Congressman Ami Bera, Dd-California, the longest-serving Indian American Member of the US Congress, and among the few physicians on Capitol Hill, has urged the Biden-Harris administration to continue crucial aid to India to help overcome the devastating phase two of the COVID-19 pandemic, News India Times said.

On May 11, 2021, during a Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House. Bera availed of the opportunity for a  brief one-on-one with the Vice President to address the crisis in India.

Dr. Bera released a statement following that meeting saying he appreciated the assistance Washington was providing to India, but that it should be continued into the future.
 
“I appreciate the opportunity to speak directly with Vice President Harris about the ongoing COVID-19 crisis in India,” Bera noted in his statement.

“During the meeting, I thanked the Biden Administration for sending urgently needed resources to the Indian people, including funding, technical expertise, and vaccine doses,” he said.

The Biden Administration promised a $100 million aid package it announced in April that includes medical equipment and supplies which are already being delivered.

“I also commended Vice President Harris for her leadership in helping mobilize the Indian American diaspora community to deliver assistance to our family and friends in India,” said Bera referring to the Biden-Harris outreach to numerous Indian-American organizations that are mobilizing, fundraising and sending help to India.

“I also shared my hope that the U.S. will continue to be an active global leader in helping stop the pandemic in India and across the world. American leadership will be critical to saving lives and ending this pandemic once and for all,” Bera said.

Representative Bera is chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and is a member of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans. He also serves as an Executive Board Member on CAPAC, which is comprised of Members of Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descen

(SAM)