Ed Royce: “I rise in support of H.Res. 572, of which I am a cosponsor. Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee's state visit this week caps…”

“I rise in support of H.Res. 572, of which I am a cosponsor. Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee's state visit this week caps off a special year in U.S.-India relations that began with President Clinton's March visit to India. The Prime Minister's visit provides another excellent opportunity for the U.S. and India to advance further our rapidly improving and mutually beneficial relationship. I want to commend Speaker Hastert for inviting the Prime Minister to share his vision of India's relationship with the U.S. with members of the House and Senate. Thursday's speech will be the first congressional address by a foreign leader in over two years. This address will be an especially significant moment for the over 100 members of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, who have worked hard on legislation affecting India. I had the privilege of traveling to India with the President, and saw firsthand the country's vitality and the desire by the Indian people to develop a closer relationship with America. In New Delhi, President Clinton and Prime Minister Vajpayee signed a joint statement on 'India-U.S. Relations: A Vision for the 21st Century.' This is an important statement, coming after years of American indifference toward India. It is important that we treat this statement as a living document, working to ensure that its vision becomes reality.”