Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans

Congressman Joseph Crowley's Record on India Press Release

April 5, 2004

Congressman Crowley represents the second largest South Asian community in the United States:

• In his sixth year representing Jackson Heights, NY, Congressman Crowley represents the interests of over 45,000 South Asians in the United States House of Representatives.

Democratic Chair, Caucus on India and India Americans:

• Since Congressman Crowley was elected as the Democratic Chair of the Caucus on India and India Americans in January of 2003 he has increased the number of members by 60 to 183 members.
• Congressman Crowley is also a Member of the critically important Committee on International Relations which oversees relations between the US and India.

Congressman Crowley has led two delegations to India, and has visited India a total of three times.

• Congressman Crowley has brought 13 Members of Congress to India for their first time, including the second highest ranking Democrat in the US House of Representatives, Democratic Whip, Steny H. Hoyer.
• Congressman Crowley led the largest ever Congressional delegation to India (10 Members).
• Congressman Crowley has visited India three times as a Member of Congress.

Fostering Trade between India and the United States:

• Congressman Crowley has led a Congressional sign on letter with Rep. McDermott to Indian PM Vajpayee to support Air India’s desire to buy Boeing aircraft.
• Due to their letter it is being reported that Air India has decided to buy 18 Boeing 737-800 bringing more jobs to America, and creating a critical export opportunity for an American company to India.

Increasing Defense Ties:

• Congressman Crowley is leading a letter supporting the US sale of the PAC-3 system to India.
• Congressman Crowley is working with the Administration to grant India, non-NATO ally status, which will foster the transfer of weapons, intelligence and technology between our two countries.
• Congressman Crowley has been working with US defense contractors to foster greater ties between US companies and India.

Holding Pakistan Accountable:

• Congressman Crowley is working with Congressman Ackerman to encourage Members to sign on a letter urging the President to refrain from designating Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally.
• Congressman Crowley is a cosponsor of HR 4022, which requires that only countries that have a democratic form of government and that support United States nonproliferation objectives may be designated as major non-NATO allies.
• Congressman Crowley has spoken out to President Musharraf and Prime Minister Jamali on the need to shut down terrorist camps and cease all support of terrorist groups.

Honoring Congressman D.S. Saund and Indian Americans:

• Congressman Crowley is working with the California delegation to find a suitable building to honor former Congressman Saund, the first and only Indian-American Member of Congress.
• H.CON.RES.352-Recognizing the contributions of people of Indian origin to the United States and the benefits of working together with India towards promoting peace, prosperity, and freedom among all countries of the world.
• Congressman Crowley is a cosponsor of this legislation and has been working with Rep. Millender-McDonald’s office to increase the number of cosponsors through the Caucus on India and Indian Americans.

Business Process Outsourcing:

• As a Chief Deputy Whip for the Democrats and Member of the House Leadership, Congressman Crowley has been educating his colleagues on the issue of India’s competitiveness in business process outsourcing and explaining "the other side of the story" on this often misunderstood issue.
• Congressman Crowley is able to speak from a position of knowledge and authority because he has traveled to India three times and visited US and Indian companies such as Infosys, E-Funds, Computer Associates and Hi-Tech City.
• As the Democratic Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, Congressman Crowley has spoken before the US Chamber of Commerce, NY Life, MetLife, AIG, and other Fortune 500 businesses about the concerns of legislation to limit trade between the US and India.
• Along with Democratic Whip, Steny H. Hoyer, Congressman Crowley has led a bimonthly discussion with Indian American businessmen and companies to discuss economic and trade issues.

Helping Indian-American Small Businesses:

• Congressman Crowley has been working with USINPAC and small business owners to help provide access for Indian American-owned businesses to have an equal opportunity in the federal contracting marketplace.

Preventing Hate Crimes:

• Congressman Crowley has been a consistent cosponsor of the Local Law Enforcement Enhancement Act (Hate Crimes legislation) to enforce tougher penalties for hate crimes. Republicans in the House of Representatives and the US Senate refuse to pass this legislation.
• The Caucus on India and Indian Americans lead by Congressman Crowley held a hate crimes briefing in July, 2003 to educate staff on the rise of hate crimes against South Asians since 9/11.
• Congressman Crowley is working with SMART on a hate crimes forum to be held in the New York 7th Congressional district.

Religious Freedom:

• Congressman Joseph Crowley urged the French government to protect religious freedoms in schools; cites unfair treatment of Sikhs.
• Congressman Crowley joined Representatives Michael M. Honda and Vernon J. Ehlers on the letter.
• Congressman Crowley worked with the offices of Representatives Michael M. Honda and Vernon J. Ehlers to increase the number of cosigners through the Caucus on India and Indian Americans.

Sikh Holy Sites in Pakistan:

• Congressman Crowley is working with the Sikh community to assist in the hand over of all the Gurdwaras and Holy Sikh Shrines from the government of Pakistan.
• Pakistan has mismanaged the sites and blocked access to Sikhs.

Fighting to fund the AIDS/HIV pandemic in India:

• Congressman Crowley is working with the House Committee on Appropriations to include strong report language on the need to assist India’s potential HIV/AIDS problems while the situation remains controllable.

Congressman Crowley was a key sponsor of the $15 billion Global HIV/AIDS bill signed into law by President Bush. Congressman Crowley is fighting to ensure that India receives critical funding to stem the rate of HIV/AIDS infection on the Subcontinent.