FIIDS advocacy day / Image- X (@FIIDSUSA)

The Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS), a prominent diaspora-centric organization, held a successful Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill on June 13. The event underscored the necessity for increased political engagement and the critical role of Indian Americans in fortifying the US-India partnership.

Prominent figures from the United States and India participated in the event to discuss and advocate for critical policy issues that impact the Indian-American community and US-India relations. Over 135 Indian-American delegates from 22 states met with more than 83 elected officials from 35 states, highlighting the community's growing influence.

The bipartisan support for the US-India relationship within Congress was celebrated by Congressman Ro Khanna, who noted that the congressional India caucus has expanded to more than 150 members. “It's probably the largest country caucus, if not the largest."

He encouraged Indian Americans to embrace their heritage with pride and confidence, asserting their significant role in enhancing both nations' futures. “It's time for the Indian American community to stand with dignity, to stand with pride, and to know our own power and to not let anyone tell us that we don't belong,” Khanna affirmed.

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi emphasized the significance of Indian American political participation, saying, "It is time to run for office... I don’t care if you’re a Republican, independent, or Democrat.” He underscored the importance of diverse representation in politics, stating, “When Congress looks like America, it functions better.”
 

Congressman from Georgia, Rich McCormick called for a more adaptable immigration policy, emphasizing the need for a "flexible, expansionist immigration policy for legal immigrants who do the right things." “We should make it easier to immigrate here legally and harder to make it come here illegally,” he said referring to his bill aimed at removing the 7 percent cap on green cards and reducing the existing backlog. 

Rep. McCormick emphasized the significance of numbers in a democracy, pointing out that the Indian American community, which is both larger and wealthier than the Republican Jewish Coalition (RJC), has the potential to influence the upcoming presidential election. 
 

“If the RJC can have every single Republican presidential candidate come for it, imagine what you can do, what kind of power you hold, what kind of influence you have, what you can set yourself up and your families up for the future. That is true power, so continue to be engaged, get more people engaged, and you'll have true power in America,” the Congressman remarked.

 "Five million Indian Americans have twice the per capita income of the average American," Mukesh Aghi, president of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), said in his speech, highlighting the significant economic contributions and other areas of excellence made by the Indian American community. He emphasized the need for increased political engagement and representation. 
 

Expressing optimism for US-India relations, he said, “I feel strongly that the relationship between India and US is going to grow both economically, geographically, and emotionally with people to people itself. And there's an old song that says, the future is so bright, you got to put on the shades. I would say put on the shades because we're going to move forward in the right direction.”

Atul Keshap, president of the US-India Business Council, pointed out that Indian Americans are about one and a half percent of the population of the United States, but contribute 6 percent of the tax revenue of the country. “I'm just amazed at how far we have come and I think we all ought to feel very proud,” he told the gathering.

A number of important policy matters were discussed at the summit by the officials and delegates. These included eliminating the iCET tech export exemption, recognizing India as a major defense partner, solving the green card backlog through immigration reforms, and fighting religious prejudice and hate crimes committed against Hindu-Americans and other Indian-Americans. 

Keshap recalled his earlier days as a diplomat when bilateral relations between the two countries were not that great and emphasized the growth it has seen in the past two decades. “I have been privileged to be in the meetings at the apex of discussions between our countries, there is no limit to what the United States and India agree on these days,” he asserted.

“Our two democracies have a great deal of untapped potential on the economic and commercial and investment front…and this is where I would urge our community to talk to their members of Congress and to policy leaders and in both countries and say, let's be more ambitious. Let's work toward facilitating trade through things like digital services agreements and bilateral investment treaties, and so much else that can really energize the US Indian relationship,” Keshap urged.

A number of important policy matters were discussed at the summit by the officials and delegates. These included eliminating the iCET tech export exemption, recognizing India as a major defense partner, solving the green card backlog through immigration reforms, and fighting religious prejudice and hate crimes committed against Hindu-Americans and other Indian-Americans.