Ami Bera elected to House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee

Indian American lawmaker vows to work towards supporting a more free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific

Indian American Congressman Ami Bera has been elected to serve as Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific for the 118th Congress.

Bera, 57, was also elected last week to the influential House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence charged with providing oversight of the nation’s intelligence activities, as also the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Read: Ami Bera loses bid to lead Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (December 22, 2022)

“I am proud to continue my leadership on the House Foreign Affairs Committee as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific. The Indo-Pacific remains the most consequential region of the world for our national security, economic interests, and values,” he stated.

“I am committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to address the many challenges facing the region, including the People’s Republic of China’s aggressive and coercive actions, the dire need for economic recovery post-pandemic, and the backsliding of democracy and human rights,” Bera stated.

In this role, Bera said he would continue “to help lead the Subcommittee’s bipartisan work towards supporting a more free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

Bera has served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee since entering Congress in 2013. During the 117th Congress, Bera chaired the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation, where he spearheaded efforts to reinvigorate US relationships with its allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific.

He has traveled extensively in the region, including visiting Japan, South Korea, India, and Vietnam, and has worked to build strong relationships with government and civil society leaders in the region.

In December President Joe Biden signed into law four Bera-led provisions that bolster American security and leadership in the Indo-Pacific.

Read: Ami Bera elected to House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee (February 9, 2023)

Noting that Intelligence Committee plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and national security of the United States,” Bera said, “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,” he added.