Illinois Republican takes over from Royce.
Bureau Report
WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Peter Roskam (R-IL) has been selected as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus of India and Indian Americans for the 113th Congress. Roskam takes over from Congressman Ed Royce (R-CA), who is now Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
“It’s an honor to play a leading role in the advancement of U.S.-India relations along with my friend Joe Crowley. This caucus has grown to become the largest caucus dedicated to one country in the House, showing the importance of nurturing our ties with one of the largest and fastest growing economies in the world,” said Roskam in a statement.
“Our countries are linked through our common interest in the democratic process, global security and international prosperity. In my meetings back home with the large Indian-American community in my district, there’s always a natural connection between their entrepreneurial spirit and our shared values. This caucus has the opportunity to further these priorities and I’m proud to be part of that effort,” said Roskam.
In a statement, Royce said it had been “a great pleasure to watch the India Caucus grow to become one of the largest in the House.”
“The Caucus is in good hands with Reps. Roskam and Crowley, long-time advocates of close U.S.-India ties. As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I will continue to work to strengthen relations between the United States and India,” said Royce, who will remain an active Caucus member.
Born and raised in the district he serves, Chief Deputy Whip Roskam is now in his third term in the United States House of Representatives. According to the Washington Post, Roskam “serves as a calming, drama-free influence” on Capitol Hill, and is regularly praised for his ability to distill complex national issues to their core.
Roskam graduated from the University of Illinois before spending his early career in the office of his mentor, legendary Congressman Henry Hyde. He later earned his J.D. from Kent College of Law. Hehas represented Chicago’s western suburbs in both the Illinois House of Representatives and Senate, where he served alongside then State-Senator Barack Obama.
Often referred to as the House Republicans’ “listener-in-Chief,” Roskam uses his roles in leadership and on the Ways and Means committee to fight for fiscal responsibility and common sense tax initiatives; he is a co-author of the Pledge to America and played an active role in securing a landslide House majority in 2010.
Roskam currently lives in Wheaton with his wife of 24 years, Elizabeth. They have four children, Gracey, Frankie, Steve and A.J.
India’s Ambassador to the United States congratulated Roskam on his new role in the India Caucus, saying that she was confident that under his leadership, the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans “will grow further in strength and dynamism, add greater momentum to the vital strategic ties between our two countries, and substantively energize our historic mission to promote prosperity in both India and the United States.”
In her statement Rao said: “Over the period that I have served as India’s Ambassador to your great country, I have had the privilege of closely witnessing a sustained strengthening and diversification of the Global Strategic Partnership between India and the United States, which now encompasses a vast array of collaborative pursuits and touches the lives of millions of people, not only in our two countries, but globally.
She added: “Just as we share values of democracy, freedom, tolerance and diversity, there is an increasing convergence of our interests across major global issues. Today, it is an exciting time for India-U.S. relations when we have a virtually limitless horizon of what we can achieve together, with our futures linked in so many ways.”
Rao said that one of the mainstays of the India-U.S. strategic partnership is the spirited bipartisan support for this relationship in the U.S. Congress embodied by the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, just as there is a strong consensus for thriving India-U.S. relations across the political spectrum in India.
“We are also fortunate to have a vibrant and dynamic Indian American community in the United States, which acts as a bridge personifying the friendship between our two great nations and is an increasingly important player in shaping the future of our partnership,” she said.