[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 29, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E42]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                IN COMMEMORATION OF INDIA'S REPUBLIC DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 29, 2002

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor for me to rise today in 
commemoration of India's Republic Day. As the adoption of our 
constitution and declaration of Independence in the 18th Century are 
among the most important days in the history of the United States, so 
too is January 26, 1950 in India. In the Central Hall of Parliament in 
New Delhi, India joined the community of democratic nations by adopting 
its Constitution that embodied many of the principles, including 
equality and secularism, put forth by our own founding fathers.
  It gives me great pleasure to celebrate this event, as this is not 
simply a day for Indians, but for Indian-Americans as well. The streets 
of my district in Jackson Heights, New York will be filled tonight with 
thousands of my constituents honoring this important day.
  The bond that India and the United States share is not simply rooted 
in the democratic foundations, but also in democratic practices. 
Allying the world's oldest democracy with the world's largest democracy 
is a natural fit. I believe that India's Prime Minister Atal Bihari 
Vajpayee said it best when he spoke of the adoption of India's 
Constitution: ``There is one great test for a Constitution, for any 
system of Governance. It must deliver and it must be durable. Our 
Constitution has stood this test. And one reason it has been able to do 
so is that it embodies a mastery balance: between the rights of the 
individual and the requirements of collective life; between the States 
and the Union; between providing a robust structure and flexibility. 
Our Constitution has served the needs of both India's diversity and her 
innate unity. It has strengthened India's democratic traditions.''
  The shared history and common conception for the future of our 
relationship has allowed our nations to cooperate in times of 
prosperity and assist each other in times of tragedy. This year's 
Republic Day is bitter-sweet as it also commemorates the one-year 
anniversary of the devastating earthquake that struck India on January 
26, 2001. The earthquake, centered in India's state of Gujarat and 
measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, killed more than 20,000 people. 
During those difficult times, we were there for India both in spirit 
and in practice. Shortly after the earthquake, the United States 
Congress adopted a Resolution expressing condolences for the victims 
and support for providing assistance. I am proud to report that 
Congress also responded to my efforts in increasing the funding for the 
Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance, specifically targeting the 
efforts in India.
  Just as we came to the aid of India, they were among the first to 
condemn the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001. Since 
that horrific day, high-level contacts between the U.S. and India have 
increased, reflecting the close cooperation between the world's two 
largest democracies in the struggle against international terrorism. 
Unfortunately, the scrouge of terrorism is another characteristic that 
our countries now have in common.
  The December 13, 2001 attack on India's Parliament hit very close to 
home. As nine police officers and a Parliament worker were killed we 
were forced, once again, to redefine the scope and definition of the 
war on terrorism. This attack sought to destroy the heart of India's 
democracy, but will fail in that endeavor.
  The common interests of the United States and India transcend the 
boundaries of the international war on terrorism. There has been ever-
increasing cooperation in dealing with the proliferation of nuclear 
weapons and their means of delivery, preserving stability and growth in 
the global economy, protecting the environment, combating infectious 
diseases and expanding trade.
  As a member of the Indian Caucus with a growing Indian constituency, 
my interest in the region has grown exponentially during my time in 
Congress. I have to say, however, that nothing was more eye-opening 
than my visit to India a few weeks ago. To get a true sense of the 
interests of the people and the government on the ground was 
invaluable, and will surely help me represent the views of my 
constituents more completely in the future.
  With that, I wish to salute India for fifty-one years of work in 
pursuit of preserving democracy. It is my honor to join you as you 
continue that journey into the new millennium.

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