US Congress adopts bipartisan resolution to honour Manmohan Singh - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The United States Senate has adopted a bipartisan resolution by unanimous consent "honouring the Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, for his service to the people of India and to the world, and welcoming the Prime Minister to the United States". Senate Resolution 360, a rare initiative by the Senate, was adopted on Saturday just before the Senate recessed for the weeklong Thanksgiving break. The Senate resolved that working together, the Governments of India and the United States can bring immense benefits to their people and make an enormous contribution to addressing the global challenges of the 21st century. It recognized that a strong relationship between the two countries, based on mutual trust and respect, will enable the two countries to collaborate more closely across a broad spectrum of interests. The resolution recognized India as a pivotal and effective partner in ensuring international peace and security and as one of the largest contributors to the UN peacekeeping missions; India's contribution to stabilizing Afghanistan; and, the benefit to both countries from the growing bilateral trade. The resolution was sponsored by the Democratic Co-Chair of Senate India Caucus Senator Christopher Dodd from Connecticut, who is Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It was co-sponsored by 18 Senators, including the Republican Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus Senator John Cornyn; the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senators John Kerry and Richard Lugar; Senator John McCain; Chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, Senator Joseph Lieberman; Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Dianne Feinstein; and, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Near Eastern,Central Asian and South Asian Affairs, Senator Bob Casey. Earlier, on 18 November 2009, the US House of Representatives adopted unanimously House Resolution 890 to commend the maturing of India-US relations and to welcome Prime Minister to the United States. The resolution, a rare gesture by the House of Representatives, notes that "the relationship between the United States and India has great potential to promote stability, democracy, prosperity, and peace throughout the world and enhance the ability of both countries to work together to provide global leadership in areas of mutual concern and interest; The House Resolution was sponsored by Rep Jim McDermott, Democratic Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans and was co-sponsored by 20 members of the House, including the Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Representative Ileana Ross-Lehtinen, the Republican Co-Chair of India Caucus Representative Ed Royce and Representative Gary Ackerman, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, and Representative Dan Burton, Ranking Member on the committee. Speaking during the brief discussion on the resolution, the House Majority Leader Representative Steny Hoyer said, "In India we see a vital partner on issues of national security to world trade. We see a nation that confronts many of the threats that challenge America, from terrorism to global warming. We see an emerging economic power with a growing middle class. And though our nations are separated by distance, language, and culture, we recognize in one another the democratic values we share; and of course we have a language in common as well, as well as common values, despite its great size and diversity." Rep Ackerman said, "India's rise as a great power in Asia and as a global player advances critical American interests ranging from the promotion of democracy and democratic values, to improving stability and security throughout all parts of Asia." Both resolutions also express appreciation for the contribution of the Indian American community to the United States. These two are the only Congressional resolutions in the 111th Congress to welcome a visiting Head of State/Government.