Washington, D.C. – House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) issued the below statement after Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) announced that Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, will address a Joint Meeting of Congress:

“I applaud Speaker Ryan for inviting Prime Minister Modi to address a Joint Meeting of Congress, and I look forward to welcoming the Prime Minister to the Capitol. This address will serve as a sign of the deep and important relationship between the United States and India.  Our partnership in areas such as defense, nuclear power, renewable energy and space exploration is very strong, thanks to our many shared values.  I look forward to hearing from Prime Minister Modi about how we can continue working together to promote peace and prosperity.”

NOTE: Chairman Royce sent a letter last week to Speaker Ryan encouraging him to invite Prime Minister Modi to address a Joint Meeting of Congress.  Modi will be the fifth Indian Prime Minister to address a Joint Meeting of Congress: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed a Joint Meeting of Congress in 2005.  

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