WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S.-India Friendship Council congratulates the United States Congress on approving the historic U.S.-India Nuclear Civilian Agreement. Today's overwhelming support by 86 to 13 vote of the United States Senate marks the final step in Congressional approval for the Agreement. The house passed the measure by a vote of 298 to 117 last week. The U.S.-India Friendship Council looks forward to the White House signing ceremony, and heralding a new era in U.S.-India relations.
Swadesh Chatterjee, founder of U.S.-India Friendship Council stated, "This is the most historic political moment for the Indian American community. The passage of the nuclear deal by the United States Congress will signal a new strategic partnership between the United States and India that will define the 21st century. I, like many in the U.S.-India Friendship Council, have been working towards this day for the last two decades. This is the culmination of our dream to have the world's oldest and largest democracies working as indispensable allies."
The U.S.-India Friendship Council salutes President Bush and Prime Minister Singh for their vision in shaping this agreement. The Council congratulates Speaker Pelosi and Senator Reid for their leadership in bringing the nuclear deal for a vote. The Council also recognizes the critical role played by Leader Boehner and Senator McConnell to ensure that this bill had bipartisan support. The leadership provided by Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Senator Biden and Ranking Member Senator Lugar and Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Berman and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen was outstanding.
The U.S.-India Friendship Council was formed in 2005 with the sole purpose of ratifying the U.S.-India civilian nuclear agreement. For the past three years, the Council has been meeting with leaders on Capitol Hill to make the case that the Nuclear Agreement is in the United States' strategic interest. The Council played a critical role in the initial passing of the Nuclear Agreement during 2006. The Council recently worked with Congressional leaders of both parties to ensure that this deal was approved, in spite of its being an election year. The Council was pleased to work with members of the business community led by the U.S.-India Business Council and policy experts in the Coalition for Partnership with India.
The U.S.-India Friendship Council will continue its work to strengthen U.S.-India relations.
SOURCE The U.S.-India Friendship Council
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