BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. CROWLEY. I thank the gentleman from Washington, my good friend Mr. Larsen, for yielding me this time.
Mr. Chairman, the effort to expand U.S.-India relations has always been and continues to be a bipartisan effort, and I want to thank both sides of the aisle in acceptance of the amendment that I put forward.
Over the past two decades, we have seen the relationship between the United States and India flourish and blossom under both--I should say starting with President Clinton's Presidency, followed by President George Bush's Presidency, and we have seen how advanced it has become under the Presidency of Barack Obama.
I had the opportunity to travel with the President earlier this year to India, and the incredible reception that the President and the delegation received was like no other experience I have ever had in India, and this relationship continues to grow.
This is the first time we have had an opportunity to express the support of the House and of the Congress of this burgeoning relationship, especially as it pertains to mil-to-mil cooperation, and I believe that this is the most critical relationship that we will have this decade in the world.
India and the United States, we have shared values of civilian control of the military. It is a very important aspect when you consider the part of the world we are talking about. We share that same value with India.
India's quest for securing peace not only within her region, but around the world as well, is something that we share with her. India's commitment to democracy and rule of law is something we also share with India and, overall, using democracy and the quest for peace, trying to bring stability throughout the world.
I also want to thank the Indian diaspora in helping with this effort. This is truly, as I said earlier, I believe, the most important alliance the United States will have this century.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT