The United States India Relationship Council (USIRC), a bipartisan advocacy organization focused on closer ties between Washington and New Delhi, held a two-day series of meetings with nine members of Congress in Washington, DC, from August 30 through September 1.
The organization, which operates as a non-connected political committee under federal law, used the meetings to discuss a broad range of issues shaping the US-India partnership. Topics included trade, defense, Indo-Pacific security, the Quad, concerns related to the Chinese Communist Party and matters affecting Indian-American and Hindu-American communities.
USIRC said the outreach was aimed at developing stronger relationships with lawmakers who currently serve, or may eventually serve, on congressional committees dealing with foreign policy. The group is seeking greater congressional and executive branch support for policies it considers favorable to stronger US-India cooperation.
The organization also said it wants to address narratives it believes inaccurately portray the bilateral relationship by providing members of Congress and the wider public with information reflecting its perspective on US-India ties.
The congressional meetings included several lawmakers with significant involvement in US foreign policy and Indian-American issues. On August 31, USIRC representatives Dr. Jashvant Patel and Dr. Amit Desai met with Rep. Jonathan Jackson of Illinois. The group also spoke with Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, who USIRC said reaffirmed his support for strengthening relations between the two countries.
Rep. Rich McCormick of Georgia discussed the potential for deeper cooperation, pointing to similarities between the two nations’ constitutional systems and the importance of developing a lasting strategic partnership.
The following day, USIRC met with Rep. Young Kim of California, a longtime supporter of stronger US-India relations. Rep. Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia emphasized the importance of continued political engagement, while discussions also touched on concerns affecting Hindu Americans.
Other meetings included Reps. Derek Tran, Scott Peters, Jimmy Panetta and Sydney Kamlager-Dove. According to USIRC, the lawmakers discussed opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation, including South and Central Asian affairs and engagement with diaspora communities.
The discussions also covered maritime security, terrorism, supply-chain resilience, space cooperation, technology, the Quad, the Artemis Accords and the NISAR mission. USIRC additionally raised the participation of Indian and Hindu Americans in US politics and concerns over anti-Indian and anti-Hindu hate.
