Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans

India Caucus: Goals for Next Two Years

by Neil Parekh
News India-Times
December 15, 2000

Introduction by Ram Narayanan

This report in News India-Times of December 15, 2000 talks about the action plans of the two Cochairmen of the India Caucus, Rep Jim Mc Dermott and Rep Ed Royce to give further impetus to the activities of the Caucus. Major points:

1. Royce is expected to take a more public and active role in the caucus than the two previous Republican co-chairs.
2. Royce is actively recruiting Republican members for the Caucus and for an upcoming trip to India. When asked to name Republican members he is hoping will take a larger role in the Caucus next year, he identified Jim Greenwood (Penn.), Steve Horn (Calif.) Steve Chabot (Ohio), Greg Walden (Ore.), Phil English (Penn.), Kevin Brady (Tex.), and Pat Toomey (Penn.). McDermott mentioned Mark Foley (Fla.) as another Republican lawmaker who might play a larger role next year.
3. One of the first issues the pair will work on is building support for a Free Trade Agreement between the United States and India -- Royce's number one priority. Royce is particularly concerned that American CEOs continue to look to China for investment opportunities, instead of toward India. He even cited a recent poll, which found that only 14% of American CEO's would invest in India before China while 56% would invest in China first. Royce believes a Bush administration would support a Free Trade Agreement with India.
4. McDermott expects to continue working on the situation in Kashmir, AIDS, and "a variety of things people should know about [India]." Primarily, he sees the Caucus as educating members of Congress. "I start with the theory that people are ignorant about India, not against it," he said.
5. In addition to working toward lifting sanctions (as a precursor to a Free Trade Agreement), Royce wants to make US-India relations more comprehensive. "Our engagement with India should be a mature relationship," the California lawmaker said. "[It should] include security issues, joint military exercises...and cooperation on combating terrorism."
6. Royce said, "I think the community is vital to the success of the caucus. Input from members on an ongoing basis is necessary - from trade and investment to local community issues."
7. Royce hopes that community members will have the opportunity to testify before the International Relations Committee and will participate in Caucus briefings, "where we invite members of the community to attend and speak and share ideas with members of Congress."
8. Royce also expects Caucus members will hold hearings in their congressional districts.
9. McDermott would like to see the Indian American community work toward establishing India studies programs and academic chairs around the country.
10. Royce's ambitious plans for his two year term: He plans to ask, "[Have we] advanced the relationship between the US and India...Have we moved the focus of US businesses away from China? Have we put India on the map for US trade and investment? Have we succeeded in lifting the sanctions? Have we succeeded in cooperating on terrorism? Have we been able to increase membership in the Caucus substantially?"
11. Both Royce and McDermott plan to travel to India in early January at the start of the 107th Congress. They view this trip as a good way to begin their two-year tenure as CO-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.

Royce, McDermott Outline Their Goals For The India Caucus

by Neil Parekh

Rep. Ed Royce (R-Calif.) and Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) have excellent timing. They are taking over leadership of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans at a time when US-India relations have never been better.

President Clinton and Prime Minster Vajpayee exchanged official visits last year and signed a historic vision statement that establishes a framework for deepening ties between the two countries.

In Congress, the annual amendment offered by Rep. Dan Burton (Ind.) and others wishing to criticize India is of little consequence. Resolutions praising India flow out of the International Relations Committee and the Indian American community is playing a more sophisticated role in electoral politics.

It is an opportune time to take over the helm of the second largest caucus in Congress -- one that focuses on both foreign policy and domestic issues of interest to Indian Americans.

News India-Times talked with them in separate interviews last week about their priorities for the caucus, working in a closely divided Congress, and the role of the community. It was the first interview McDermott had given since being elected co-chair of the Caucus.

Bipartisanship

McDermott's number one priority for the caucus is to make it a "bipartisan effort". In the past, many observers have criticized the caucus for being dominated by Democrats.

As with most immigrant groups and minorities, Indian Americans had identified more closely with the Democratic Party. In recent years, however, that has changed as large segments of the community have voted and raised money for Republicans.

Typically, Democrats have overshadowed their Republican colleagues by sheer number. Although McDermott is a strong partisan, he identified working with Republicans as a high priority. He spoke with pride of having worked with Republicans such as Royce, Rep. Phil Crane (Ill.) And then-Speaker Newt Gingrich (Georgia), on an Africa trade bill.

"That's the only way something like that moves," he said, referring to the trade bill. "My view is that's how any kind of changes in our policy toward India will [happen]," he added, talking about a potential move to lift sanctions.

Royce is actively recruiting Republican members for the Caucus and for an upcoming trip to India. When asked to name Republican members he is hoping will take a larger role in the Caucus next year, he identified Jim Greenwood (Penn.), Steve Horn (Calif.) Steve Chabot (Ohio), Greg Walden (Ore.), Phil English (Penn.), Kevin Brady (Tex.), and Pat Toomey (Penn.). McDermott mentioned Mark Foley (Fla.) as another Republican lawmaker who might play a larger role next year.

Royce is also expected to take a more public and active role in the caucus than the two previous Republican CO-chairs, Rep. Bill McCollum (Fla.) and Rep. Jim Greenwood (Penn.). Royce and McDermott have met several times to discuss next year's agenda and have a history of working together. In fact, during the 106th Congress, Royce's Capitol Hill office was just one floor above McDermott's.

US-India Free Trade

One of the first issues the pair will work on is building support for a Free Trade Agreement between the United States and India -- Royce's number one priority.

Royce is particularly concerned that American CEO's continue to look to China for investment opportunities, instead of toward India. He even cited a recent poll, which found that only 14% of American CEO's would invest in India before China while 56% would invest in China first.

According to Royce, "[This] is one way to assist in building bridges. In addition, such an approach will guarantee further economic reforms in India and further liberalization for markets here in the US. I also think that [it] will produce economic growth in both countries." Royce believes a Bush administration would support a Free Trade Agreement with India.

Although McDermott expects to work on the bill, and is eager to see it passed, he is less sanguine about its prospects. He believes it might be difficult to pass such a bill in a closely divided Congress.

Both McDermott and Royce have a broader vision for the caucus. McDermott expects to continue working on the situation in Kashmir, AIDS, and "a variety of things people should know about [India]." Primarily, he sees the Caucus as educating members of Congress. "I start with the theory that people are ignorant about India, not against it," he said.

In addition to working toward lifting sanctions (as a precursor to a Free Trade Agreement), Royce wants to make US-India relations more comprehensive. "Our engagement with India should be a mature relationship," the California lawmaker said. "[It should] include security issues, joint military exercises...and cooperation on combating terrorism."

Domestic Issues

Royce and McDermott also see several domestic issues on the Caucus' agenda for next year. Royce believes the Indian community is interested in education and health reform. McDermott argues the Caucus will be better able to address issues such as immigration, as well as specific domestic issues, which have a disparate impact on the Indian American community.

McDermott, who recently spoke to a group of Indian physicians in Chicago, indicated that his listeners wanted to know more about health care than US-India relations. Indian physicians are interested in a Patients' Bill of Rights.

When asked if such an issue, which often divides Democrats and Republicans, would divide the Caucus, McDermott wasn't sure. "Yeah it will. I don't know. I haven't looked at who's where. My view, when they get into domestic issues, everyone has to recognize that [Members of Congress] are going to [support] positions based on their [districts]."

He said that the Caucus would be able to handle domestic issues if they have specific reference to the Indian community.

Community's Role

Both Congressmen saw a role for the Indian American community in the work of the Caucus. (Royce, as is the fashion on the west coast, used the term Indo-American community.)

Royce said, "I think the community is vital to the success of the caucus. Input from members on an ongoing basis is necessary - from trade and investment to local community issues."

Participation in the Caucus, "is an opportunity for members of Congress to more deeply understand issues that are important to the Indian American community."

Royce hopes that community members will have the opportunity to testify before the International Relations Committee and will participate in Caucus briefings, "where we invite members of the community to attend and speak and share ideas with members of Congress."

Royce also expects Caucus members will hold hearings in their congressional districts.

McDermott would like to see the Indian American community work toward establishing India Studies programs and academic chairs around the country.

Fundraising

Critics of the Caucus say that members of Congress view it as a fundraising vehicle.

Sometimes, Indian Americans will hold a fundraiser for a member of Congress and then ask them to become more active in the Caucus and in US India relations. At other times, Indian Americans will organize a fundraiser to recognize a lawmaker's work in this area.

For example, Rep. Sam Gejdenson (D-Conn.), a supporter of US-India relations raised more than $45,000 from Indian Americans. He is known for his participation in several close races in the past and his loss in a close race this year. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), a former co-chair of the caucus who is still active in US-India relations, faced a strong challenger in 1998 and raised nearly $85,000 from Indian Americans for his 2000 reelection campaign.

McDermott and Royce will be magnets for individuals who hope to influence them and/or thank them. They readily admit, however, that they come from safe districts. A safe district is a district where the incumbent does not expect to face a serious challenge.

Over the last two years, McDermott raised approximately $2,000 from Indian Americans. Royce raised approximately $15,000.

News India-Times asked both lawmakers, given the relative ease with which they have been reelected, what role they expect fundraising to play during the next two years in their work with the India Caucus.

Royce answered, "I've had friends in the community for eighteen years. I've always assumed that the reason they support me is they agree with the policies I pursue in Congress. For some years now, friends of mine in the community have urged me to get active in the Caucus, seek the chairmanship and have asked me to get involved in foreign policy."

He added, "My interest in going to India with [President] Clinton, is driven by the belief that the US is better served over time if we develop a policy where our allies [are supported]. That is my motivation for serving in this capacity. My interest in foreign policy has been long-standing. I've served on the International Relations committee since I came [to Congress] and I have a long history with the community."

McDermott responded by saying, "I personally have the luxury of a very safe seat. It has not required me to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to get elected. [Rep. Frank] Pallone and [Rep. Sam] Gejdenson has had tough races."

He added, "I don't foresee the necessity or the personal desirability of doing a lot of that. A part of involving yourself in the political process in this country is being part of the money tree. I wish we didn't have that. I wish we had another way to finance things. Rather than doing these fundraisers all over the place. It's not my intention to spend much of my time doing that."

In Two Years...

News India-Times ended each interview by asking both members how they would determine if their tenure as co-chair of the Caucus were a success.

McDermott did not foresee any major shifts in policy. "If I can improve the immigration situation, and if I can look back and see some chairs of Indian studies established at major universities, I would say we did a good job." He also said, "if the United States kept good relations or moderated relationships with the Indian government and Indian people, I would say we are successful."

Royce was more ambitious. He plans to ask, "[Have we] advanced the relationship between the US and India...Have we moved the focus of US businesses away from China? Have we put India on the map for US trade and investment? Have we succeeded in lifting the sanctions? Have we succeeded in cooperating on terrorism? Have we been able to increase membership in the Caucus substantially?"

Both Royce and McDermott plan to travel to India in early January at the start of the 107th Congress. They view this trip as a good way to begin their two-year tenure as CO-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.