[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 7, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E580-E581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL ALLIANCE OF INDIA AND AMERICA

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 7, 2022

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, the strong and vibrant 
relationship

[[Page E581]]

between India, the world's largest democracy, and the United States, 
the world's oldest democracy, has demonstrated our shared values for 
Rule of Law.
  I grew up with an appreciation of the people of India, because my 
father, First Lieutenant Hugh Wilson, served there in the U.S. Army Air 
Corps Flying Tigers in 1944, where he recognized the industriousness of 
the citizens of India.
  I am particularly grateful for the prosperous Indian-American 
community in South Carolina and look forward to its continued growth 
and achievements. In 2014 in New York at Madison Square Garden, I 
helped welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in 2016 in Washington, I 
was on the Escort Committee for the Prime Minister's address to 
Congress, in 2019 in New Delhi at the Red Fort, I attended Indian 
Independence Day, and in 2019 at the Howdy Modi program in Houston at 
the Astrodome, I joined President Donald Trump to recognize the Prime 
Minister.
  South Carolina's first female governor in 340 years was appropriately 
Nikki Randhawa Haley, who served with distinction. The Indian American 
community, of all immigrant groups in the United States, has achieved 
the highest per capita income level.
  I appreciate the visits with India's Consul General Dr. Swati V. 
Kulkarni of Atlanta and Mr. KV Kumar, President and CEO of the Indian 
American International Chamber of Commerce to discuss the bilateral 
relationship between India and the United States. Bilateral trade in 
goods between the two countries crossed the $100 billion mark in 2021, 
making it the largest volume of goods trade in a calendar year in 
India-U.S. economic history. This also represents an almost 45 percent 
jump from 2020, which is the single biggest jump of all the U.S. trade 
partners. Working together, Indian industry can build dynamic military 
manufacturing to be independent of foreign suppliers.
  The talks with Consul General also covered conversation on mass 
murder by war criminal Putin in Ukraine, its implications, and current 
regional developments.
  To take U.S. and India ties forward and to realize the full spirit of 
our strategic partnership, USA and the Republic of India need to 
cooperate more closely in the Indo-Pacific. Certainly, there are issues 
of mutual concern with regard to China's malign goals in the region, 
and the partnership to counter these authoritarian aspirations should 
be robust.
  Throughout her service as India's Consul General, Dr. Kulkarni has 
been an exemplary representative of the Republic of India. She was 
proactive across the southeast promoting the shared values of India and 
America. She will be greatly missed upon her departure from her post, 
as she continues her productive service for the people of India.
  In the current contest of democracy with Rule of Law opposed by 
authoritarians with Rule of Gun, it is more important for cooperation 
to establish peace through strength.

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