Council Board Hears from Reps. Fong and Liccardo, Discusses Business Climate Challenges 

The Bay Area Council Board of Directors welcomed Congressman Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield) and Congressman Sam Liccardo (D-Silicon Valley) yesterday (Aug. 19) to hear their insights into the current political landscape, the big policy changes coming out of D.C. and how we can engage with Congress and the White House on issues of mutual interest.

Rep. Fong spoke about the unique needs of California’s Central Valley and how they connect to the Bay Area’s economic future. A Bakersfield native and former state legislator, Fong now serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. He emphasized the importance of federal investment in modernizing supply chains, strengthening national defense, and advancing aerospace and innovation—areas he said must be aligned with California’s long-term prosperity. And he highlighted the importance of public private partnerships.

Rep. Liccardo shared lessons from his tenure as mayor of San José, where he championed bold housing initiatives and steered major economic growth. In Congress, Liccardo serves on the House Financial Services Committee and chairs the New Democrat Coalition’s Innovation & Technology Working Group, where he is helping lead the coalition’s first Innovation Agenda. He underscored the urgency of expanding affordable housing, maintaining America’s global technology edge, and keeping the Bay Area an attractive place to live and work.

The Council extends its deepest thanks to Reps. Fong and Liccardo for engaging with us and we look forward to working with them to advance California’s economic competitiveness.

With the Council focused heavily on addressing business climate issues, the Board engaged in detailed small group discussions on the issues affecting them and their business most and what strategies we can pursue to make California and the Bay Area more friendly to the companies that are investing and creating jobs here. Board members pointed to the region’s high cost of living as a critical barrier to attracting and retaining talent, and said excessive and onerous regulations and red tape often discourage them from investing here. Several directors noted that companies are struggling to hire because workers cannot afford to live in the region. The insights will help guide the Council’s continuing work to make the Bay Area a more inviting place to invest, grow and create jobs.