Illinois Congressman-elect Raja Krishnamoorthi, California, Ami Bera, re-elected for the 3rd term from District 7, and Ro Khanna from District 17, Pramila Jayapal from Washington state’s District 7 and Kamala Harris, California’s Attorney General are going to be the five fantastic Indian American Lawmakers in the new senate.
For the Indian diaspora, this is the first experience of having more than one voice represent them on Capitol Hill, even if all of them hail from the opposition Democratic Party.
Indians had a political breakthrough this US Elections
Illinois Congressman-elect Raja Krishnamoorthi has decided to cooperate with Republicans in the House of Representatives after he is sworn in Jan. 3, as long as it does not hamper his own priorities.
Senator-elect Kamala Harris has been put on four important committees – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Select Committee on Intelligence, Environment and Public Works, and the Committee on Budget.Harris had already talked about reforming Obamacare and not repealing it, preserving Medicare and protecting the rights of women and minorities.
Harris said, “I will be on the frontline of immigration enforcement action in the Congress.” In California, she noted, “I fought to pass laws that protect immigrant victims of crime and illegal retaliation for undocumented immigrants who report crimes,” and she was for increasing, not stopping the asylum seekers, including from Syria. As part of the Committee on the Budget, Harris said she “will keep prioritizing access to comprehensive, affordable health care and lead the resistance against any short-sighted legislation intended to gut our social contract for future generations.”
Rekha Nandwani kick starts New Jersey city council campaign
“I was elected on a platform of growing and strengthening the middle class. So that is my main agenda,” Krishnamoorthi said.
“I will do everything to cooperate with the incoming President and others who would like to do that. But if they engage in rhetoric to polarize people, I would have to take my stand,” he emphasized.
Krishnamoorthi said that he had yet to receive his committee assignments as have other House members. As for relations with India, he said he hoped to help strengthen ties. “As an Indian-American, I believe this is a strong and growing relationship.”
By Premji
