[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 259 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 259

      Recognizing the importance of United States-India relations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 21, 2023

 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Cornyn) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
                               Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
      Recognizing the importance of United States-India relations.

Whereas the Republic of India achieved its independence on August 15, 1947, and 
        is celebrating 75 years of its independence;
Whereas the United States-India Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership is 
        critical for regional and global prosperity;
Whereas, according to United Nations population estimates, India will become the 
        most populous country in the world in 2023, with an estimated population 
        of more than 1,425,000,000 people;
Whereas strong people-to-people and educational exchanges between the United 
        States and the Republic of India cement our nations' ties and serve as 
        the foundation for deeper cooperation;
Whereas students from the Republic of India comprise nearly 20 percent of all 
        international students studying in the United States, that this 
        community is expected to soon become the largest foreign student 
        community in the United States, and in 2022, the United States Mission 
        in India issued more than 82,000 Indian student visas, a record-breaking 
        amount;
Whereas, according to International Monetary Fund data, India is the fifth 
        largest economy in the world;
Whereas the furthering of trade and investment between the United States and the 
        Republic of India, two of the world's largest economies, is in the 
        interest of both countries as well as the broader global economy;
Whereas the United States became India's largest trading partner in 2022, with 
        bilateral goods and services trade almost doubling since 2014, and 
        exceeding $191,000,000,000 in 2022;
Whereas the Republic of India hosted the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for 
        Prosperity (IPEF) negotiating round in February 2023;
Whereas the United States designated India as a Major Defense Partner in 2016, 
        and a strong United States-India defense partnership is critical for 
        United States and Indian interests in the Indo-Pacific region;
Whereas military-to-military ties between our two countries have deepened, with 
        both countries undertaking bilateral and multilateral military exercises 
        across air, land, and maritime domains, and are taking steps to 
        strengthen defense industrial base collaboration;
Whereas the Republic of India's G20 presidency reflects its economic rise and 
        demonstrates its commitment to furthering multilateral coordination and 
        progress in the areas of inclusive growth, environmental protection, 
        technology and knowledge-sharing, women-led development, and more;
Whereas the United States and India have coordinated closely in numerous 
        multilateral forums such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (``the 
        Quad''), the I2U2 Group, and the G20, to address issues ranging from 
        energy and food security to space, infrastructure, health, and critical 
        and emerging technologies;
Whereas the United States and India have been partners in advancing global 
        health security, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which 
        India assisted other countries, including in the developing world 
        through the deployment of vaccines and medicines;
Whereas there are significant opportunities to work together to develop emerging 
        technologies through private sector and academic and research 
        partnerships to achieve shared energy goals;
Whereas the United States and India announced the Initiative on Critical and 
        Emerging Technology (iCET) in May 2022, as a significant line of 
        partnership to expand defense industrial and technological cooperation, 
        including in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum and high-
        performance computing, space, next generation telecommunications, and 
        semiconductor supply chains; and
Whereas the diverse Indian American community, which numbers over 4,000,000 
        individuals, is critical to the strong people-to-people ties between 
        India and the United States and has made critical contributions to the 
        culture and economy of the United States, and forms one of the strongest 
        bonds linking our two countries together: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) reaffirms the strong and long-standing partnership 
        between the Governments of the United States and the Republic 
        of India, rooted in people to people ties, strategic interests, 
        including upholding peace, security, and prosperity in the 
        Indo-Pacific region;
            (2) encourages the United States and India to continue and 
        expand cooperation for a free, open, and resilient Indo-
        Pacific, including through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue;
            (3) welcomes the Republic of India's participation in 
        economic initiatives, including through bilateral and 
        multilateral forums, its participation in the Quad, and other 
        venues of cooperation;
            (4) supports the United States and the Republic of India 
        identifying further opportunities to deepen engagement and 
        further defense, commercial, and investment ties;
            (5) affirms the importance of technology cooperation 
        between the United States and India, including through the 
        Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology;
            (6) recognizes the importance of expanding people-to-people 
        programs between the United States and India, particularly 
        between educational institutions;
            (7) appreciates the contributions of Americans of Indian 
        origin, and desires closer relations between the people of the 
        United States and the people of India; and
            (8) views the bilateral relationship as holding the 
        potential to bring significant benefit to the citizens of both 
        nations, and to make considerable contributions to addressing 
        the global challenges of the 21st century.
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