WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and John Cornyn (R-TX), co-chairs of the Senate India Caucus, welcomed Speaker Paul Ryan’s announcement that India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a joint session of Congress this summer.

“As co-chairs of the Senate India Caucus, we welcome Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Capitol Hill during his trip to the United States. Speaker Ryan’s decision to invite Prime Minister Modi to address Congress demonstrates the growing commitment to strengthening the strategic partnership between the U.S. and India,” said Sens. Warner and Cornyn. “As a key security partner with a flourishing economy, a thriving relationship with India presents tremendous opportunities to reach our joint economic and strategic goals. Prime Minister Modi’s visit presents an opportunity to energize efforts to improve bilateral ties between our two countries.”

This week, Sens. Warner and Cornyn introduced two bills to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. Given the strong role India plays in the economy in the Asia-Pacific region, Sens. Warner and Cornyn introduced legislation to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to obtain membership status for India in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). Sens. Warner and Cornyn also introduced the Advancing U.S.-India Defense Cooperation Act, which requires the President to take steps to codify India’s status as a major defense partner of the United States and provide them special privileges in defense trade under the Arms Export Control Act. These bills are companion measures to ones recently introduced in the House by Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ) and Rep. George Holding (R-NC).

On March 31, Sens. Warner and Cornyn praised Prime Minister Modi’s announcement that India will loosen FDI restrictions in the e-commerce sector and allow foreign companies to sell items directly to Indian consumers over the internet. Both Senators previously urged President Obama to request Prime Minister Modi loosen restrictions ahead of his historic trip to India in January 2015.  

Sen. Warner accompanied the President on his historic trip, where he attended India's Republic Day celebration marking the 65th anniversary of the adoption of India’s constitution and met with Indian leaders to discuss strengthening and expanding the US-India strategic partnership.

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