Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, New Republican Co-Chair of Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans

Interview by Aziz Haniffa
India Abroad
February 11, 2005

It's a great opportunity to get the word out about what a great ally India has been to the U.S.

The potential sale of F-16s is very important. It does not mean to be pro-India is being anti-Pakistan.

If I'm not able to visit India this year, I will carry India in my heart.

The feisty Cuban-born nine-term United States Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen acknowledges she aggressively sought the Republic Co-Chairmanship of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans as she is committed to fostering closer US-India relations and enhancing the lives of the Indian American community.

In an exclusive interview with India Abroad, Ros-Lehtinen, who represents Florida's 18th District and is an influential member of the House International Relations Committee, laid forth an ambitious agenda that the Caucus will concentrate on during her tenure in the next two years.

She said by working with her Democratic CO-Chair Representative Gary Ackerman (NY) and the specific task forces they will set up, the endeavor will be not only to tackle the priority issues of the bilateral relationship between Washington and New Delhi and the Indian American community, but to make sure there is tangible progress and full implementation of the efforts by the administration and Congress.

Q. You aggressively sought the Republic CO-Chair position of the India Caucus? Why?

A. Yes, absolutely. It has been a great opportunity to get the word out about what a great ally India has been to the U.S. as well as to do all we can to strengthen relations between our countries and improve the lives of the Indian community in the U.S.

I have been a member of the Caucus and I can devote the time needed to strengthen bilateral relations, promote trade with India, enhance economic development in India and improve the overall standard of living not only for Indians in the country but Indian Americans here.

I am very interested in these issues, so I told Joe [Wilson of South Carolina, whom she succeeded as GOP CO-Chair] that I wanted to CO-Chair it. He said, 'great, we will lobby the members.' I spoke to a few of the members, got their support and I'm very thankful I was elected by Republic colleagues and that Gary Ackerman, my good friend, is the Democratic CO-Chair

It's a great opportunity. I'm looking forward to this next session. I will make sure the Caucus serves as a forum so that members of Congress can address all issues that are vital to this very important South Asian nation.

Q. What will be some priorities on your agenda?

A. We have three areas we will concentrate on in the Caucus this year. First, is US-India relations and that includes trade, security cooperation, the international war against terror and the economic and humanitarian assistance.

The second issue is developments in India and on the Indian subcontinent, and it includes economic development, improving healthcare, inter-communal relations, the status of religious and other minorities, and to help the Indian government root out corruption.

The third is of U.S. interests. Issues of interest to the Indian American community, and that includes facilitation of trade and commerce with India, helping small businesses, with immigration, helping to get visas for those who want to travel to India, education in terms of trying to get Indian students to come to the U.S. and vice versa, improving healthcare for the Indian American community and to promote Indian culture in the U.S. Letting more people know about the culture and traditions and all positive aspects of India.

Q. It seems you have got one hefty plate on your hands?

A. Oh, yes! We will look at having specific task forces focus on four critical areas. We will have a task force on healthcare and HIV/AIDS in India. Another task force on technology and trade, a third on economic development and US economic assistance, and a fourth on issues of importance to the Indian American community.

Q. It's interesting that you and Ackerman are senior and influential members of the House International Relations Committee and you will use your bully pulpit to advance this very ambitious agenda you have put forth via the important committee?

A. Yes, I know, isn't that interesting? We did not plan it that way. I have talked to Gary about this opportunity and what we will do is to arrange regular briefings on legislative and policy initiatives and issues of interest to Caucus members by getting briefed by US officials, hosting visiting officials from India, leaders of the Indian American community who want to come to D.C. and meet with members of Congress and other experts on subjects that are of interest to the Caucus.

We will provide regular summaries of developments in India, on the subcontinent and the Indian American community. We will get a lot of literature out to the members so that they can get better knowledge about what's going on.

We will offer to the members the opportunity, if they want, to publish op-ed columns or write speeches or give one minute speeches on the floor. We will help them prepare the materials.

Another thing we will focus on is to arrange a conference of Indian American business leaders to discuss trade and economic developments with Caucus members. We will have get together with business leaders. We want to organize events that highlight holidays, festivals, special occasions that are of interest to the Indian American community.

Q. One issue India and the Indian American community is extremely concerned about is the potential sale of American advanced F-16 fighter aircraft to Pakistan. India argues it will destabilize the region as sophisticated U.S. weaponry supplied to Pakistan has been used against India. Will it be a concern of yours?

A. Yes, of course. The most recent action Gary and I undertook is that we communicated with President George W. Bush, urging him not to complete the sale of the F-16 jets to Pakistan. We worked well together on this and he got folks to sign on the Democratic side. I got them to sign on the Republic side.

We have been active in the Caucus on the issue and we hope to continue that. This is a very important issue, but this does not mean to be pro-India is being anti-Pakistan.

We are in favor of having an equal playing field. If the President goes ahead with the sale, it doesn't level the playing field. It is unfair to be a good partner like India that has been with us and helping us to fight the extremist elements every step of the way. We want to keep it as a level playing field and not give undue advantage to other countries. It's not anti any country. It's to make sure it's a level playing field.

Q. Are you concerned about the recent formation of the pro-Pakistan Congressional Caucus?

A. I know that is going to be a very strong caucus as well, but we want to focus on what is positive about India -- the way Indian leaders have been helpful to further U.S. policy internationally; how they have been our allies in the international war against terrorism, and it is not that we are against one country or any people.

We are certainly not, but we want to highlight great contributions Indian Americans have made to the growth of our country and the economic well-being of the U.S. as well as congratulate India for the great work its leaders have done in helping us fight against terrorist elements.

As a person born outside of the United States, I am committed to seeing there are better opportunities for students who come from India that perhaps may have limited English skills, but they are very good students and hard workers. We want to give them a fair shake and give them equal opportunities.

We are concerned about discrimination against Indian Americans. We want to make sure they have all of the opportunities anyone can have in terms of scholarships, admissions to higher education and all facets of society.

Q. Will you use your influence to garner U.S. support for India's bid to be a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council?

A. That's very important. As the world's largest and strongest democracy, it certainly should have a seat. It's unbelievable the way the U.N. is structured that it gives weight and a vote to countries that don't have a pivotal role and yet a big democracy like India is not given that opportunity. It's not fair. We want it to be restructured.

Q. Last month Congressman Ackerman told me one thing he wants to do in terms of addressing all the issues, in terms of US-India relations and the Indian American community is that he wants to convene a high level advisory board of prominent Indian Americans. Are you for such a board?

A. What I had told Gary is that it sounds like a good idea, but the problem is we don't want to exclude anyone. I worry that when we establish such a council, you will have to put a limit on the number of people you put on it as you can't have everyone. It will be an unwieldy commission and then I will worry who to put in and who do we put out.

We could better serve the Indian American community by holding forums and differentiating them by subject matter. We could do one on education, we could do one on trade, we could do one on foreign policy and discrimination and do them that way rather than have the advisory council, which will make perhaps fifteen people very happy and make several others very unhappy.

I am not sure. Gary and I will work it out with the Caucus members.

Q. Will a visit to India be one of your top priorities?

A. I hope very much so. I have a family, so it's difficult for me to travel much. I chair the Middle East Subcommittee [of the International Relations Committee] and there are so many countries in the jurisdiction of my subcommittee that I haven't got to as yet. But I will eventually get there.

I would love to go. Many members of my staff have gone and it has been a very positive experience for them. Even if I'm not able to go this year, I will carry India in my heart.

Q. President Bush has indicated he would like to visit India this year. If he does go, will you join him like Ackerman and other lawmakers did when they accompanied President Clinton to Indian in March 2000?

A. That will be such a thrill. That will be wonderful. It's something I will treasure forever.