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[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 523 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 523

  Expressing the sense of the Senate on the importance of the United 
   States-India strategic partnership and the continued deepening of 
                       bilateral ties with India.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 24, 2014

    Mr. Warner (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Kaine, and Mr. Risch) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                          on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Expressing the sense of the Senate on the importance of the United 
   States-India strategic partnership and the continued deepening of 
                       bilateral ties with India.

Whereas the United States-India relationship is built on mutual respect for 
        common values, including democracy, the rule of law, a market economy, 
        and ethnic and religious diversity, and bolstered by strong people-to-
        people ties, including a 3,000,000-strong Indian American diaspora;
Whereas the Senate places tremendous value on the relationship with India, and 
        the bipartisan Senate India Caucus comprises 40 Senators and is the 
        largest bilateral caucus in the Senate;
Whereas the United States and India have a unique opportunity, in the early days 
        of the new administration in India, to refresh the United States-India 
        relationship and work cooperatively to make progress that will benefit 
        both of our countries in a broad range of areas, including education, 
        skills development, infrastructure, and energy;
Whereas a strong economic partnership between India and the United States 
        requires a mutual respect for innovation;
Whereas an investment environment that fosters continued research and 
        development and the bilateral relationship between the United States and 
        India has resulted in almost $100,000,000,000 in trade of goods and 
        services in 2013;
Whereas the United States-India relationship is vital to promoting stability, 
        democracy, and economic prosperity in the 21st century;
Whereas defense and security ties have led to nearly $10,000,000,000 in defense 
        trade, and the United States-India Defense Trade and Technology 
        Initiative has facilitated greater cooperation on joint development of 
        defense platforms;
Whereas counterterrorism cooperation is a growing and important aspect of the 
        partnership given the terrorist threats faced by both countries, 
        including from groups such as al Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Taiba;
Whereas the United States values India's role as a net security provider in the 
        Indian Ocean Region and promoter of regional stability and maritime 
        security in the Asian Pacific region; and
Whereas India is a close partner of the United States in Afghanistan, has 
        committed over $2,000,000,000 in development assistance, and shares the 
        United States goal of a stable, democratic, and prosperous Afghanistan; 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, It is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) Prime Minister Narenda Modi should be able to address 
        the United States Congress at the earliest opportunity;
            (2) the United States Government should develop a clear 
        strategic plan for its relationship with India and hold a 
        robust strategic dialogue in New Delhi that lays out clear 
        objectives and deliverables to set a positive trajectory for 
        the relationship and moves from dialogue to action to build a 
        path forward for more ambitious cooperation;
            (3) the United States nominate and confirm an Ambassador to 
        India as soon as possible;
            (4) the United States and India should continue to expand 
        economic engagement, including finalizing a bilateral 
        investment treaty and reviving the Trade Policy Forum;
            (5) the United States Government should urge the Government 
        of India to continue with its economic liberalization reforms, 
        including lifting the caps on foreign direct investment and 
        taking steps to enhance protections for intellectual property, 
        and consider discussions with other Asia-Pacific Economic 
        Cooperation (APEC) forum nations about Indian membership in 
        APEC;
            (6) the United States and India should expand energy 
        cooperation, by India fully implementing the 2008 civil nuclear 
        pact, and the United States pursuing increased export of 
        liquefied natural gas to India;
            (7) the United States and India should continue to deepen 
        defense and security cooperation, to include expanded joint 
        exercises and training, sales and co-production, holding a 
        ``2+2'' meeting of senior defense and foreign affairs 
        officials, and reestablishing the Defense Policy Group; and
            (8) the United States Government should urge the Government 
        of India to modify its offset regime so funds can flow to a 
        second tier of Indian priorities such as education, skills 
        development, or manufacturing.
                                 <all>
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