[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 3, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1116]]
 TRIBUTE TO THE SILICON VALLEY LEADERSHIP GROUP ON THE OCCASION OF ITS 
                            30TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 3, 2008

  Ms. ESHOO. Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to celebrate the 30th 
anniversary of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, SVLG, and its 
contributions to Silicon Valley and the State of California with you.
  On July 18, 1977, the exceptional innovator and pioneer, David 
Packard, gathered thirty of his CEO peers with a simple yet provocative 
idea. To build an organization that would create a proactive voice for 
Silicon Valley businesses to ensure the economic health and a high 
quality of life in Silicon Valley. The organization would be an 
advocate for affordable housing, comprehensive regional transportation, 
reliable energy, a quality K-12 and higher education system, a prepared 
workforce, a sustainable environment, and business and tax policies 
that would keep California and Silicon Valley competitive.
  The idea led to the founding of the Silicon Valley Manufacturing 
Group, now know as the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, in 1978 with 33 
founding members. The first Chair of the Board was Bob Wilson of 
Memorex and the first Working Chair was Bob Kirkwood of Hewlett 
Packard. David Packard accepted a seat on the Board and the position of 
Board Vice Chair. The first president was Bill June and Peter Giles was 
then hired as CEO. Over the course of the last thirty year's David 
Packard's vision became a reality and there are many examples of 
success to highlight, including but not limited to the following:
  In 1981, SVLG published its first housing study, emphasizing the need 
for a jobs-housing balance, and urges public officials to rezone land 
from industrial and commercial to residential. The report also called 
for more compact development to help lower housing costs and make 
better use of the Valley's limited land resources, and to place housing 
more closely to jobs. Several cities agreed, and thousands of acres are 
re-zoned for residential development.
  In 1982, the Board of Directors helped lead the effort to establish 
Santa Clara County's first carpool, or ``high occupancy vehicle'' lane 
on the San Tomas Expressway. Measure A becomes a statewide model of 
efficiency, with all three projects completed on time and on budget 
during the measure's 10-year life. Following the lead of Santa Clara 
County, 19 counties representing nearly 85 percent of all Californians 
have since passed similar measures. These measures now fund $1 of every 
$2 invested in the state's transportation system.
  1988--Model Toxic Gas Ordinance--The ordinance was aimed at any gas 
user, private and public sector, to respond to increased concern about 
the potential release of toxic gases.
  1989--Board Endorses Gas Tax Increase--The Board of Directors voted 
to support Proposition 111--a nine-cent increase in the state gas tax 
to fund transportation improvements.
  1990--Chlorofluorocarbon Reduction--The Board of Directors voted to 
play a leadership role in reducing CFC's. Silicon Valley high-tech 
firms became the national leaders in reducing this form of pollution.
  1990--Open Space Initiative--Founder David Packard agrees to serve as 
Honorary Chair of the county's first Open Space Initiative. The measure 
receives a strong 64 percent support at the polls, but fails under the 
two-thirds vote requirement. However, it set the stage for the 
successful measure 4 years later.
  1993--Housing Action Coalition Formed--The purpose of the coalition 
was to advocate for homes that are ``well built, relatively affordable, 
and appropriately located'' so that Valley cities could service them. 
With a mission to ``advocate, educate, and legislate,'' the coalition 
has had a tremendous impact. Today, the coalition consists of more than 
200 organizations and individuals.
  1993--Board Endorses County's ``Technology Bond'' Proposal--In 
partnership with the county member companies purchased approximately 
$12 million in ``technology bonds'' to help the county improve and 
install technology systems throughout its departments.

  1995--Vehicle Buy-Back Coalition Scraps Old Polluting Cars--This 
innovative demonstration project raises nearly half a million dollars 
to purchase and permanently retire more than 400 ``gross polluters,'' 
with a reduction in pollution of more than 400 tons. The demonstration 
project was so successful that it becomes a model for the Air 
District's own Buy-Back program.
  1997--Eco Pass Partnership Initiated--SVLG is principal business 
voice in encouraging employers to consider the ``Eco Pass'' Program. 
The Eco Pass is a transit pass that employers can purchase for their 
Silicon Valley employees, allowing them the use of buses, express 
buses, and light rail for the entire year. The first year demonstration 
program produced a doubling of transit use by employees at 
participating companies. SVLG also launched the Bay Area Clean Air 
Partnership--Partnership to engage employers and employees in voluntary 
programs to reduce pollution on hot, smoggy ``Spare the Air'' days. In 
its first year of operation, thousands of vehicle trips were avoided 
and the region did not violate a single day of the federal Clean Air 
Standards.
  1998--Housing Trust Fund Business Plan Approved--The Board endorses 
the business plan officially launching the County's first Housing Trust 
Fund. With a goal of raising up to $20 million over the next 24 months, 
the funds will leverage approximately $200 million worth of housing, 
with funds equally divided into three categories. They include first-
time homebuyers assistance, affordable rental housing, and homeless 
shelter and assistance. These funds will assist nearly 5,000 Silicon 
Valley families.
  1999--San Jose Teacher Housing Initiative--SVMG partnered with San 
Jose to launch San Jose's Teacher Housing Initiative, a proposal to 
assist San Jose teachers to become homebuyers, as well as enhancing 
recruitment and retention of educators in the community. SVLG also 
began the Summer Fellowships for Teachers--SVMG partnered with the 
Industry Institute for Science and Math Education (IISME) on a Summer 
Fellowship for Teachers program. By partnering with SVMG, the number of 
teacher fellowships was increased 40 percent from the highest numbers 
achieved in IISME's 17-year history.
  1999--Creating Quality Neighborhoods--SVMG completed a 21-month study 
to identify every vacant (and underutilized) parcel of land that is 
zoned commercial, industrial, or residential. The effort will now shift 
to working with cities to consider the report's findings to ensure 
there are enough homes for Silicon Valley workers. By following the 
report's recommendations, the Valley could meet 99 percent of home 
demand during the next 10 years, rather than the current 50 percent 
projected if current land use patterns are followed.
  2000--Statewide Transportation Plan--More than $1 billion is directed 
to improvements that benefit the Valley, even though Santa Clara County 
accounts for only 5 percent of the state population.
  2002--Hetch Hetchy Legislation Passes--SVMG, in coordination with 
BAWUA, successfully advocated for three critical pieces of state 
legislation to ensure the Hetch Hetchy water system would be updated to 
withstand earthquakes. This vital system serves the water needs of 2.4 
million Bay Area residents and employers.
  2005--The Leadership Group's first Annual CEO Washington, D.C. 
Advocacy Trip, led by Solectron CEO Mike Cannon with 25 executive 
colleagues, met with 70 key members of Congress in the nation's 
Capitol. A new ``Middle School Math Initiative'' was reviewed by the 
Working Council with strong recommendation of the Education Committee. 
Also, the Leadership Group organized the first ``Applied Materials 
Silicon Valley Turkey Trot,'' with 1,900 participants; 240 volunteers 
and more than $132,000 raised for three local non-profits.
  2006--The Board approved a 12-point ``Clean and Green'' Alternative 
Energy Action Plan to curb greenhouse gas emissions and impact climate 
change in the region.
  2007--SolarTech Begins--Recognizing the growing importance of 
alternative energy the Leadership Group developed SolarTech. The 
purpose is to identify, prioritize, and resolve the technical and 
adoption barriers to solar technology by addressing issues of 
performance, standards, and workforce readiness.
  Today, under the exceptional leadership of Carl Guardino, SVLG has 
more than 200 member companies and its members contribute more than $1 
trillion to the global economy, an amount equal to the gross national 
product of Italy. Members of the SVLG employ more than 250,000 people 
in the Valley who constitute one-fourth of the entire private sector 
workforce in the region. They generate more than $1 trillion worth of 
business which is approximately eight times as large as California's 
entire state budget, and represents a significant contribution to the 
state and the national government treasuries, along with hefty property 
taxes for local governments.
  Madam Speaker, I ask our colleagues to join us in honoring the 
Silicon Valley Leadership Group as it celebrates its 30 year 
anniversary marking its extraordinary contributions to the economic 
health and quality of life to the residents and businesses of Silicon 
Valley. We salute Carl Guardino, President and CEO, his staff and every 
member of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.




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