[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 107 (Thursday, June 22, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E881-E882]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING THE U.S.-INDIA RELATIONSHIP AND INDIAN AMERICANS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID SCHWEIKERT

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 22, 2017

  Mr. SCHWEIKERT. Mr. Speaker, as President Trump prepares to welcome 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi next week, there is much to 
celebrate in our country's relationship with India, the world's largest 
democracy, and in the enormous contributions that Indian Americans make 
in our country.
   There are four million Indian-Americans in the U.S., according to 
the Census Bureau. In 2010, Pew reported that 87.2 percent of adult 
Indian Americans were foreign-born and that Indian Americans are highly 
educated and highly successful.
   U.S. relations with India are critical to both countries. Our annual 
bilateral trade in goods and services could reach $500 billion by 2024, 
a five-fold increase since 2013, according to the Congressional 
Research Service.
   The role of Indian Americans in government is profound. In recent 
months, former Governor Nikki Haley was confirmed as Ambassador to the 
United Nations; Ajit Pai was made chairman of the Federal 
Communications Commission; Seema Verma was named Administrator of the 
Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services; four Indian Americans took 
their seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and one in the Senate; 
and countless more serve in state legislatures, local governments, the 
judicial branch and beyond.
   Indian Americans have deeply enriched our nation's arts and culture, 
and Indian media in the U.S. is surging to meet demand. Cable, 
satellite and radio offer a growing array of Hindu and Indian content. 
Global Hindi programmer ZEE TV's U.S. programming is viewed in nearly a 
million households.
   Politically and militarily, our two countries are united in a 
commitment to fight terrorism and promote world peace. Last year, the 
U.S. and India signed a historic defense agreement that paves the way 
for greater strategic and regional cooperation.

[[Page E882]]

   Please join me in acknowledging the immense contribution Indian 
Americans make to the United States, and in recognizing the importance 
of continuing to strengthen ties between our two nations.

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