• Development Review and Infrastructure Committee
• Education Committee
• Health Care Committee
• Taxation, Budgetary and Regulatory Committee

DEVELOPMENT REVIEW & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE
Chair: Gerry De Young, Chamber Board
Co-Chair: Tony Mirenda, President, TBI Const & Const Mgmt, Inc.
Staff: Pat Sausedo, SJSV Chamber Vice President Public Policy

Charged with making policy recommendations to the chamber’s Board of Directors on:

• Regional municipal infrastructure programs including but not limited to transportation, public and private utilities, community-wide technology systems and other public-serving infrastructures necessary for successful business operation at the local, regional, state and national levels of government;
• Land use entitlement policy;
• Local and regional development proposals that facilitate local and/or regional economic development opportunity.

Coordination of positions and recommendations will include working with responsible government agency staff for data gathering, research and business community and government agency communications.


Meeting Times: 3:-30-5 p.m., on the fourth Thursday of every other month at the SJSV Chamber office.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE
Chair: Steve Beitler, Agilent Technologies; chamber board member
Co-Chair: Lisa Gonzales, ACSA VP Membership, Region 8, Santa Clara County Office of Education
Staff: Pat Sausedo, SJSV Chamber Vice President Public Policy

Charged with making policy recommendations to the chamber’s Board of Directors on pre-school to grade 16 educational policy and programs to facilitate an educated workforce for all industry sectors throughout the Silicon Valley region.

We believe...

• Those who work in the valley and consider relocating here for work deserve the basic “quality of life” and a high quality education for their children. Good schools correlate for a growing economy, educated workforce to higher property values and quality of life for the community.
• 21st century skills are needed throughout K-12 education with a specific focus on creativity and innovation, critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, technology skills, and life/career skills.
• To support education also means to honor and recognize teachers and administrators for the work they do.

Policy

• Education at all levels (pre-school to 16) needs a consistent, predictable and adequate source of funding that provides the resources necessary to create a well-educated workforce.
• Nothing is more critical to long-term, sustained economic growth than a local, well-educated workforce.

Partnerships

• Private/public partnerships are effective and essential in improving student performances, effecting educational change, and exposing students to a range of post-secondary options.

Programs

• Quality preschool is needed for those children most in need, i.e. underrepresented minority groups.
• Employment in the Silicon Valley depends on strong foundational skills in the areas of STEM: science, technology, engineering and math.
• Balanced educational programs benefit all students, and include programs such as science, social studies, physical education/athletics, health and electives.
• The arts are an integral part of the education of all students and play a major role in the community's economic, social, and cultural health.
• Career tech programs provide rapid response to regional workforce and industry needs, which will be critical with emerging technologies in the Silicon Valley, such as “green growth.” Career tech also provides equitable access for employment to all students, improves graduation and attendance rates, reduces the dropout rate, and helps close the “achievement gap” for all students.

Meeting Times: 8-9:30 a.m. on the first Tuesday of every other month at the SJSV Chamber.

HEALTH CARE COMMITTEE
Chair: TBA
Co-Chair: TBA
Staff: Pat Sausedo, SJSV Chamber Vice President Public Policy

Charged with making policy recommendations to the chamber’s Board of Directors on health care legislation that will foster responsible, cost-effective health care policy for businesses, employees and the health care industry.

Meeting Times: 8-9:30 a.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every other month at the SJSV Chamber.

TAXATION, BUDGETARY AND REGULATORY COMMITTEE
Chair: TBA
Co- Chair: George Famalett, PWC
Staff: Pat Sausedo, SJSV /Chamber Vice President Public Policy

Charged with making policy recommendations to the chamber’s Board of Directors on taxation, budgetary and regulatory legislation at the local, state and federal levels of government that will foster responsible, pro-economic development legislation and policy. The committee also serves as a clearinghouse to ascertain the economic impact for business of positions brought forward from other public policy committees.

Principals that guide the Taxation, Budgetary and Regulatory Committee include:

• Increases in taxes and fees on business generally hurt business expansion and often inhibit employers from creating more jobs.
• Economic development is a legitimate, and needed, component of state and local tax policy.
• Equity and fairness are essential characteristics of good tax policy.
• During economic downturns, tax increases are “anti-stimulus” in nature, and will delay and impede economic recovery.
• Industry-specific taxes, like those often discussed on alcoholic beverages, are largely inequitable.
• Oversight of government expenditures should occur in order to assure that such spending is efficient, effective, and produces a good return on the investment of such resources.

Meeting Times: 11:30-1 p.m. on the first Thursday of every month at the SJSV Chamber.

Committee meetings are open to SJSV Chamber members. Check with the chamber to confirm meeting times. Contact Pat Sausedo at 408-291-5262 or pats@sjchamber.com.