Washington, Jan 22 (IANS) A bipartisan US bill that places the Eastern Mediterranean at the centre of American foreign policy — with a clear India-linked connectivity focus — has cleared a key hurdle in Congress. The Eastern Mediterranean Gateway Act passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee by a 45–2 vote. The strong margin sends the Bill to the next stage of consideration and keeps it on track for a possible vote by the full House.The legislation is led by Congressman Brad Schneider and b…
Latest US Congress News & Updates
Washington, Jan 20 (IANS) Indian American attorney and educator Rakhi Israni on Tuesday announced her campaign for California’s 14th Congressional District, entering the race with a message centred on rising costs, political division, and the need for reform-focused leadership. Israni announced a campaign video released on social media, highlighting her background as an educator, attorney, and mother of four, and framing her candidacy around what she described as a moment of responsibility in …
Washington, Jan 20 (IANS) White House science adviser Michael Kratsios has warned that China is rapidly narrowing America’s lead in artificial intelligence, urging Congress to move swiftly on legislation, funding and infrastructure to preserve US dominance in a technology increasingly seen as central to economic power and national security.Testifying last week before a House Science, Space and Technology subcommittee on the administration’s AI Action Plan, Kratsios said the United States has…
Washington, Jan 20 (IANS) A sharp debate over worker safety, corporate liability and the future of the US stone slab industry unfolded in Congress last week, drawing in Indian-origin entrepreneurs and raising issues that resonate with Indian businesses and workers operating across global supply chains.Testifying before a House Judiciary subcommittee, former US occupational safety chief David Michaels warned lawmakers that proposed legislation to shield artificial stone manufacturers and distribu…
Davos, Jan 20 (IANS) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the sovereignty of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark must be “unequivocally” respected, stressing that the issue is of “utmost importance” to the transatlantic relationship as US tariff threats add fresh strain to ties.Von der Leyen made the remarks in a post on social media platform X after meeting a bipartisan delegation from the US Congress on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.”I also address…
Washington, Jan 17 (IANS) A Hindu advocacy group has warned that the condition of religious minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh has sharply deteriorated in recent months, urging the US Congress and administration to respond more forcefully to what it described as escalating violence and persecution.Speaking on the sidelines of an exhibition at the US Capitol, Utsav Chakrabarty of HinduAction said the organisation was working to “sensitize the members of Congress and the staffers” …
Washington, Jan 15 (IANS) A group of US lawmakers have urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to exempt health care professionals from a new $100,000 H-1B visa fee, warning that the policy is straining hospitals and could worsen critical workforce shortages across the country.In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, members of the New Democrat Coalition and other lawmakers said the $100,000 fee, imposed under a September 19, 2025, presidential proclamation, threatens acce…
Washington, Jan 14 (IANS) The US Congress is divided over Greenland as senior officials from Denmark and the Arctic island prepare for talks at the White House this week, pushing back against President Donald Trump’s threats over the territory.The dispute has sharpened just as Danish and Greenlandic leaders are set to meet top US officials, bringing a diplomatic edge to a debate playing out on Capitol Hill.Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and Greenlandic Foreign Minister Vivian Mot…
Washington, Jan 14 (IANS) Seattle University and the Consulate General of India in Seattle hosted a briefing session on the AI India Impact Summit 2026, highlighting India’s approach to artificial intelligence as a tool for social good, sustainability and inclusive economic growth.The event was held at the Casey Commons Conference Hall on the Seattle University campus on Monday and drew a large turnout of students and senior faculty. The discussion focused on the summit’s theme, “People, P…
Washington, Jan 13 (IANS) Senior Republican and Democratic lawmakers underscored that India has become indispensable to global stability, arguing that bipartisan leadership in the US Congress will remain the anchor of the relationship even as geopolitical competition intensifies.Speaking at a fireside chat hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Representative Rich McCormick, co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, said the partnership wit…