Harris on four committees; Bera, Khanna, Jayapal and Krishnamoorthi named to a number of influential panels.
All four Indian American members of the House of Representatives and one senator from the community, who were earlier elected to the US Congress, have been named to influential Congressional committees.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), who was elected to the House of representatives from the Seattle area, has been named to the House of Judiciary Committee that oversees the administration of justice within the federal courts, administrative agencies and Federal law enforcement entities.
The Seattle Times quoted Jayapal saying that she is looking forward to working on immigration reform, criminal justice reform, reproductive rights and voting rights.
“I’m proud to have led efforts for some of the most progressive immigration policies in the nation,” Ms. Jayapal said in a statement.
“In the 115th Congress, I pledge to fight for our progressive values, and block the Trump administration’s plans to deport vulnerable undocumented immigrants, create a Muslim registry and violate our civil rights and civil liberties.”
According to a report by Mercury News, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) has been named to two key committees – Budget and Armed Services. Winning the 17th District of California, Khanna represents the Silicon Valley community of Cupertino, Fremont, Newark, Santa Clara and Sunnyvale.
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), who recently sworn in as a member of the US House of Representatives, will get two committee assignments — those of the House Education and Workforce Committee, and the House Democratic Policy and Steering Committee.
“These committee assignments will give my constituents a voice to make sure I can stand up for working families every day by focusing on job creation and affordable higher education,” said Krishnamoorthi.
Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) has been re-nominated to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Science, Space, and Technology Committee.
Bera is the senior most Indian American lawmakers in the House of Representatives and is also co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans.
The first Indian American senator, Kamala Harris, will serve on four influential committees: the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; the Select Committee on Intelligence; the Committee on Environment & Public Works; and the Committee on the Budget.
Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Harris said that the committee assignments in the Senate will be “key battlegrounds in the future of our country.”