Brown, a senior member of the International Relations Committee and co-founder of the India Caucus, requested the House Chaplain invite Venkatachalapathi Salmuldrala from Shiva Vishnu Hindu Temple in Parma, Ohio, to give the prayer opening a legislative day of Congress.
Today is a great day for Indian-American relations.
India and the United States share the bonds of history and culture. I requested the House Chaplain invite Mr. Samuldrala to give today's prayer as a testimony to the religious diversity that is the hallmark of our nation. Brown welcomed Mr. Salmuldrala before Prime Minister Vajpayee's address. In June, Brown urged Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert to invite Prime Minister Vajpayee to speak before a joint meeting of Congress. Brown escorted Mr. Vajpayee to the House floor.