Congressional Hearings/Resolutions

Expressing Support of Congress for
recent elections in Republic of India

Text of H. Con. Res. 211

November 16, 1999

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 211) expressing the strong support of the Congress for the recently concluded elections in the Republic of India and urging the President to travel to India.

The Clerk read as follows:

Whereas the Republic of India is a long-standing parliamentary democracy where citizens may freely change their government;

Whereas India has a thriving multiparty system where a broad spectrum of political views are represented;

Whereas India recently conducted a successful round of elections, involving over 650,000,000 registered voters and resulting in a 60 percent voter turnout and reelection of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee;

Whereas India and the United States share a special relationship as the world's most populous democracy and the world's oldest democracy, respectively, and have a shared commitment to upholding the will of the people and the rule of law;

Whereas the President has expressed his continued desire to travel to South Asia; and

Whereas India continues to be a shining example of democracy for all of Asia to follow:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress-

congratulates the people of the Republic of India on the successful conclusion of their recent national elections;

congratulates Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his reelection;

calls on the President to travel to India as part of any trip to South Asia; and

urges the President to broaden our special relationship with India into a strategic partnership.

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ballenger). Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from California (Mr. Campbell) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each will control 20 minutes.

The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Campbell).

GENERAL LEAVE

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 211.

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ballenger). Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from California?

There was no objection.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for just a brief comment on the importance of this resolution to recognize the remarkable achievements of the largest democracy in the world, to recognize the recent election in India and the importance of ending the remaining sanctions of an economic nature that were imposed so that relations with India can continue to improve for the benefit of our country.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), the subcommittee chairman.

(Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 211 was considered by the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific on October 27 and was unanimously approved. It is introduced by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ackerman), the gentleman from New York (Chairman Gilman), and others.

The resolution rightly congratulates the people of India on a successful election where over 350 million voters cast their ballots.

The reelection of Prime Minister Vajpayee reflects a vibrant multiparty system where parties with strongly differing views can compete in a way that is uniquely Indian. We certainly wish the BJP party and its ruling coalition well as it prepares to continue to lead the country.

The resolution rightly alludes to the strategic relationship between the United States of America and India. We certainly have such a strategic relationship with India, just as we have a strategic relationship with many other countries in the region.

I urge adoption of the resolution.

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, first I want to commend my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ackerman), for introducing this resolution, as well as my colleagues on the other side, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), the chairman of the committee; the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), the chairman of the subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific; and my good friend, the gentleman from California (Mr. Campbell).

I also want to commend the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson), the ranking Democrat on the committee, for his efforts in bringing this legislation before the body.

Our resolution, Mr. Speaker, expresses our strong support and admiration for the recently concluded elections in India. It is not easy to have a society with over 650 million registered voters, many of them living in conditions of dire poverty, to undertake this monumental democratic effort. But the Indian government got the job done by stretching the elections out over a period of a month, by mobilizing civil servants, students, and other volunteers to ensure that the elections are fair, professional, and accurate.

Often, Mr. Speaker, when we talk about the Subcontinent, we immediately focus on the relationship between India and Pakistan; and this is not an inappropriate moment to focus on that relationship.

While India undertook this monumental free and democratic election, there was a military coup in Pakistan where the democratically elected government was thrown out of office and its leaders imprisoned.

I think it is important for all of us, Members of Congress and presidential candidates, to understand that a military coup is not something that should be applauded by the American people or Members of our Congress or any political figure.

One of the most important relationships we have is the relationship with the world's largest political democracy, India.

For a long time, Mr. Speaker, people were making comparisons between China and India, pointing out how effective China's leadership has been in bringing economic progress, even though they maintain their police state and their dictatorship.

In recent years, we have come to see with great pleasure that India was not only able to maintain its political democracy but was able to make tremendous strides in the economic field.

The resolution before us today commends the Indians on their recent elections, congratulates Prime Minister Vajpayee on his reelection, and calls on our President to visit India as part of his scheduled South Asia trip and urges the President to further broaden and strengthen our relations with our fellow democracy, India.

I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 211.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson), the distinguished ranking member of the Committee on International Relations.

Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I want to join my colleagues, particularly the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), in his articulate support for the resolution commending India on its election.

India stands in stark contrast to almost all of its neighbors from Burma and over to China, obviously, and the very sad situation recently with the coup in Pakistan.

What we see is India, which is among the poorer countries in the world, having an incredibly vibrant democracy. Oftentimes we think there is a certain fundamental level of economic strength before countries can have democratic institutions. India continues to build its democratic institutions, its economic reform package will help, but it has sustained a democratic government for over 50 years and does stand in stark contrast to many of the countries in its regions.

I am frustrated that we are not going to be apparently able to bring forward the resolution on Pakistan because I think it is important for this Congress to speak clearly about the importance of democratic institutions. India and the United States have a strong relationship that is going to continue to grow.

As the gentleman from California pointed out, some people in obviously a misguided assessment have felt that somehow a coup in Pakistan would bring stability. Pakistan has already had its coups and more than its share of coups, and one lasted almost a dozen years. It did not lead to an improved and perfect democracy.

The only way to improve democracy and perfect it is the same way we do it here in the United States, the same way that India does it, to improve its institutions, its court systems, to make the government process more transparent, and to build confidence in its citizenry.

So I am thrilled to be here with my colleagues today recognizing India's achievement in an area of the world where very few others have had democratic institutions, but also to note my objection to the fact that this House is apparently thwarting the will of the Members of the Committee on International Relations in the failure to bring forward the resolution recognizing the damage that the coup in Pakistan will do to democratic institutions in Pakistan.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) will control the time for the majority.

There was no objection.

Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), the distinguished chairman of our subcommittee.

Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, let me just say that this resolution brings a very needed focus on what should be one of our most important bilateral relations, and that is our relationship with the Republic of India.

For many years during the Cold War, relations between India and the United States were cool, at best. We had tensions. We had political and economic and security tensions at the time.

Thankfully, those relations have changed. They have changed because, in part, India has changed. Economic reform has allowed the Indian people to begin to realize their very considerable economic potential. And India's foreign policy is now free of Cold War shackles.

As a matter of fact, on the economic front, Prime Minister Vajpayee has called for considerable economic reforms this week, and we look forward to working with India. Many of us in Congress have been working to see that U.S. policy changes to deal with this new India.

As this resolution states, the President should travel to India. This trip would be most welcomed and would go a long way towards ringing in a new era of U.S.-India relations.

One thing that has not changed is India's commitment to democracy. This resolution congratulates the people of India on a successful conclusion of their recent national elections. These were elections, as we have heard, that involved 650 million people. Indians are proud, and rightfully so, that theirs is the world's largest democracy.

India, of course, faces many challenges ahead. Poverty and pockets of religious extremism exist. Economic reform must be accelerated, and India confronts grave security threats.

The United States needs to be part of the solution of these challenges. India is too important a country for the United States to ignore. We have a direct stake in India's security and in its prosperity, and this resolution is a way of bringing attention to the many interests the United States shares with India. I urge all of my colleagues to support it.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), the chairman of the subcommittee, for bringing this forward.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), who has been one of the most effective members of the Committee on International Relations.

Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me the time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution because it does exactly what we should be doing here in Congress. We should be encouraging and supporting nations that have made the choice to become democracies.

That is something we do not do enough here in Washington. I think we need to start rewarding countries like India and Taiwan that give their people the right to live under the rule of law.

Last month, India had an election that saw over 350 million people choose to show up at the polls to select a new government, easily the largest election in world history.

Think about that. A country of nearly 1 billion people with a middle class of 300 million, with more Muslims than any other country in the world except for Indonesia. A country that just 50 years ago was still a colony of England and before that had been ruled by the same feudal system for thousands of years. It is pretty clear that if this country of one billion people can overcome its problems and elect a government that serves the people's needs, then our State Department, our U.S. Trade Representative's Office and the Republicans in this Congress should quit lavishing all their attention on the People's Republic of China and start working with our sister democracy in India to bring stability to South and to East Asia.

Before closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to note last week when the Committee on International Relations unanimously approved this resolution, we also overwhelmingly approved a resolution condemning the military coup in Pakistan and calling for the immediate restoration of democratic rule in that country. The Republican leadership deliberately prevented this resolution from coming to the floor which sends the wrong message to would-be dictators around the world, whether they are in Nigeria or Pakistan or North Korea. Instead, we need to support and encourage the development of democratic institutions. While I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, I hope the Republican leadership will condemn the ouster of Pakistan's elected government by yet another military dictatorship.

Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), a member of the Committee on International Relations.

Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution commending India for having yet another free election which again underscores India's commitment to democracy. Over the last four decades, however, let us recognize that India has not, and I repeat, not been a friend of the United States. During the Cold War, India consistently voted against the United States, consistently condemned everything that they could about the things we were doing while overlooking misdeeds of the Soviet Union.

They were, in fact, a friend of Russia and the Soviet Union and not a friend of the United States. However, with that said, the Cold War is over and India's commitment to democracy, as demonstrated by this free election, I think should bring the United States and India closer together in the future. Yes, we should forget any disagreements we had in the past and work on those things that bind us together with this great, huge democracy. I agree with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown). Our businessmen and people of the United States should look to India, this democracy, in terms of investment and in terms of trying to work together economically and politically rather than with the world's worst human rights abuser in China.

And so I rise in support of this resolution and hope it draws attention of the American people to the great opportunities that India has to offer now. Let me just say that with the Cold War being over and with us dealing now with a democracy that has reached its hand out as we are trying to reach our hand out in friendship to India, let us also recognize that we share a common threat and it is a threat to world peace as well.

The aggressiveness of Communist China is nowhere more felt than in the subcontinent in India. If we are to preserve the peace in the world, let us recognize that while India is moving forward with democracy, Communist China is not, and the expansion of Communist China's military power is a threat to both India and the United States and all free people. Let us recognize democracy counts and applaud India for the election that it just had.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) who is using this opportunity of expressing himself probably more frequently and more eloquently than any of us in this whole body.

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ackerman). I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for those kind remarks and for yielding me the time.

I want to say, Mr. Speaker, I think as representatives in what is often referred to as the People's House here in the United States it is most appropriate that we should pay tribute to the successful elections in India and to their democracy and to offer our best wishes to those who were elected and reelected, who are our counterparts.

I want to say, though, it is disturbing to me as has been mentioned by some of my colleagues already that the resolution with regard to Pakistan is not coming up at this time. I am not sure I understand the reason, but I think that it is unfortunate because I think it is very appropriate at this time for us to basically call attention to the fact that we as a Congress and as a House of Representatives are not happy with the military coup d'etat in Pakistan and at the developments that have taken place there which are in sharp contrast to the democracy and the election that took place in India.

In fact, in the past few weeks, the headlines from South Asia have been dominated by the news from Pakistan where the coup took place. It was a very disturbing development which has been condemned by me and many of my colleagues here in Congress. Unfortunately, there is often a tendency to lump India and Pakistan together, to see all developments in South Asia as a function of the conflicts between India and Pakistan.

In fact, Mr. Speaker, what we now see in South Asia are two great nations moving in completely different directions. While Pakistan is mired in military coups and economic collapse, India sticks to its path of democracy and economic reform. We are seeing some indications that U.S. Policy is beginning to accommodate some of the important distinctions between these two countries.

Last year after India and Pakistan conducted nuclear tests, a wide range of economic sanctions were imposed on both countries. About a year ago, Congress and the President acted to waive these sanctions for 1 year. Last month, under the renewed waiver authority, President Clinton waived the economic sanctions on India but kept most of the sanctions against Pakistan in response to the coup. The White House National Security Council noted this difference between the two. So while I am here today and I am very happy about this resolution, I do want to point out that we should have had the other resolution on the floor; and I hope that it will be brought to the floor soon.

Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

(Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the chairman and the ranking minority member of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific for crafting this resolution. I commend the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) for his continuing leadership and expertise in crafting appropriate legislation regarding the Asia and Pacific region. I also want to commend our distinguished cochairman of the India caucus, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Ackerman), for his efforts to ensure that Indian Americans have a voice on Capitol Hill. It is well known and appreciated that he does that continually.

The President recently waived some of the economic sanctions against India. Two weeks ago, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson) and I sent a letter to the President urging that he waive the last remaining economic sanction against India. That sanction requires that the United States oppose international financial institution loans to India. These loans are critically needed for infrastructure projects in the poorest areas of India.

Moreover, a waiver of these loans will benefit U.S. companies that want to work on those projects. India recently went through its third general election in 3 years. That election started on September 5 and it ended October 4. The process took about a month because there were some 600 million voters and thousands of polling stations spread throughout that large nation. It was an orderly process even though it was such a mammoth undertaking.

Our mutual faith in the rule of law, the process of democracy, and the deep respect for the world's different religious traditions are what tie our two peoples so closely together. It is due to these similar core values that India and the United States see eye to eye on so many regional concerns. China's hegemony; the spread of Islamic terrorism spilling out of Afghanistan and Pakistan; the narco-dictatorship in Burma; and the occupation of Tibet. These are all serious matters that will only be resolved by a teamwork of leaders of our two nations working closely together. A closer relationship with India is long overdue. I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 211.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Minge).

Mr. MINGE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for yielding me this time. For many of us, we came of age at a time when India was providing a very independent voice in world councils. For many of us, we grew up reading about Mahatma Gandhi and his contribution to nonviolent resistance and the struggle that he led for independence of the Indian subcontinent. We recognized that India, although a very complex place, was playing a crucial role in the emerging world and respected that role.

I think that it is important for our country to recognize that as the world's largest democracy, representative democracy, that we have a special relationship with India where we may be the longest standing constitutional democracy but India is the largest. And to nurture this relationship, to have our President visit India in his forthcoming travels, is important for the American presence in world affairs. So I would like to join with my colleagues in complimenting India for what it has accomplished, urging it to continue to stay the course, and affirming the friendship and support of this institution for our friends in the Indian subcontinent.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. In concluding the discussion on our side, I again would like to urge my colleagues to support this resolution. There is such a sharp contrast between the Communist authorities in China cracking down on a spiritual movement which by nonviolent means expresses the desire for brotherhood among all peoples, the Falun Gong, which has been persecuted, its members imprisoned and beaten, in some cases killed, and the democratic developments in India.

We are indeed fortunate that this large and great country of one billion people has steadfastly adhered to democratic principles ever since its establishment as an independent country. I think we are extremely pleased in this body to be able to pass this resolution, to pay tribute to a fellow democracy, to pay tribute to the Indian people who have recognized the enormous importance of preserving free elections, parliamentary procedures and open society. I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 211. I would like to congratulate Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his reelection. More importantly, I wish to salute the citizens of the Republic of India. With a 60 percent voter turnout, the people of the Republic of India have once again stabilized the largest democracy in the world. In relative political turmoil in the region over the past six months, India has successfully completed a round of national elections. I am continually impressed at the level of political activity and involvement of the Indian people. Particularly inspiring is the fact that this involvement spans social and economic classes. While election violence in India has been an issue, the election in October was one of the most peaceful in recent history. The determination of the Indian citizens to be part of the political process and to preserve their parliamentary democracy should serve as an example to democracies around the globe, including the United States. The people of the Republic of India deserve our support and congratulations. Often it seems that our government is more anxious to develop relationships with and provide aid to governments that are not democratic. Sometimes dealing with democracies is more difficult, more complicated. But why wouldn't this be a priority condition to be a valued American friend. I urge members to join me in supporting this resolution.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ballenger). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Campbell) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 211.

The question was taken.

Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.