[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13643]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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             RECOGNIZING THE NEW JERSEY-INDIA RELATIONSHIP

 Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, I am honored to serve a State with 
one of the largest Indian American diasporas in the country.
  The Indian diaspora community in New Jersey is an active, vocal and 
engaged constituency whose contributions to the State reach across all 
sectors. When given the opportunity, the very first caucus I joined in 
the Senate was the U.S.-India caucus. Soon after I joined the caucus, I 
had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Modi during his visit to the 
United States. His visit signaled a meaningful moment in the relations 
between the United States and India. It became clearer that the oldest 
and newest democracies can forge a transformational relationship to 
leverage the historic opportunities before us.
  Together, the United States and India represent over one-fifth of the 
world's population and share long-term strategic imperatives in the 
areas of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, social and 
economic development, and regional and global security that are rooted 
in our shared commitment to democratic ideals. President Obama has 
aptly referred to this relationship as the ``defining partnership of 
the 21st century.'' As the United States pursues greater clean energy 
production and sustainable manufacturing here at home, we can and 
should take advantage of opportunities to further collaborate on 
technologically advanced clean energy solutions.
  Together, we can leverage both American and Indian assets to address 
the challenges both our countries face in job creation, social 
mobility, and clean energy. Prime Minister Modi has also emphasized the 
importance of sustainable growth and ensuring that diversified, 
environmentally conscious energy sources are made accessible to all 
Indians. I am encouraged by Prime Minister Modi's commitment to 
economic and social policies that not only invest in infrastructure but 
that also develop India's human capacity. With half of its population 
under the age of 25 and a recent election that saw a 66-percent voter 
turnout, it is clear that India is set to harness the potential of its 
most valuable resource--its young people.
  In order to compete in a global economy, the United States and India 
must both expand opportunities for youth education and employment. By 
engaging private sector actors in our mutual development goals, I 
believe together we can address these challenges and turn them into 
opportunities for cooperation.
  As this partnership continues to grow, so will the benefits for both 
of our countries and for New Jersey. The Indian American population in 
New Jersey has grown by 73 percent in the past decade, and many Indian 
Americans serve our state as industry and community leaders. New Jersey 
is the No. 1 benefactor of Indian investment in job creation, with 
approximately 9,278 jobs and over $1 billion in investment in a variety 
of sectors from telecom and technology to healthcare and manufacturing.
  As the Senate adjourns for the summer recess, I do not want to miss 
the opportunity to highlight India Day, which will be observed next 
week. India Day celebrates the rich history and legacy of India's 
contributions to communities across the United States.
  On August 10, I will have the distinct honor and privilege to welcome 
Ambassador Singh to New Jersey. I look forward to working with 
Ambassador Singh as we partner together to foster investment 
opportunities, create collaborations between our world-renowned higher 
education institutions, and cultivate platforms to facilitate 
volunteerism and giving. I look forward to fostering the continued 
growth of the strong relationship between New Jersey and India.

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