[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 12, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H2889-H2890]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY PEOPLE OF INDIAN 
                      ORIGIN TO THE UNITED STATES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Millender-McDonald) is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Ms. MILLENDER-McDONALD. Mr. Speaker, I come to the House floor 
tonight to speak on House Concurrent Resolution 352, legislation that I 
am proud to have introduced which gives much deserved recognition to 
the many invaluable contributions made by the people of Indian origin 
to the United States. Since the earliest days of our Republic, citizens 
of Indian origin have emigrated to our Nation in the pursuit of freedom 
and prosperity for themselves and their families. As American citizens, 
they have integrated into American society, and they have made 
extraordinary contributions to the United States, helping to make our 
Nation a more efficient and prosperous country.

                              {time}  2015

  Indian Americans greatly value education and have made many 
significant contributions in the fields of law,

[[Page H2890]]

science, technology, business development, public service, literature, 
and the arts, just to name a few. They are our doctors; over 35,000 of 
them practice medicine in the United States. And they are our 
astronauts, professors, and business leaders.
  There are over 2 million Indian Americans today who proudly call 
America their home, and they have become woven into the economic growth 
and social fabric of our Nation.
  This resolution also honors the long history of democracy in India, 
the most populous democracy in the world; and it reaffirms our Nation's 
commitment to working with India towards our mutual interest of global 
peace, prosperity, and freedom. India and its 1 billion citizens 
greatly value the close relationship that exists between the United 
States and their country, and they continue to strengthen their ties 
with us based on their shared value and shared security concerns.
  The United States and India are strategic partners; and as the 
Speaker knows, India was one of the first countries to offer the United 
States its support following the tragic September 11 attacks. And today 
India remains one of our closest allies in the war on terrorism.
  We must continue to increase trade and cooperative economic efforts 
with India and together strive to increase prosperity among all nations 
of the world. As two democracies working together, we can make dreams 
become a reality.
  I also want to recognize the efforts of Dr. Krishna Reddy, president 
of the Indian American Friendship Council, for his efforts in building 
and promoting strong bonds of friendship between Indian Americans and 
all Americans.
  Finally, this resolution acknowledges the benefits of working 
together with India towards promoting global peace, prosperity, and 
freedom. Once again, I am proud to have introduced this resolution, and 
I am very pleased that the House of Representatives has passed it 
overwhelmingly today. I thank my colleagues for that. Doing so sends a 
clear message to both the United States and India that we share common 
values, honor contributions from both sides, and treasure our mutual 
friendship.

                            H. Con. Res. 352

       Whereas India is the largest democratic country in the 
     world and enjoys a close and mutual friendship with the 
     United States based on common values and common interests;
       Whereas people of Indian origin who have for decades 
     immigrated to the United States have made extraordinary 
     contributions to the United States, helping to make the 
     United States a more efficient and prosperous country;
       Whereas these contributions have spanned disciplines 
     ranging from science, technology, business development, and 
     public service, to social justice, philanthropy, literature, 
     and the arts;
       Whereas generations of doctors and nurses of Indian origin 
     have attended to the sick in large cities as well as in rural 
     regions of the United States that are otherwise underserved;
       Whereas people of Indian origin have designed defense 
     systems that protect United States naval ships while at sea, 
     and have contributed to engineering, designing, and 
     participating in the United States space shuttle program, at 
     great personal sacrifice;
       Whereas people of Indian origin have invented many of the 
     technologies that power the computer and the internet, have 
     created and directed laboratories that produced significant 
     breakthroughs in modern medicine, and have taught at, and are 
     leaders of, many United States institutions of higher 
     learning;
       Whereas people of Indian origin have made invaluable 
     contributions to the vitality and viability of the United 
     States economy through creative entrepreneurship and 
     leadership in both large and small businesses;
       Whereas people of Indian origin have shared and integrated 
     their rich culture into the fabric of American daily life;
       Whereas trade with India integrates a democratic country of 
     more than one billion people into the flow of commerce, 
     offering the United States a large and rapidly growing market 
     and unlocking vast reservoirs of talent;
       Whereas the United States is India's largest trading 
     partner and a major source of foreign direct investment and 
     foreign institutional investment in India;
       Whereas United States exports to India are growing at 25 
     percent, making India one of the fastest growing foreign 
     markets for United States goods and services;
       Whereas India's industrial tariffs have fallen from 150 
     percent in 1988 to a peak rate of 20 percent today;
       Whereas United States exports to India will accelerate as 
     India continues reducing tariffs and instituting 
     liberalization measures in its trade and investment regime, 
     thereby expanding the trade relationship of the two countries 
     and bringing mutual benefits;
       Whereas India has been a key partner in the war against 
     terrorism;
       Whereas India and the United States have agreed to increase 
     cooperation in the areas of nuclear activities, civilian 
     space programs, high-technology trade, and missile defense;
       Whereas multi-faceted cooperation between India and the 
     United States will strengthen the bonds of friendship and 
     commerce between the two countries, lead to the peaceful use 
     of space technology, and increase global stability and 
     security; and
       Whereas United States efforts, whether in combating global 
     HIV/AIDS, pursuing nuclear non-proliferation, promoting 
     democracy, enhancing stability of the world economy, 
     eliminating poverty, fighting terrorism, and expanding and 
     strengthening global trade, will be more effective and 
     successful with India as a strategic partner: Now therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That Congress--
       (1) honors the contributions of people of Indian origin to 
     the Untied States, and
       (2) is committed to working together with India towards 
     promoting peace, prosperity, and freedom among all countries 
     of the world.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Chocola). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas addressed the House. Her remarks will 
appear hereafter in the Extensions of Remarks.)
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  (Mr. ETHERIDGE addressed the House. His remarks will appear hereafter 
in the Extensions of Remarks.)

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