[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 109 (Thursday, June 22, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H3095-H3098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1550
JOINT MEETING TO HEAR AN ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY NARENDRA MODI, PRIME 
                   MINISTER OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA

  During the recess, the House was called to order by the Speaker at 3 
o'clock and 50 minutes p.m.
  The Assistant to the Sergeant at Arms, Ms. Kathleen Joyce, announced 
the Vice President and Members of the U.S. Senate, who entered the Hall 
of the House of Representatives, the Vice President taking the chair at 
the right of the Speaker, and the Members of the Senate the seats 
reserved for them.
  The SPEAKER. The joint meeting will come to order.
  The Chair appoints as members of the committee on the part of the 
House to escort His Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the 
Republic of India, into the Chamber:
  The gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Scalise);
  The gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Emmer);
  The gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Stefanik);
  The gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Hudson);
  The gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul);
  The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Waltz);
  The gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Barr);
  The gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick);
  The gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Gallagher);
  The gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Kim);
  The gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Rouzer);
  The gentleman from South Dakota (Mr. Johnson);
  The gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Wilson);
  The gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries);
  The gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Clark);
  The gentleman from California (Mr. Aguilar);
  The gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. DelBene);
  The gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Neguse);
  The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone);
  The gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks);
  The gentleman from California (Mr. Bera);
  The gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Jayapal);
  The gentleman from California (Mr. Khanna);
  The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Krishnamoorthi); and
  The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Thanedar).
  The VICE PRESIDENT. The President of the Senate, at the direction of 
that body, appoints the following Senators as members of the committee 
on the part of the Senate to escort His Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime 
Minister of the Republic of India, into the House Chamber:
  The Senator from New York (Mr. Schumer);
  The Senator from Illinois (Mr. Durbin);
  The Senator from Minnesota (Ms. Klobuchar);
  The Senator from Virginia (Mr. Warner);
  The Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez);
  The Senator from Kentucky (Mr. McConnell);
  The Senator from West Virginia (Mrs. Capito);
  The Senator from Iowa (Ms. Ernst);
  The Senator from Montana (Mr. Daines); and
  The Senator from Idaho (Mr. Risch).
  The Assistant to the Sergeant at Arms announced the Acting Dean of 
the Diplomatic Corps, Her Excellency Floreta Faber, the Ambassador of 
Albania.
  The Acting Dean of the Diplomatic Corps entered the Hall of the House 
of Representatives and took the seat reserved for her.
  The Assistant to the Sergeant at Arms announced the Cabinet of the 
President of the United States.
  The members of the Cabinet of the President of the United States 
entered the Hall of the House of Representatives and took the seats 
reserved for them in front of the Speaker's rostrum.
  At 4 o'clock and 6 minutes p.m., the Sergeant at Arms, the Honorable 
William P. McFarland, announced His Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime 
Minister of the Republic of India.
  The Prime Minister of India, escorted by the committee of Senators 
and Representatives, entered the Hall of the House of Representatives 
and stood at the Clerk's desk.
  (Applause, the Members rising.)

[[Page H3096]]

  The SPEAKER. Members of Congress, I have the high privilege and the 
distinct honor of presenting to you His Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime 
Minister of the Republic of India.
  (Applause, the Members rising.)
  Prime Minister MODI. Mr. Speaker, Madam Vice President, distinguished 
Members of the U.S. Congress, ladies and gentlemen, namaskar.
  It is always a great honor to address the United States Congress. It 
is an exceptional privilege to do so twice. For this honor, I extend my 
deepest gratitude on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India.
  I see that nearly half of you were here in 2016. I feel your warmth 
as old friends.
  I can also see the enthusiasm of a new friendship in the other half.
  I remember Senator Harry Reid, Senator John McCain, Senator Orrin 
Hatch, Representative Elijah Cummings, Representative Alcee Hastings, 
and others who I met here in 2016 and who are sadly no longer with us.
  Mr. Speaker, standing here seven Junes ago--that is the June when 
``Hamilton'' swept all the awards--I said that the hesitations of 
history were behind us.
  Now, when our era is at a crossroads, I am here to speak about our 
calling for this century.
  Through the long and winding road that we have traveled, we have met 
the test of friendship.
  A lot has changed since I came here seven summers ago, but a lot has 
remained the same, like our commitment to deepen the friendship between 
India and the United States.
  In the past few years, there have been many advances in AI, 
artificial intelligence. At the same time, there have been even more 
momentous developments in another AI, America and India.
  Mr. Speaker and distinguished Members, the beauty of democracy is the 
constant connect with the people, to listen to them and feel their 
pulse, and I know this takes a lot of time, energy, effort, and travel.
  It is a Thursday afternoon, a fly-out day for some of you. So, I am 
grateful for your time.
  I also know how busy you have been this last month.
  Being a citizen of a vibrant democracy myself, I can admit one thing, 
Mr. Speaker: You have a tough job.
  I can relate to the battles of passion, persuasion, and policy.
  I can understand the debate of ideas and ideology.
  But I am delighted to see you come together today to celebrate the 
bond between the world's two great democracies, India and the United 
States.
  I am happy to help out whenever you need a strong bipartisan 
consensus.
  There will be--and there must be--a contest of ideas at home. But we 
must also come together as one when we speak for our nation. And, you 
have shown that you can do it.
  Congratulations.
  Mr. Speaker, the foundation of America was inspired by the vision of 
a nation of equal people.
  Throughout your history, you have embraced people from around the 
world.
  And, you have made them equal partners in the American Dream.
  There are millions here who have roots in India. Some of them sit 
proudly in this Chamber. There is one behind me who has made history.
  I am told that the Samosa Caucus is now the flavor of the House.
  I hope it grows and brings the full diversity of Indian cuisine here.
  Over two centuries, we have inspired each other through the lives of 
great Americans and Indians.
  We pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. We also 
remember many others who worked for liberty, equality, and justice. 
Today, I also wish to pay a heartfelt tribute to one of them, 
Congressman John Lewis.
  Mr. Speaker, democracy is one of our sacred and shared values.
  It has evolved over a long time and has taken various forms and 
systems. Throughout history, however, one thing has been clear:
  Democracy is the spirit that supports equality and dignity.
  Democracy is the idea that welcomes debate and discourse.
  Democracy is the culture that gives wings to thought and expression.
  India is blessed to have such values from times immemorial.
  In the evolution of the democratic spirit, India is the mother of 
democracy.
  Millennia ago, our oldest Scriptures said:
  [Speaking in Hindi]
  It means: The truth is one, but the wise express it in different 
ways.
  Now, the U.S. is the oldest and India is the largest democracy.
  Our partnership augurs well for the future of democracy.
  Together, we shall give a better future to the world and a better 
world to the future.
  Mr. Speaker, last year, India celebrated 75 years of its 
independence.
  Every milestone is important, but this one was special.
  We celebrated a remarkable journey of over 75 years of freedom after 
a thousand years of foreign rule in one form or another.
  This was not just a celebration of democracy, but also of diversity.
  Not just of constitution, but also of its spirit of social 
empowerment.
  Not just of our competitive and cooperative federalism, but also of 
our essential unity and integrity.
  We have over 2,500 political parties.
  Yes, you heard that right, 2,500.
  Twenty different parties govern various states of India.
  We have 22 official languages and thousands of dialects, and yet, we 
speak in one voice.
  Every 100 miles our cuisine changes. From Dosa to Aloo Prantha and 
from Srikhand to Sandesh. We enjoy all of these.
  We are home to all faiths in the world, and we celebrate all of them.
  In India, diversity is a natural way of life.
  Today, the world wants to know more and more about India.
  I see that curiosity in this House, too.
  We were honored to receive over 100 Members of the U.S. Congress in 
India over the last decade.
  Everyone wants to understand India's development, democracy, and 
diversity.
  Everyone wants to know what India is doing right and how.
  Among close friends, I am happy to share the same.
  Mr. Speaker, when I first visited the U.S. as Prime Minister, India 
was the tenth largest economy in the world.
  Today, India is the fifth largest economy.
  And India will be the third largest economy soon.
  We are not only growing bigger, but we are also growing faster.
  When India grows, the whole world grows.
  After all, we are one-sixth of the world's population.
  In the last century, when India won its freedom, it inspired many 
other countries to free themselves from colonial rule.
  In this century, when India sets benchmarks in growth, it will 
inspire many other countries to do the same.
  Our vision is [Speaking in Hindi].
  It means: Together, for everyone's growth, with everyone's trust and 
everyone's efforts.
  Let me share with you how this vision is translating into action, 
with speed and scale.
  We are focusing on infrastructure development.
  We have given nearly 40 million homes that provide shelter to over 
150 million people.
  That is nearly six times the population of Australia.
  We run a national health insurance program that ensures free medical 
treatment for about 500 million people.
  That is greater than the population of South America.
  We took banking to the unbanked with the world's largest financial 
inclusion drive.
  Nearly 500 million people benefited.
  This is close to the population of North America. We have worked on 
building Digital India.
  Today, there are more than 850 million smartphones and internet users 
in the country.
  This is more than double the population of Europe.
  We protected our people with 2.2 billion doses of made-in-India COVID 
vaccines, that too free of cost.
  I may be running out of continents soon, so I will stop here.
  Distinguished Members, the Vedas are one of the world's oldest 
Scriptures.

[[Page H3097]]

  They are a great treasure of humanity, composed thousands of years 
ago.
  Back then, women sages composed many verses in the Vedas. Today, in 
modern India, women are leading us to a better future.
  India's vision is not just of development which benefits women, it is 
of women-led development, where women lead the journey of progress.
  A woman has risen from a humble tribal background to be our head of 
state.
  Nearly 1.5 million elected women lead us at various levels of local 
governance.
  Today, women serve our country in the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
  India also has the highest percentage of women airline pilots in the 
world.
  They have also put us on Mars, by leading our Mars Mission.
  I believe that investing in a girl-child lifts up the entire family. 
Empowering women transforms the nation.
  Mr. Speaker, India is an ancient nation with a youthful population. 
India is known for its traditions.
  But the younger generation is also making it a hub of technology.
  Be it creative reels on Insta or real-time payments, coding or 
quantum computing, machine learning or mobile apps, FinTech or data 
science, the youth of India are a great example of how a society can 
embrace the latest technology.
  In India, technology is not only about innovation but also about 
inclusion.
  Today, digital platforms are empowering the rights and dignity of 
people, while protecting privacy.
  In the last 9 years, over 1 billion people got a unique digital 
biometric identity connected with their bank accounts and mobile 
phones.
  This digital public infrastructure helps us reach citizens within 
seconds with financial assistance.
  Eight hundred fifty million people receive direct benefit financial 
transfers into their accounts.
  Three times a year, over 100 million farmers receive assistance in 
their bank accounts at the click of a button.
  The value of such transfers has crossed $320 billion, and we have 
saved over $25 billion in the process.
  If you visit India, you will see everyone is using phones for 
payments, including street vendors.
  Last year, out of every 100 real-time digital payments in the world, 
46 happened in India.
  Nearly 400,000 miles of optical fiber cables and cheap data have 
ushered in a revolution of opportunities.
  Farmers check weather updates, the elderly get social security 
payments, students access scholarships, doctors deliver telemedicine, 
fishermen check fishing grounds, and small businesses get loans with 
just a tap on their phones.
  Mr. Speaker, the spirit of democracy, inclusion, and sustainability 
defines us.
  It also shapes our outlook to the world.
  India grows while being responsible about our planet.
  We believe [Speaking in Hindi].
  This means: The Earth is our mother and we are her children.
  Indian culture deeply respects the environment and our planet.
  While becoming the fastest growing economy, we grew our solar 
capacity by 2,300 percent.
  Yes, you heard it right: 2,300 percent.
  We became the only G20 country to meet its Paris commitment.
  We made renewables account for over 40 percent of our energy sources 
9 years ahead of the target of 2030.
  But we did not stop there.
  At the Glasgow Summit, I proposed Mission LiFE--Lifestyle for 
Environment.
  This is a way to make sustainability a true people's movement, not 
leave it to be the job of government alone.
  By being mindful of making choices, every individual can make a 
positive impact.
  Making sustainability a mass movement will help the world reach the 
net zero target faster.
  Our vision is pro-planet progress. Our vision is pro-planet 
prosperity.
  Our vision is to create pro-planet people.
  Mr. Speaker, we live by the motto of [Speaking in Hindi].
  This means: ``The World is One Family.'' Our engagement with the 
world is for everyone's benefit.
  The One Sun, One World, One Grid seeks to join us all in connecting 
the world with clean energy.
  One Earth, One Health is a vision for global action to bring quality 
healthcare to everyone, including animals and plants.
  The same spirit is also seen in the theme when we chair the G20--
``One Earth, One Family, One Future.''
  We advance the spirit of unity through yoga, as well.
  Just yesterday, the world came together to celebrate the 
International Day of Yoga.
  Just last week, all nations joined our proposal at the U.N. to build 
a memorial wall to honor the peacekeepers, and this year, the whole 
world is celebrating the International Year of Millets to promote 
sustainable agriculture and nutrition alike.
  During COVID, we delivered vaccines and medicines to over 150 
countries.
  We reach out to others during disasters as first responders, as we do 
for our own. We share our modest resources with those who need them the 
most. We build capabilities, not dependencies.
  Mr. Speaker, when I speak about India's approach to the world, the 
United States occupies a special place. I know our relations are of 
great importance to all of you. Every Member of this Congress has a 
deep interest in it.
  When defense and aerospace in India grow, industries in the States of 
Washington, Arizona, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and Pennsylvania 
thrive.
  When American companies grow, their research and development centers 
in India thrive.
  When Indians fly more, a single order for aircraft creates more than 
a million jobs in 44 States in America.
  When American phone makers invest in India, it creates an entire 
ecosystem of jobs and opportunities in both countries.
  When India and the U.S. work together on semiconductors and critical 
minerals, it helps the world in making supply chains more diverse, 
resilient, and reliable.
  Indeed, Mr. Speaker, we were strangers in defense cooperation at the 
turn of the century. Now, the United States has become one of our most 
important defense partners.
  Today, India and the U.S. are working together in space and in the 
seas, in science and in semiconductors, in startups and sustainability, 
in tech and in trade, in farming and finance, in art and artificial 
intelligence, in energy and education, in healthcare and humanitarian 
efforts.
  I can go on and on, but to sum it up, I would say the scope of our 
cooperation is endless, the potential of our synergies is limitless, 
and the chemistry in our relations is effortless.
  In all this, Indian Americans have played a big role. They are 
brilliant in every field, not just in spelling bees. With their hearts 
and minds, talent and skills, and their love for America and India, 
they have connected us. They have unlocked doors. They have shown the 
potential of our partnership.
  Mr. Speaker, distinguished Members, every Indian Prime Minister and 
American President of the past has taken our relationship further, but 
our generation has the honor of taking it to greater heights.
  I agree with President Biden that this is a defining partnership of 
this century because it serves a larger purpose. Democracy, demography, 
and destiny give us that purpose.
  One consequence of globalization has been the overconcentration of 
supply chains. We will work together to diversify, decentralize, and 
democratize supply chains.
  Technology will determine the security, prosperity, and leadership in 
the 21st century. That is why our two countries established a new 
initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology.
  Our knowledge partnership will serve humanity and seek solutions to 
the global challenges of climate change, hunger, and health.
  Mr. Speaker and distinguished Members, the last few years have seen 
deeply disruptive developments. With the Ukraine conflict, war has 
returned to Europe. It is causing great pain in the region. Since it 
involves major powers, the outcomes are severe.
  Countries of the Global South have been particularly affected. The 
global

[[Page H3098]]

order is based on the respect for the principles of the U.N. charter, 
peaceful resolution of disputes, and respect for sovereignty and 
territorial integrity.
  As I have said directly and publicly, this is not an era of war, but 
it is one of dialogue and diplomacy, and we all must do what we can to 
stop the bloodshed and human suffering.
  Mr. Speaker, the dark clouds of coercion and confrontation are 
casting their shadow in the Indo-Pacific. The stability of the region 
has become one of the central concerns of our partnership.
  We share a vision of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific 
connected by secure seas, defined by international law, free from 
domination, and anchored in ASEAN centrality; a region where all 
nations, small and large, are free and fearless in their choices, where 
progress is not suffocated by an impossible burden of debt, where 
connectivity is not leveraged for strategic purposes, where all nations 
are lifted by the high tide of shared prosperity.
  Our vision does not seek to contain or exclude but to build a 
cooperative region of peace and prosperity. We work through regional 
institutions and with our partners from within the region and beyond. 
Of this, Quad has emerged as a major force of good for the region.
  Mr. Speaker, more than two decades after 9/11 and more than a decade 
after 26/11 in Mumbai, radicalism and terrorism still remain a pressing 
danger for the whole world. These ideologies keep taking new identities 
and forms, but their intentions are the same.
  Terrorism is an enemy of humanity, and there can be no ifs and buts 
in dealing with it. We must overcome all such forces sponsoring and 
exporting terror.
  Mr. Speaker, COVID-19's biggest impact was the human loss and 
suffering it caused. I wish to remember Congressman Ron Wright and the 
staff members who lost their lives to COVID.
  As we emerge out of the pandemic, we must give shape to a new world 
order. Consideration, care, and concern are the need of the hour.
  Giving a voice to the Global South is the way forward. That is why I 
firmly believe that the African Union be given full membership of G20.
  We must revive multilateralism and reform multilateral institutions 
with better resources and representation.
  That applies to all our global institutions of governance, especially 
the United Nations.
  When the world has changed, our institutions, too, must change or 
risk getting replaced by a world of rivalries without rules.
  In working for a new world order based on international law, our two 
countries will be at the forefront as partners.
  Mr. Speaker and distinguished Members, today, we stand at a new dawn 
in our relationship that will not only shape the destiny of our two 
nations but also that of the world.
  As the young American poet Amanda Gorman has expressed:

     When day comes, we step out of the shade, aflame and 
           unafraid.
     The new dawn blooms as we free it.
     For there is always light,
     if only we're brave enough to see it.

  Our trusted partnership is like the Sun in this new dawn that will 
spread light all around.
  I am reminded of a poem that I once wrote: [Speaking in Hindi]
  If I were to say it in English, it would be:

     Raising its head in the skies,
     Piercing through the dense clouds,
     With the promise of light,
     The Sun has just risen.
     Armed with a deep resolve,
     Overcoming all the odds,
     To dispel the forces of darkness,
     The Sun has just risen.

  Mr. Speaker and distinguished Members, we come from different 
circumstances and history, but we are united by a common vision and by 
a common destiny.
  When our partnership progresses, economic resilience increases, 
innovation grows, science flourishes, knowledge advances, humanity 
benefits, our seas and skies are safer, democracy will shine brighter, 
and the world will be a better place.
  That is the mission of our partnership. That is our calling for this 
century.
  Mr. Speaker and distinguished Members, even by the high standards of 
our partnership, this visit is one of a great, positive transformation. 
Together, we shall demonstrate that democracies matter and democracies 
deliver.
  I count on your continued support to the India-U.S. partnership.
  When I was here in 2016, I had said that ``our relationship is primed 
for a momentous future.'' That future is today.
  Thank you once again, Mr. Speaker, Madam Vice President, and the 
distinguished Members, for this honor.
  God bless America.
  Jai Hind.
  Long live India-U.S. friendship.
  (Applause, the Members rising.)
  At 5 o'clock and 19 minutes p.m., His Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime 
Minister of the Republic of India, accompanied by the committee of 
escort, retired from the Hall of the House of Representatives.
  The Assistant to the Sergeant at Arms escorted the invited guests 
from the Chamber in the following order:
  The members of the President's Cabinet;
  The Acting Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.

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