silicon Valley Leadership Group has a long-standing tradition of supporting bi-partisan governance and fiscal reforms for California, which annually rank among the highest state policy priorities for businesses.
The Silicon Valley Leadership Group endorsed Proposition 14 in the “top two open primary” initiative and opposed Proposition 27 to protect the 2008 redistricting reform measure approved by California voters – the Leadership Group was successful in both efforts. In addition, the Leadership Group has strongly supported the Redistricting Reform ballot measure which resulted in redrawing the political boundaries for all congressional, state legislative and other statewide offices. In 2013, the Leadership Group supported the statewide Term Limits ballot initiative to bring more experience and stability to California’s political system. Most recently in 2016, our organization successfully supported Proposition 54, the Public Display of Legislative Bills Prior to Vote initiative, which greatly increased the transparency in our state legislature.
The Leadership Group is also a strong proponent of thoughtful, fiscal reform principles. California’s business climate will benefit from a more disciplined and performance-focused state fiscal system, which should be built on the foundation of accountability and results.
- Budgeting for performance: Require clear goals and measure the performance of every program
- Multi-year budgets: Adopt more flexibility and long-term planning in the state budgeting process, which was enacted into law by Governor Brown in 2011
- Limit one-time revenue use
- Manage volatile revenue spikes and increase reserves through a rainy day fund
- Legislative transparency & oversight: Make all bills available to the public three days before a vote
Candidate Forums
Frequently, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group will interview candidates who are seeking local, state and federal office. While the purpose is not to endorse, the Leadership Group reviews candidates to determine if they are closely aligned with our principles and policy positions.
Most recently in 2018, forums were held in the following districts:
- San Jose City Council District 7
- San Jose City Council District 9
- Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, District 4
Fresh Ideas from Newly Elected Legislators
Staff Lead: Kristen Petersen, Senior Associate of Government Relations
Priority: The Leadership Group’s biannual event, Fresh Ideas From Newly Elected Legislators, is a great orientation for new elected officials to become acquainted with Silicon Valley’s policy priorities. The Leadership Group hosts a series of “get to know you sessions” during a two day trip where member companies better get to know new legislators, and new legislators better get to know one another. Participants have the opportunity to engage with the legislators to discuss solutions to improve California’s business climate and quality of life.
Quantifiable Goals:
- Execute one Fresh Ideas event
- target goal of 35 Member Companies in attendance
- target goal of 11 of 16 newly elected legislators in attendance
Legislative Activity
2019 Legislation
| Category/Title | Summary |
| BART to Silicon Valley Phase II - Increase Federal Infrastructure Package & Expedite Project Delivery | We urge Congress to pass an infrastructure package increasing funding for existing federal programs well above the $305 billion for fiscal years (FY) 2016 through 2020 in the soon to be expired 2015 FAST Act as this funding is critical to the continued support and maintenance of Caltrain in the Bay Area. We encourage the Federal Transit Administration to approve the BART Silicon Valley Phase II Extension Project within the Expedited Project Delivery (EPD) Pilot Program. |
| Cybersecurity & Data Privacy - Create Public Private Partnerships | Enhancing the federal research and development tax credit will produce new innovations that will spark economic growth and produce new American jobs. The Silicon Valley Leadership Group urges Congress to support the following: |
| U.S. Scientific Research Investment - Support Research & Development | We recommend that Congress prioritize increased research funding to ensure U.S. economic and job growth as the government currently provides approximately 60% of research funding thereby supplementing private investments. As global competitors increase their R&D investment, we must increase funding to retain our dominance in medical and scientific innovation. |
| Immigration Reform - Reform DACA & H1B Visas | We continue to prompt desperately needed immigration reform to accelerate U.S. job-growth and allow American companies to fully compete in the international marketplace including the preservation of the DACA program to retain DREAMers who are already part of our schools, communities and economy, and to increase the number of H-1B visas to attract top foreign talent. |
| Health Care - Provide Accessibility & Affordability for All | We are deeply committed to making health care more accessible and affordable to all. Therefore, we urge lawmakers to create, amend, or retain policies that ensure accessible and affordable health care while including businesses, the second largest spenders of health care costs in policy-making discussions. |
| Repeal Amortization of R&D | We urge the repeal of R&D amortization. Beginning in 2022, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 requires that R&D expenses be amortized over five years instead of current law which allows full expensing of R&D. This change would increase the after-tax cost of R&D. |
| Climate Pollution & Innovation - Price & Unleash | We support placing a price on climate change pollution to spur economic growth and the creation of high-paying jobs. We do so out of a firm belief that reducing climate pollution will save millions of lives and usher in an era of clean energy innovation and greater prosperity. |
| 200,000 per-EV Manufacturer Cap for the EV Tax Credit - Lift or eliminate | We strongly recommend Congress to lift or eliminate the 200,000 per-EV manufacturer cap for the EV tax credit in order to improve air quality and make the electric vehicle tax credit work better for consumers. |
| Community Health & Clean Transit Act - Invest in Efficient Transit Fleets | We are in support of an innovative financing tool to offset the upfront capital cost of electric buses, and help communities choose clean and efficient transit fleets as a significant number of transit buses are nearing the end of their useful lives. The Community Health & Clean Transit Act provides zero-interest loans to qualified transit districts for the marginal cost of electric buses and needed charging infrastructure. |
| Federal Framework for Automated Vehicles | Automated vehicles are a critical tool in addressing the urban and freight movement challenges that we will face in the 21st century. It is vital that the United States remain competitive in this space, encouraging the expeditious testing and deployment of this technology through the creation of a federal framework. |
2018 Legislation
| Category/Title | Summary |
| Health Care Law Reform – Accessible and Affordable | Employers, along with the government, are the largest payers of health care costs and are critical stakeholders in negotiating health care reform. We urge lawmakers to create, amend or retain policies that ensure accessible and affordable health care, including repeal of the 40% excise tax on health benefits, Medicaid expansion and sustaining value-based benefit designs that cover preventative services, the 10 Essential Health Benefits and expanded coverage for children up to age 26. |
| Modernize the U.S. Research and Development Tax Credit | Enhancing the federal research and development tax credit will produce new innovations that will spark economic growth and produce new American jobs. The Silicon Valley Leadership Group urges Congress to support the following: |
| Fuel Cell Tax Credit | At the end of 2015, Congress extended the Section 48 Investment Tax Credit (ITC) exclusively for solar technologies. Other advanced energy technologies that have been eligible for the ITC, such as fuel cells, were not included in the extension. Silicon Valley Leadership Group seeks a parallel extension and ramp-down of the ITC for fuel cell technologies, equivalent to the extension of the ITC, through 2021. This would provide parity and certainty for a growing American industry. |
| Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act | The Silicon Valley Leadership Group urges Congress to expand access to higher education, particularly for individuals pursuing careers in public service and STEM, by including financial supports within the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. This should include funding to support graduate research and maintain incentives for students entering public service fields such as teaching. |
| Federal Infrastructure Package & Record of Decision (RoD) from FTA for BART Phase II | The Leadership Group urges Congress to pass an infrastructure funding package that includes robust increases for existing federal programs that build commuter rail and we encourage the FTA approve a favorable Record of Decision for BART to Silicon Valley Phase II. |
| Cybersecurity is a Public Private Partnership | Public-Private Partnerships are needed to secure cyber networks, and promote safe and reliable online commerce in a policy environment that respects data privacy. This may be achieved by: |
| Increase U.S. Scientific Research Investments | Innovation accounts for half of economic growth since WWII. The government provides approximately 60% of research funding that supplements private investments. As global competitors increase their R&D investment, we must raise our funding to retain dominance in medical and scientific innovation. Congress should prioritize increased research funding to ensure U.S. economic and job growth. |
| Immigration Reform – DACA and H1B Visas | Immigration reform is desperately needed to accelerate U.S. job-growth and allow American companies to fully compete in the international marketplace. We urge Congress to preserve the DACA program to retain DREAMers who are already part of our schools, communities and economy, and to increase the number of H-1B visas to attract top foreign talent. |
| Support NAFTA Renegotiation of Canadian de minimis threshold | Canada represents one of the largest foreign markets for American goods and services, accounting for $320 billion of exports in 2016, sustaining the economic growth of domestic companies, and providing American jobs. Canada’s de minimis limit should be increased to the U.S. limit, helping reduce trade barriers and level the field for global commerce. |
Resources
Events
Washington D.C. Advocacy Trip
Each spring and fall, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group travels to Washington, D.C. with a delegation of member executives and public officials to deliver a federal policy agenda, focusing on U.S. jobs and competitiveness. These visits strategically occur with U.S.…