Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans

Cochairmen urge colleagues to join India Caucus

by Aziz Haniffa
India Abroad
February 2, 2001

The cochairmen of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans have written to all their colleagues in the 107th Congress that convened last week, asking them to join the caucus and help promote the United States-India relationship to new heights.

Reps. Jim McDermott, the Democratic cochairman from Washington, and Ed Royce, the Republican cochairman from California, in a missive made available to India Abroad, informed the members of the House of Representatives that "the caucus has been in existence for six years, during which time we have seen a marked rise in congressional interest in India."

They noted that "last year's visits of President Clinton to India and Prime Minister (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee to the United States set the stage for accelerated cooperation between the U.S. and India, the largest democracy in the world and one of the most stable and important nations in Asia."

In the 106th Congress, the India Caucus had 120-plus members, making it the largest caucus of its kind, and this year the founder members of the caucus and the new cochairmen are confident that the membership will exceed even the record set last year.

In their "Dear Colleague" letter, McDermott and Royce said that the United States and India "have convergent economic interests."

"American companies are showing greater interest in India, with good reason," they wrote. "U.S.-India trade has great potential. India is one of the fastest growing emerging markets in the world, one that presents exciting opportunities for the export of U.S. goods and services, specially in the infrastructure field." The two lawmakers, who congressional sources say work extremely well together since their are close friends, also pointed out that "numerous American companies are playing an important role in India's booming high technology sector."

McDermott and Royce also referred to the intensified cooperation between Washington and New Delhi "in fighting terrorist threats to both countries," and reiterated that "the common bond of democracy and the rule of law enhance this cooperation."

"India is a strategically important country, situated in potentially turbulent South Asia," they emphasized. McDermott and Royce also said that the India Caucus "is a good way for members for reach out to the Indian-American community," a community that they noted "has taken full advantage of opportunities in America."

They said that "Indian Americans have distinguished themselves in many fields, including medicine, science, business, and the arts," and the India Caucus "is one of this dynamic community's primary links to the U.S. Congress."

Thus, they said, the best way members of Congress could become active participants in India-America relations would be by joining the India Caucus.