[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 94 (Tuesday, May 31, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE INDIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN CENTRAL 
  FLORIDA AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA AND THE 
                        UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DARREN SOTO

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 31, 2022

  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I acknowledge the strong, multidimensional, 
and mutually vital partnership between the United States of America and 
the Republic of India. Our two nations share a partnership for peace, 
progress, and prosperity. The solidarity between our two democratic 
countries and open economies is a force for global good.
  One of the important pillars of this relationship is the enduring 
bridge provided by the Indian American community in my district. I 
regularly meet with Indian American community members, including 
successful hotel owner Mr. Jan Gautam, and learn from them about our 
Indian friends and their progress. Support from the Indian-American 
community, through the Asian American Hotel Owners Association, was 
instrumental in assisting Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria.
  During my past trip to India, our delegation was briefed on the 
significance of advancements in Artificial Intelligence technology, its 
role in the relationship between our nations, and its possible 
applications to the industry and workforce. We met with former Chairman 
of the Indian Space Research Organization, Aluru Seelin Kiran Kumar, 
where we discussed its organizational structure, mission focus, 
applications, and accomplishments. Later, in meetings with the former 
Minister of Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan, we discussed the 
importance of space exploration and cybersecurity advancement, all in 
the context of collaboration between our great democracies.
  I recently met with the Indian Consul General to the Southeast, Dr. 
Swati Kulkarni. I learned about India's developmental efforts, 
including efforts through the recent announcement of the 2022-23 Union 
Budget.
  During the COVID-19 pandemic, our two nations worked closely. There 
was robust collaboration in the health sector, including in vaccines, 
where the U.S. provided raw materials to India for vaccine production 
during a time of surging cases in the country.
  I look forward to continued collaboration between the United States 
of America and the Republic of India.

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