Royce has been instrumental in strengthening relations between the U.S. and India. Since 1993, Royce has been a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and currently sits on the Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. In the 107th session of Congress, eight years ago, Royce chaired the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans. Starting with only 8 members, Royce helped build the Caucus to become one of the largest in the House, with over 180 members.
Royce was designated by Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert to be an official member of then-President Clinton’s historic delegation to India in 2000. He has traveled several more times to India.
Following the January 2001 earthquake in Gujarat, Royce led a Congressional Delegation to the ravaged area to help. As sister states, Gujarat and California both lie in earthquake prone areas. Royce worked to help the two to share information on early warning systems.
In 2001, Royce led the effort to lift sanctions against India, co-authoring legislation to lift all sanctions and economic restrictions imposed on India under the Clinton Administration. With this groundwork laid, the Administration moved to remove the sanctions on India in 2001.
One of Congress's experts on India, Royce managed legislation on the House floor in July 2006 to pass the historic U.S.-India Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement, beating back several "poison pill" amendments. As Royce said on the House floor: "Like in several other countries, nuclear energy is widely viewed as a critical technology (in India), one central to uplifting hundreds of millions of impoverished Indians." With his stewardship, the agreement passed and was signed into law.
In November 2008, Royce actively supported a resolution in condemning the horrific terrorist attacks that rocked Mumbai. Commenting on the attacks on the House floor, Royce stated: "What is clear is that Pakistan and South Asia is at a crossroads. Pakistanis have to make the fundamental decision to turn their backs on the culture of jihad. For if they don't, the future of their country, the region, and security in the world will be in peril." With Royce's support, the resolution passed last December.
In the 111th Congress, Royce has again assumed co-chairmanship of the caucus, a role he will use to address the U.S.-India business relationship and the threat India faces from Islamist extremism. Royce actively seeks council from the Indian-American community.
