[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 186 (Wednesday, November 20, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL U.S.-INDIA RELATIONSHIP

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                          HON. FRANCIS ROONEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 20, 2019

  Mr. ROONEY of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
critical relationship with our ally India. I recently had the great 
pleasure of sitting down with India's ambassador to the United States, 
His Excellency Harsh Vardhan Shringla to discuss the critical issues 
facing India and the importance of the bilateral relationship between 
India and the United States.
  India faces many regional and geopolitical threats. Islamic 
insurgents are a constant threat, spreading terror throughout Jammu and 
Kashmir and elsewhere in India. We should support the government in 
Delhi in the continued fight against terror. India also faces an 
increasingly aggressive and assertive China that continues to export 
its malign influence throughout the Indo-Pacific region. China's 
behavior is destabilizing India's near-abroad, saddling its neighbors 
with unpayable debts, as was the case with the port project in 
Hambantota, Sri Lanka. India is also on constant alert with a hostile 
and unstable nuclear-armed state to their West--Pakistan.
  India is a critical trading partner with the United States. India 
accounts for about 3 percent of the United States' world trade, which 
continues to grow year after year. Likewise, the United States is 
India's second largest trading partner--accounting 16 percent of 
India's exports. We must continue to work towards strengthening our 
trade relationship with India, increasing bilateral foreign direct 
investment, and consider the negotiation of a free trade agreement.
  Most importantly, India and the United States share the same values. 
As the two largest democracies in the world, our countries dually 
respect freedom and human dignity. It is then no surprise that the 
population of Indian-Americans grew by 38 percent between 2010 and 
2017. Going forward, our relationship with India will only grow in 
importance. By sharing the same values, we inherently share similar 
interests and concerns. We must continue working together to confront 
dangers abroad, strengthen our economic relationship, and advance the 
cause of freedom and democracy around the world.

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