[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 21, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S2189]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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  SENATE RESOLUTION 259--RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF UNITED STATES-
                            INDIA RELATIONS

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Cornyn) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                              S. Res. 259

       Whereas the Republic of India achieved its independence on 
     August 15, 1947, and is celebrating 75 years of its 
     independence;
       Whereas the United States-India Comprehensive Global 
     Strategic Partnership is critical for regional and global 
     prosperity;
       Whereas, according to United Nations population estimates, 
     India will become the most populous country in the world in 
     2023, with an estimated population of more than 1,425,000,000 
     people;
       Whereas strong people-to-people and educational exchanges 
     between the United States and the Republic of India cement 
     our nations' ties and serve as the foundation for deeper 
     cooperation;
       Whereas students from the Republic of India comprise nearly 
     20 percent of all international students studying in the 
     United States, that this community is expected to soon become 
     the largest foreign student community in the United States, 
     and in 2022, the United States Mission in India issued more 
     than 82,000 Indian student visas, a record-breaking amount;
       Whereas, according to International Monetary Fund data, 
     India is the fifth largest economy in the world;
       Whereas the furthering of trade and investment between the 
     United States and the Republic of India, two of the world's 
     largest economies, is in the interest of both countries as 
     well as the broader global economy;
       Whereas the United States became India's largest trading 
     partner in 2022, with bilateral goods and services trade 
     almost doubling since 2014, and exceeding $191,000,000,000 in 
     2022;
       Whereas the Republic of India hosted the Indo-Pacific 
     Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) negotiating round in 
     February 2023;
       Whereas the United States designated India as a Major 
     Defense Partner in 2016, and a strong United States-India 
     defense partnership is critical for United States and Indian 
     interests in the Indo-Pacific region;
       Whereas military-to-military ties between our two countries 
     have deepened, with both countries undertaking bilateral and 
     multilateral military exercises across air, land, and 
     maritime domains, and are taking steps to strengthen defense 
     industrial base collaboration;
       Whereas the Republic of India's G20 presidency reflects its 
     economic rise and demonstrates its commitment to furthering 
     multilateral coordination and progress in the areas of 
     inclusive growth, environmental protection, technology and 
     knowledge-sharing, women-led development, and more;
       Whereas the United States and India have coordinated 
     closely in numerous multilateral forums such as the 
     Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (``the Quad''), the I2U2 
     Group, and the G20, to address issues ranging from energy and 
     food security to space, infrastructure, health, and critical 
     and emerging technologies;
       Whereas the United States and India have been partners in 
     advancing global health security, especially during the 
     COVID-19 pandemic, during which India assisted other 
     countries, including in the developing world through the 
     deployment of vaccines and medicines;
       Whereas there are significant opportunities to work 
     together to develop emerging technologies through private 
     sector and academic and research partnerships to achieve 
     shared energy goals;
       Whereas the United States and India announced the 
     Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in May 
     2022, as a significant line of partnership to expand defense 
     industrial and technological cooperation, including in areas 
     such as artificial intelligence, quantum and high-performance 
     computing, space, next generation telecommunications, and 
     semiconductor supply chains; and
       Whereas the diverse Indian American community, which 
     numbers over 4,000,000 individuals, is critical to the strong 
     people-to-people ties between India and the United States and 
     has made critical contributions to the culture and economy of 
     the United States, and forms one of the strongest bonds 
     linking our two countries together: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) reaffirms the strong and long-standing partnership 
     between the Governments of the United States and the Republic 
     of India, rooted in people to people ties, strategic 
     interests, including upholding peace, security, and 
     prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region;
       (2) encourages the United States and India to continue and 
     expand cooperation for a free, open, and resilient Indo-
     Pacific, including through the Quadrilateral Security 
     Dialogue;
       (3) welcomes the Republic of India's participation in 
     economic initiatives, including through bilateral and 
     multilateral forums, its participation in the Quad, and other 
     venues of cooperation;
       (4) supports the United States and the Republic of India 
     identifying further opportunities to deepen engagement and 
     further defense, commercial, and investment ties;
       (5) affirms the importance of technology cooperation 
     between the United States and India, including through the 
     Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology;
       (6) recognizes the importance of expanding people-to-people 
     programs between the United States and India, particularly 
     between educational institutions;
       (7) appreciates the contributions of Americans of Indian 
     origin, and desires closer relations between the people of 
     the United States and the people of India; and
       (8) views the bilateral relationship as holding the 
     potential to bring significant benefit to the citizens of 
     both nations, and to make considerable contributions to 
     addressing the global challenges of the 21st century.

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