Urging the Administration to Facilitate Assistance in Response to the Devastating Impact of Covid-19 in India

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to thank my colleagues Congressman Sherman and Congressman Chabot for introducing this legislation.

COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the world, but some countries have been hit harder than others.

In March of this year, just as Americans were receiving COVID-19 vaccines and the United States was seeing a decline in cases, infections in India began to surge. A year before, in the spring of 2020, when the United States was experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases, India came to our aid and lifted its export ban on certain drugs in response to a request by the United States.

In response to India's surge, the United States quickly delivered much-needed supplies, such as PPE, rapid tests, and other drugs to India. This action from the United States, the world's oldest democracy, to India, the world's largest democracy, is only fitting. India and the United States are natural partners and COVID-19 has only proven our ties are growing stronger.

This resolution further shows that the House stands with the people of India as they work to stem the spread of COVID-19 throughout India.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

In closing, I would like to, once again, thank Representative Sherman and Representative Chabot for their work on this resolution.

It has been said before, but I will say it again, COVID-19 has shown that pandemics know no borders. Allies must come together and support one another during these difficult times. And we must work with India and the international community to end the spread of COVID-19 and prevent future pandemics.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this resolution, H. Res. 402, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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