[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 149 (Saturday, August 22, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E785-E786]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CELEBRATING INDIAN INDEPENDENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Saturday, August 22, 2020

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, last Saturday, I was 
grateful to be Guest of Honor at the Consulate of the Republic of India 
in Atlanta for the Indian flag hoisting ceremony to observe the 74th 
Independence Day of India.
  Consul General, Dr. Swati Kulkarni, conducted the solemn occasion 
with professionalism joined by her dedicated staff along with KV Kumar, 
President of the Indian-American International Chamber of Commerce.
  With the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the past year 
India has surpassed the United Kingdom and France in gross domestic 
product. Sadly, the Wuhan virus has disrupted these economic advances. 
India's evolution from socialism to a free market economy reducing 
poverty is a testament to the success of economic freedom.
  The alliance of India and America was underscored last September 22nd 
in Houston when President Donald Trump welcomed Prime Minister Modi to 
America with an audience of 50,000 largely Indian-Americans being the 
largest welcome program in American history. Arm in arm, Prime Minister 
Modi and

[[Page E786]]

President Trump walked together praising the attendees.
  With President Trump re-naming Pacific Command to Indo-Pacific 
Command the alliance of India and America has never been stronger. It 
is meaningful the world's largest democracy, India, is allied with the 
oldest democracy, America.

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