Senate India caucus to be announced

Wednesday, 28 April 2004, 19:30 IST
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WASHINGTON: US Senators John Cornyn and Hillary Clinton are to formally announce the creation of the first-ever Senate caucus dedicated to promote better relations between the US and India. The Senate India caucus, formed on the lines of the Congressional caucus on India in the US House of Representatives, will bring together Republicans and Democrats to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and work toward common goals, including increasing trade and improving security in an age of global terror, a statement from Cornyn's office said. The formal announcement would be made Thursday. Cornyn and Clinton will co-chair the caucus, which includes Senate majority leader Bill Frist, minority leader Tom Daschle and Kay Bailey Hutchison. A total of 31 Senators have become members of the caucus. The Senate has a total of 100 members, with two representatives from each state. "This bipartisan caucus will encourage further advances between the US and India, one of our greatest allies and a nation that shares the deepest convictions of democratic freedom," Cornyn said in the statement. "As the world's two largest democracies, it is particularly important that we maintain a strong strategic relationship." Clinton said in a statement: "I am so pleased to join Cornyn in launching the bipartisan India caucus in the Senate. "More than anything, my interest and leadership role with this caucus stems from the large Indian American community that I represent, as well as the promise of stronger economic ties between the US and India and the job creation I am confident will stem from that, especially in New York. "We've already had some small success from the delegation of Indian CEOs I hosted in upstate New York, a couple of years ago, and I look forward to building upon that success." Cornyn travelled to India on a nine-day trade mission in January where he met the commerce and industry ministers and discussed ways of promoting trade. He is a member of the Congressional Oversight Group on Trade, which supervises and consults with the US Trade Representative. He also serves on the president's export council.
Source: IANS
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