Congressional Statements

Supporting House Resolution on expanding relations between US and India

Pallone Statement in House of Representatives
September 12, 2000

Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, the year 2000 has been a great year for those of us actively involved in building and promoting relations between the United States and India. This week, I am proud to welcome Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Washington. The Prime Minister's visit comes months after President Clinton made a similar visit to India. I was fortunate to join the President on that historic visit.

While here in Washington, the Prime Minister will focus on economic relations between the two countries, as well as the role of the Indian-American community as a bridge between the two democracies.

Since the early 1990's, I have been advocating for the U.S. to build a long-term and enduring relationship with India. This relationship makes sense since both countries share common democratic traditions. Portions of India's constitution were modeled after the U.S. constitution, and both countries share the same views of freedom of expression, protection of individual rights and a vitality of the political process.

India and the U.S. have forged close economic and commercial links. India represents enormous opportunities for U.S. firms to make new investments and enter new markets. Good relations with India can only increase the economic ties we currently have. A strong economy in India is a basis for lifting people out of poverty and for creating a strong democratic base.

The two countries also have become linked as centers of scientific and technological innovation. In the fast-changing world of high technology, the U.S. and India have already begun sharing process of information, of skills and of people who provide great benefits for consumers in both countries. India has a highly trained corps of software engineers whose talents are being utilized here and in India.

Both countries, victims of terrorism in the past, have teamed up to establish a Joint Working Group on Counterterrorism, which should enhance the effectiveness of both nations' efforts to combat terrorism worldwide.

As the region's only democracy, India will play a major role in security issues throughout Asia for years to come. I have believed for some time that India should receive a permanent seat on the United Nation's Security Council and am anxious to hear from the Prime Minister if there were any new developments while he was in New York last week. Providing this seat to India will help make the world a safer place.

While I was in India with the President earlier this year, I was fortunate to attend the signing ceremony in Agra of an historic agreement to promote cooperation in the areas of clean energy and the environment between our two countries. This agreement marks a major step toward promoting clean energy in India and protecting India's and our global environment. As part of this agreement, joint trade and investment efforts will promote clean energy technologies in India.

India and the U.S. also are conducting joint public-private partnerships in the energy sector. In fact, one New Jersey utility, PSEG, is on the verge of signing an agreement with the Indian government to carry out just such a partnership. This utility also is exploring creative methods for improving the electric supply and system reliability with partners in Karnataka. These types of efforts will promote clean energy technologies and help India avoid the pollution we experienced with our industrial development. India does not need to sacrifice its economic growth because its local businesses will conserve energy and improve their `bottom lines'. I look forward to working with the Prime Minister during this week's visit to further these efforts between India and the U.S. To conserve resources, improve energy supply, and protect our environment.

As the founder and past Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, as well as the Representative for one of the largest Indian-American communities in the country, I am excited by the developments of the past year between our two countries. It is my hope that Prime Minister Vajpayee's visit will strengthen relations between the world's two greatest democracies.