“When it comes to U.S. - India relations, they are of course based on our shared dedication to democracy, but also our strategic interests. We’ve conducted military exercises on an unprecedented scale, including the large Malabar naval exercises, which also included the Japanese navy. And of course India has become a major purchaser of American weapons… We’ve seen joint initiatives between the United States and India, including the U.S.-India joint strategic vision for the Asia-Pacific region. India has been recognized as a major defense partner, and India and the United States signed the Logistics Supply Agreement [in 2016].” - Congressman Brad Sherman’s remarks at the India Association of Los Angeles Independence Day event, Aug 26, 2017.

As the Democratic Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, I have been a longtime advocate of a strong U.S.-India relationship

As a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, former Chair of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, and as a Caucus Chair, I am working to support U.S. collaboration with India to emerge from the COVID-19 crisis, build ties, and secure future prosperity

Below are just a few of the recent issues I've been working on to continue to strengthen the U.S.-India relationship

In 2018, I became the Democratic Co-Chair of the Caucus on India and Indian Americans, which is dedicated to promoting and strengthening relations between the United States, the world’s oldest continuous democracy, and India, the world’s largest democracy.

This caucus is the single largest caucus dedicated to U.S. relations with one of our many allies and partner countries in the world.

As chair, I have facilitated direct engagement between the Indian Ambassador in Washington D.C. and Members of the U.S. Congress to strengthen security ties, expand trade, and assist India with its COVID-19 response.

In a time of rising regional threats, we must strengthen America’s defense and security relationship with India.

We have come a long way - America’s arms sales to India went from nearly nothing, to $15 billion over the past decade.

The U.S. and India have also shared state-of-art technology, held regular 2+2 meetings between India and America’s top diplomats and defense officials, and announced a groundbreaking agreement to share intelligence in real time.

However, the uptick in Chinese aggression in India’s Ladakh region underscores the importance of further expanding U.S.-India security cooperation.

As Co-Chair of the India Caucus, I have been working for years to strengthen U.S.-India security cooperation, including my NDAA amendment expanding defense cooperation with India which passed through the House.

Trade between the United States and India has exploded in recent years, growing from $19.1 billion in 2000 to over $110 billion in 2021.

We celebrated India opening its market to certain U.S. agricultural products, further strengthening our ties.

Still, I believe there is plenty of room for growth and will continue to work to find ways to expand balanced trade and mutually beneficial investment with India.

When the devastating Delta wave swept through India, I worked hard to increase U.S. assistance to India to address the COVID surge.

I sent a letter to President Biden formally requesting that the White House increase its assistance for India’s battle against COVID-19, urged the Administration to make available the raw materials necessary for India to manufacture additional vaccines, and worked directly with the Indian Ambassador in Washington D.C. to lead over 50 Members of Congress to send another letter to President Biden requesting the White House further increase aid and provide specific, needed medical equipment to support India through the COVID crisis.

By early May 2021, the United States had provided more than $100 million worth of medical supplies to India, including oxygen support, personal protective equipment (PPE), rapid diagnostic tests, and therapeutics, according to the White House. USAID also facilitated the delivery of 440 oxygen cylinders and regulators to India, generously donated by the State of California.

I also introduced a resolution, along with the India Caucus Republican Co-Chair, recognizing the devastating impact of COVID-19 in India, standing with the people of India as they worked to combat the deadly surge, and urging the Administration to facilitate private, in-kind medical supply donations to India and deliver additional, urgently needed medical supplies. This resolution was agreed to in the House with bipartisan support.

I continue to work with the Congressional India Caucus, the Indian Embassy, the Administration, and the Indian-American community to strengthen the bonds between the United States and India.

India is a natural American partner with which we share a unique bond based on common democratic values, and I will continue to work for a stronger U.S.-India relationship in the years to come.