Lawmakers Voice Bipartisan Support for Stronger India-U.S. Partnership

Washington — U.S. lawmakers, senior administration officials and Indian diplomats voiced bipartisan support for strengthening India-U.S. relations, calling for closer cooperation on trade, technology, defense and immigration while raising concerns about anti-India and anti-Hindu sentiment in the United States.

The remarks came during the fourth annual Capitol Hill advocacy event organized by the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies, which brought more than 150 delegates from 25 states to Washington for meetings with members of Congress and Senate offices.

Participants discussed issues affecting the bilateral relationship and the Indian American community, including Indo-Pacific security, supply-chain resilience, critical minerals, trade, H-1B visas and immigration reform.

Sen. Roger Marshall of Kansas praised Indian Americans as one of the country’s most successful immigrant communities and said their accomplishments demonstrated the benefits of legal immigration.

“Every single time someone watches the questions whether legal immigration works. You’re the answer, you’re not the argument, you’re the answer,” Marshall said.

He noted that Indian Americans make up less than 2 percent of the U.S. population but hold prominent roles in business, medicine and innovation.

“You didn’t just come to America, you helped build it,” he said.

Marshall described India as a rapidly growing economy and an important U.S. strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific.

“India’s GDP growing at 6.6 per cent this year, the fastest of any major economy on the planet,” he said, adding that India was “a democracy, English-speaking, a Quad security partner aligned with us on China.”

While acknowledging trade imbalances, Marshall said economic relations remained far below their potential and called for greater market access, stronger commercial ties and reforms to legal immigration pathways.

Rep. Sanford Bishop of Georgia emphasized the historic connections between India and the United States, including the influence of Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolence on the American civil rights movement.

“We must ensure that H visas for skilled workers and visas for students remain available in the United States,” Bishop said.

He also called for greater cooperation to “counter the rising threat in China,” strengthen supply chains and expand counterterrorism efforts.

Bishop urged lawmakers to address prejudice against Hindus.

“We must be vigilant in our efforts to recognise and address Hindu phobia here in the United States,” he said.

Rep. James Walkinshaw of Virginia described India as an indispensable partner in efforts to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“The US and India work together to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific to counter coercion and aggression from the People’s Republic of China,” he said.

Walkinshaw also called for changes to the U.S. immigration system.

“We have to address country caps. We have to modernise our immigration system and ensure that America remains the premier destination for innovative researchers, professionals,” he said.

Rep. Brad Sherman of California, a longtime supporter of closer relations with India, highlighted the expansion of bilateral trade and defense cooperation during his three decades in Congress.

“The trade relationship between the United States and India has grown exponentially in the 30 years I’ve been in Congress,” Sherman said.

He also pointed to his efforts to reduce visa backlogs and expand opportunities for Indian professionals seeking employment in the United States.

Rep. Bill Huizenga of Michigan, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South and Central Asia, said the countries shared a commitment to a “free, open, and a secure” Indo-Pacific.

He also expressed optimism about ongoing trade negotiations.

“I’m eager to see a resolution to the new trade deal,” Huizenga said, adding that discussions were “at the one yard line”.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois warned that Indian Americans were increasingly encountering prejudice despite the community’s success.

“There is the rise of anti-Hindu, anti-Indian, anti Desi hate,” he said.

Referring to attacks directed at him, Krishnamoorthi declared: “I’m not going anywhere.”

He encouraged Indian Americans to become more politically active and seek elected office.

“It’s time to run for office,” he said. “If you don’t have a seat at the table, you’re on the menu.”

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia also raised concerns about immigration delays and backlogs affecting Indian families.

“My parents came here in 1978 from India. They got their green card at the airport,” he said.

Subramanyam said the United States was “missing out on so much talent from India” because of lengthy waits for visas and green cards. He also encouraged younger Indian Americans to become involved in policymaking and public service.

Rep. Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania described India as one of America’s most important partners and praised Indian Americans for strengthening communities through entrepreneurship, education and civic engagement.

Community leaders also addressed identity-based discrimination. Jewish leader Bob Peckar drew parallels between antisemitism and anti-Hindu prejudice, arguing that both communities faced attempts to marginalize their religious and cultural identities.

“Our problem is now yours,” he said, discussing the formation of the Hindu Jewish Coalition of America to jointly address those concerns.

Senior administration officials used the event to outline the Trump administration’s priorities for relations with India.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Bethany Poulos Morrison described India as one of Washington’s most consequential partners and highlighted growing cooperation in trade, energy, defense and emerging technologies.

“The US-India relationship is the future,” Morrison said.

She pointed to collaboration in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, critical minerals and other advanced technologies. Bilateral goods trade reached $149 billion in 2025, she said.

India’s deputy chief of mission, Namgya C. Khampa, described the relationship as “one of the most seminal and defining partnerships of the 21st century”.

“The strategic logic underpinning the relationship has become stronger with each passing year,” Khampa said.

He cited progress in trade, energy, technology and defense and credited the Indian diaspora with helping turn the government relationship into a broader societal partnership.

“People are the ultimate custodians of this partnership,” he said.

FIIDS leader Khanderao Kand said delegates encountered broad bipartisan support on Capitol Hill for expanding engagement with India and strengthening ties between the people of the two democracies.

India and the United States have expanded cooperation in defense, trade, technology, energy and regional security during the past two decades. Both countries increasingly view the partnership as important to maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific and responding to China’s growing regional influence.

The Indian American community, which numbers more than 5 million people, has also become an increasingly influential constituency in discussions about immigration, economic competitiveness and the future of India-U.S. relations. (Source: IANS)