Invite Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Address a Joint Session of Congress

Updated with Rep. Ted Poe and Rep. Eni Faleomavaega joining Rep. Sherman as leading signatories on the Dear Colleague invite letter 

Dear Colleague,

India’s newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit the United States in late September 2014.
As you know, India is the world’s largest democracy and recently held the largest democratic election in history. The United States and India have a strategic partnership, and our nations share core values of individual freedom, religious pluralism, and electoral democracy.
Please join us in sending the letter below to House and Senate leadership asking for an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to address a Joint Session of Congress. To sign on, please contact Siamak Kordestani at Siamak.Kordestani@mail.house.gov or 55911.
Sincerely,
Brad Sherman Ted Poe Eni Faleomavaega
Member of Congress Member of Congress Member of Congress

text of letter:
RE: Invite Indian Prime Minister Modi to Address Joint Session in Late September 2014
Dear Mr. Speaker, Madam Minority Leader, Mr. Majority Leader, and Mr. Minority Leader,
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Washington in late September 2014. Given the importance of our relationship with India, we ask you to invite Prime Minister Modi to address a Joint Session of Congress.
As you know, India recently held the largest democratic exercise in history; about 550 million people voted in free and fair elections.
Since recognizing India’s independence in 1947, the United States and India’s relationship has steadily grown. The United States and India share many core values, including religious pluralism, individual freedom, the rule of law, and electoral democracy.
We have an opportunity to build on the U.S-India strategic partnership to the benefit of both our nations. India is a growing economic power in a strategically important region of the world. New Delhi plays a critical role in regional peace and security.
In each of the last three decades, a Prime Minister of India has addressed a Joint Session of Congress, and the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Modi will allow us to continue that tradition.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
Members of Congress