4 Indian American lawmakers on key House panels

Pramila Jayapal, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna, Ami Bera named to panels on immigration, China and Intelligence

Reflecting the growing influence of the Indian American community in US politics, four lawmakers of Indian descent — Pramila Jayapal, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna and Ami Bera – have been appointed members of three key House panels.

Chennai, India-born Jayapal, 57, has been named Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement.

Read: ‘Samosa Caucus’ celebrates historic representation in Congress (January 12, 2023)

Jayapal, who came to the US at the age of 16 is the first immigrant in recorded committee history to serve as either Ranking Member or Chair of this Subcommittee.

Delhi born Raja Krishnamoorthi has been appointed Ranking Member on the House Select Committee on Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), with Ro Khanna as a member of the same panel.

It’s a new committee formed in the 118th Congress for the specific purpose of investigating and developing policy to address the United States’ economic, technological, and security competition with the Chinese Communist Party.

Indian American physician Ami Bera has been chosen to serve on the influential House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence for the 118th Congress.

The Intelligence Committee is charged with providing oversight of the nation’s intelligence activities, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), National Security Agency (NSA), as well as the military intelligence programs.

“As the first South Asian woman elected to the US House of Representatives and one of only two dozen naturalized citizens in Congress, I am honored and humbled to serve as the Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement,” said Jayapal.

Read: Election 2022: Desi winners and losers in US House races (November 11, 2022)

“I came to this country when I was 16, alone, and with nothing in my pockets. After 17 years on an alphabet soup of visas to become a US citizen, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to live the American Dream, a dream that is out of reach for too many immigrants today,” she said.

“It is extremely meaningful to me that I will now be in this position to better move the needle and recenter our broken immigration system around dignity, humanity, and justice,” said Jayapal.

“The Chinese Communist Party poses serious economic and security threats to the United States and to democracy and prosperity across the globe, illustrated by its threats against Taiwan’s democracy, its weaponization of TikTok, and its theft of hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of American intellectual property,” said Krishnamoorthi.

“I look forward to working with my colleagues in both parties on this committee to counteract the CCP’s escalating aggression and ensure that our nation is prepared to overcome the economic and security challenges that the CCP presents to our country,” he said.

“That said, at a time when anti-Asian hate and violence are on the rise, it’s essential that this committee focuses its vital work on protecting all Americans from the threat posed by the CCP, while avoiding dangerous rhetoric that fuels the types of xenophobia that have endangered members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community,” Krishnamoorthi said.

Krishnamoorthi, who is also a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, is the lead Democrat on the Averting the National Threat of Internet Surveillance, Oppressive Censorship and Influence, and Algorithmic Learning by the Chinese Communist Party Act (ANTI-SOCIAL CCP Act), which protects Americans by blocking and prohibiting all transactions from any social media company in, or under the influence of, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and several other foreign adversaries.

Read: Indian American lawmakers’ Samosa Caucus set to get bigger (November 2, 2020)

“I am honored to be appointed to the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party,” said Khanna. “I plan to use my seat on the committee to bring attention to our trade deficit with China while also working to address the security risk China poses to Taiwan.”

“I take my role as the representative for the only majority Asian American community in the continental United States very seriously. We can be tough on the Chinese Communist Party while unequivocally condemning anti-Asian racism and the increase in hate crimes targeting the Asian American community,” said Khanna.

“It is my hope that the work done by this committee will help chart a productive path forward and prevent inflammatory rhetoric, violence, and discrimination,” added Khanna who represents the 17th District of California, which covers communities in Silicon Valley.

“I am honored to be appointed by Democratic Leader Hakim Jeffries to serve on the House Intelligence Committee, which plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and national security of the United States,” said Bera.

Read: 4 Indian-American lawmakers appointed members of key US House committees (February 2, 2023)

“At a time of increased threats, both at home and abroad, I take seriously this new role and the responsibility entrusted to me to protect and defend American families.

“With my decade of experience working on critical national security issues, I look forward to working with Committee members from both sides of the aisle to ensure our intelligence agencies are operating effectively to keep our nation safe.”

Bera also serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. During the 117th Congress, Bera served as Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation.