Close X
Monday, December 2, 2024
ADVT 
International

All 5 Indian American Lawmakers Nominated To Key Congressional Panels

Darpan News Desk IANS, 16 Jan, 2017 11:49 AM
    All five Indian American lawmakers have been nominated to key Congressional panels, the media here reported.
     
    All five are Democrats, as are the bulk of Indian-Americans. 
     
    US Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, elected to the House of Representatives from Seattle, will serve on the House Judiciary Committee, helping to oversee the federal-court system and law-enforcement agencies, said a report in the Seattle Times.
     
    Jayapal said she looks forward to working on immigration reform, criminal-justice reform, reproductive rights and voting rights.
     
     
    "I'm proud to have led efforts for some of the most progressive immigration policies in the nation," Jayapal said in a statement. "In the 115th Congress, I pledge to fight for our progressive values, and block the Trump administration's plans to deport vulnerable undocumented immigrants, create a Muslim registry and violate our civil rights and civil liberties."
     
    Congressman Ro Khanna was appointed to two key committees - Budget and Armed Services, reported daily Mercury News. He represents the 17th District of California, which covers the Silicon Valley communities of Cupertino, Fremont, Newark, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale.
     
    Indian American Raja Krishnamoorthi, who was sworn in as a Member of the US House of Representatives earlier this month, would be serving on two influential committees.
     
     
    In addition to being the voice of Illinois' Eighth Congressional District, the Democrat will serve on the House Education and Workforce Committee, as well as the House Democratic Policy and Steering Committee, indiawest.com reported.
     
    "These committee assignments will give my constituents a voice to make sure I can stand up for working families every day by focusing on job creation and affordable higher education," said Krishnamoorthi. 
     
     
    Congressman Ami Bera was renominated to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Science, Space and Technology Committee. He is the senior most among all Indian American lawmakers in the House of Representatives and is also co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, said a report.
     
    Kamala Harris, first Indian American to serve in the US Senate, will serve on four influential committees - the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; the Select Committee on Intelligence; the Committee on Environment & Public Works; and the Committee on the Budget.
     
     
    Harris said that her committee assignments in the US Senate will be "key battlegrounds in the future of our country", the Los Angeles Times reported.
     
    "At a time when so many Californians and Americans are uncertain about our future, I will aggressively fight for our families and the ideals of our nation," Harris said.
     
    2016 was a bumper year for the Indian-American community, with a record haul of four in the House of Representatives, and their first seat in the Senate.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Nikki Haley's Appointment Sign Of Indian Americans' Political Emergence

    Nikki Haley's historic appointment to a cabinet-rank post by Republican President-elect Donald Trump that caps the election of five Indian Americans to Congress this year has been welcomed by the community as a sign of its political emergence.

    Nikki Haley's Appointment Sign Of Indian Americans' Political Emergence

    Pakistan PM, Military Chiefs Vow To Teach India A 'Lesson'

    Pakistan PM, Military Chiefs Vow To Teach India A 'Lesson'
    Pakistan on Thursday stepped up its anti-India rant with the military chiefs, including outgoing Army chief General Raheel Sharif, threatening that the armed forces were capable of teaching India "a lesson" if the border tension escalates.

    Pakistan PM, Military Chiefs Vow To Teach India A 'Lesson'

    Indian Sikh Couple Shot Dead By Gunmen In Philippines

    Indian Sikh Couple Shot Dead By Gunmen In Philippines
    Bahagwant Singh Buttar, 45 and his wife Jaswinder Kaur, 36, residents of Sipocot town in the province, were killed by two gunmen who were riding a bike

    Indian Sikh Couple Shot Dead By Gunmen In Philippines

    Nikki Haley To Serve as Donald Trump's Ambassador to the United Nations

    Nikki Haley To Serve as Donald Trump's Ambassador to the United Nations
    President-elect Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he will appoint Nikki Haley, "a great leader" to be the United States ambassador to the United Nations, a cabinet-rank position, marking a historic breakthrough for Indian Americans in politics.

    Nikki Haley To Serve as Donald Trump's Ambassador to the United Nations

    Donald Trump Unveils Plan For First 100 Days In Office, Promises To Scrap TPP Trade Deal

    Donald Trump Unveils Plan For First 100 Days In Office, Promises To Scrap TPP Trade Deal
    The six items that president elect unveiled are to some extent easy to go with as they require only Trump’s signature and do not need Congressional approval.

    Donald Trump Unveils Plan For First 100 Days In Office, Promises To Scrap TPP Trade Deal

    Donald Trump Not Pursuing Charges Against Hillary Clinton

    I think when the president-elect tells you before he's even inaugurated he doesn't wish to pursue these charges, it sends a very strong message, tone and content, to the members

    Donald Trump Not Pursuing Charges Against Hillary Clinton