Indian Relations are a Key Focus in the US House

Congressman Ro Khanna, a member of HASC, Andy Barr, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Ronnie Jackson, a retired rear admiral and member of HASC, have proposed the India-specific amendments

Three US Congressmen have proposed various amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would strengthen defense ties with India, and waive sanctions that might be brought about by India. Acquiring Russian weapons under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), strengthening the two countries' energy cooperation, and working to lessen India's reliance on Russian military hardware and energy sources in favor of the US sources. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is the overarching piece of legislation that identifies the defense-related agencies in the United States, sets their funding levels, especially for the Department of Defense (DoD), and establishes their basic spending guidelines. House Armed Services Committee (HASC) approved the Act in June with overwhelmingly bipartisan support. If and when NDAA 2023 is passed, it will allocate more than USD 800 billion for US national defense.

The changes about India have been offered by Congressman Ro Khanna, a HASC member, Andy Barr, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Ronnie Jackson, a retired rear admiral and HASC member.  Progressive Indian-American Democrat Khanna of California has praised bilateral cooperation on new technology, emphasized the dangers posed by China's aggressiveness against India, and asked for an India-specific exemption under CAATSA. Barr, a Republican from Kentucky, has asked the administration for a report on measures to lessen India's reliance on Russian energy sources as well as ways to expand collaboration on clean coal technologies and identify advantages for the US from an improved energy partnership. Jackson, a Texas Republican, has asked for a report on how the US might assist India's defense.

The amendments submitted to the House Committee on Rules are only the first step in a lengthy legislative process. The committee will meet the following week to decide on a structured amendment process to be presented to the full House; the House will vote on amendments; the Senate will pass its version of the legislation; the White House will then issue a statement of administrative policy indicating support or opposition for the legislation and specific provisions, and the Senate will pass the legislation. However, some who follow developments on the Hill think that the changes themselves show that there is bipartisan support in Congress for the strategic alliance between the US and India. The substantive defense-related amendments are being seen as a sign that there are powerful political constituencies on the Hill invested in the relationship with India at a time when two resolutions have been introduced in the House expressing concern over India's human rights record. Both resolutions have little chance of being taken up or passing.

The amendments also represent the hope in American political and policy circles that the differences in Ukraine can be turned into an opportunity to strengthen the US-India defense partnership, in line with the US effort to encourage India to diversify its defense ties in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.