Should the House Express Support for Helping India Defeat its COVID-19 Surge? (H. Res. 402)

What is H. Res. 402?

(Updated October 2, 2021)

This resolution would recognize the devastating impact of COVID-19 in India and express the House’s sense that the Biden administration should deliver urgently needed medical supplies to the country. Additionally, it would urge the Biden administration to facilitate private, in-kind medical supply donations to the country. It would also recognize the efforts of Indian-Americans and U.S. firms to support India’s healthcare system and acknowledge the important role that defeating the COVID-19 surge in India plays in the success of the overall effort to address the pandemic. 

Finally, this resolution would call on the president and secretary of state to work with partners around the globe to quell the COVID-19 virus everywhere it persists.

As a simple resolution, this legislation is non-binding and wouldn’t advance beyond the House if adopted.

Argument in favor

India’s COVID-19 surge is continuing to devastate the country, especially in rural areas. The House should pass this resolution to keep the pressure up on the Biden administration to aid a critical ally in its time of need, even as the federal government and the American people provide support to India.

Argument opposed

There’s no need for the House to pass this resolution, given that the Biden administration has already provided aid to India, Indian-Americans and the American people at large have mobilized to support the country, and U.S.-based firms have provided cash and in-kind donations.

Impact

The House; India; COVID-19 in India.

Cost of H. Res. 402

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), who co-chairs the Congressional India Caucus with Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) introduced this resolution to express the United States’ solidarity with India during the COVID-19 crisis and encourage the Biden administration to facilitate private, in-kind medical supply donations to the country. In a statement, Rep. Sherman argued that stopping COVID-19 in India benefits the U.S., as well:

“As long as COVID-19 persists in India, there is the potential for additional variants that could pose a serious threat to a vaccinated America. We must do our part to quell the virus anywhere and everywhere it persists.”

In a tweet after this resolution’s unanimous passage by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Chabot tweeted, “As Co-Chairs of the India Caucus we strongly believe the US must stand by India in this hour of need.”

This resolution passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee by a unanimous vote with the support of 41 bipartisan House cosponsors, including 32 Democrats and nine Republicans.

Of Note:

In May and June 2021, India experienced a severe COVID-19 surge that pushed the country’s healthcare system to the breaking point. At the height of the crisis, the U.S. federal government, private companies, and individuals donated money and medical supplies to the country.

As of late June 2021, India’s COVID-19 surge remained unabated. On June 23, 2021, more than 4,500 people died of COVID-19; the highest death toll of any country in the world. Although infections seemed to be slowing down in some of the country’s urban centers by late June, likely owing to the success of urban lockdowns, the virus was spreading rampantly in the countryside, where testing is limited and the medical infrastructure is underfunded and overwhelmed.

Media:

• Hindustan Times
  
• NewsBytes