Promising Indian Presence Now In The US House Of Representatives
WFY Bureau, USA: Six Indian Americans sworn in as US House of Representatives members
Six of the leaders of the Indian American community on Friday were sworn-in as members of the US House of Representatives, the biggest thus far for this minority ethnic group in the country on a historic occasion. ” I was the first Indian American Member of Congress and only the third in US history when I first swore in twelve years ago. Our coalition is six strong right now. It gives me great pleasure to greet even more Indian Americans into the Congress hallways in the next years! Congressman Dr Ami Bera mentioned in an X post.
When I was first sworn in twelve years ago, I was the sole Indian American Member of Congress and only the third in U.S. history.
— Ami Bera, M.D. (@RepBera) January 3, 2025
Now, our coalition is six strong!
I am excited to welcome even more Indian Americans to the halls of Congress in the years to come! pic.twitter.com/CpLVST2g7H
The senior most of them, Bera, who has been sworn-in for the seventh straight term representing the seventh Congressional District of California, also uploaded a photo of all the six Indian American Congressman from the floor of the House. The most recent Indian American to join the House of Representatives is Suhash Subramanian, who stands for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District. “first day of employment!” Posting a picture of himself along with his family and House Speaker Mike Johnson, he wrote, honoured to be sworn into the #119th Congress and eager to start delivering results for VA10.
Congressman Shri Thanedar, representing the 13th Congressional District of Michigan, said, “Ready to Serve,” after uploading a selfie from the House floor. Voting for House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in the House Speakership race, all six Indian American legislators are Democrats. The House Speaker was voted Republican Mike Johnson.
Congressman Ro Khanna serves California’s 17th Congressional District; Raja Krishnamoorthi serves Illinois’s eighth Congressional District. First ever Indian American woman to be elected to the House of Representatives is Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, representing the seventh Congressional District of Washington state.
Khanna, Krishnamoorthi, and Jayapal, all three of whom have been sworn-in for a fifth straight term, have become potent legislators in their own right. Krishnamoorthi belongs to the House Intelligence Committee in addition to being a Ranking Member of the strong China Committee. Leader of the quite strong progressive legislative bloc is Jayapal. Khanna not only serves on numerous strong House committees but also seems to be a possible presidential candidate in several years.
Inspired by Krishnamoorthi, all six Indian Americans establish an unofficial Samosa Caucus. Dr. Bera had then wanted ten Indian Americans to be members of the House of Representatives when sworn in for the first term in 2012. Several Indian Americans hoping to be House members lost elections either in the November 5 general elections or in the primaries. Among them at least three were women: Krystal Kaul, Bhavani Patel, and Sushila Jaipal.
First elected to the House of Representatives in 1957, Dalip Singh Saund was an Indian American. Besides, the first Sikh was chosen for three straight terms. His party of affiliation was Democratic. A second Indian American entered the US House of Representatives almost five decades later. From 2005 to 2008 Bobby Jindal represented Louisiana’s First Congressional District. Later on, he became the two-term Governor of Louisiana, therefore becoming the first Indian American to be chosen to rule a US State. Jindal is the only Indian American elected on a Republican ticket to the House.
