• US lawmaker David Schweikert has praised Indian community for its contribution to the nation
• The statement was made ahead of PM Narendra Modi's meet with Indian Diaspora in the city
• Many Indian-Americans have secured influential positions in US government

Washington, June 25, 2017: US lawmaker and Congressman David Schweikert has said that Indian-Americans have contributed immensely to art and culture in the USA and that their role in US government is "profound". This was said by the top lawmaker ahead of PM Narendra Modi's interaction with Indian Diaspora in the area as a part of his 3-day tour of USA.

"There is much to celebrate in our country's relationship with India, the world's largest democracy, and in the enormous contributions that Indian-Americans make in our country. The role of Indian-Americans in government is profound.", said Schweikert.

There are about four million Indian-Americans in the USA, stated the reports of the Census Bureau.

The Congressional Research Service has further stated that the annual bilateral trade between the two nations is expected to reach USD 500 billion by 2024, a five-fold increase since 2013, adding a further significance to India-US relations.

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Schweikert said in the House of Representatives, "In 2010 Pew Research Centre, a non-partisan think tank, reported that more than 87 percent of adult Indian-Americans were foreign-born and they were highly educated and successful." He further praised the community by giving several narrations of the community's success in the country.

In the recent past, many Indian-Americans secured influential posts in the US government. Nikki Haley who was earlier the Governor of South Carolina, was appointed the ambassador to the UN. Seema Verma was named administrator of the Centre for Medicaid and Medicare Services.

Ajit Pai was made the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Four Indian Americans took their seats in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate; and many more serve in state legislatures, local governments, the judicial branch and beyond.

The Congressman further stated, "Indian-Americans have deeply enriched our nation's arts and culture, and the Indian media in the US is surging to meet demand. Cable, satellite and radio offer a growing array of Hindu and Indian content. Politically and militarily, our two countries are united in a commitment to fight terrorism and promote world peace."

– prepared by Nikita Tayal of NewsGram. Twitter: @NikitaTayal6