Outpour of bipartisan support from US lawmakers to Biden for extending help to India to fight Covid-19

In an outpour of support during India's moment of crisis, American lawmakers applauded President Joe Biden for all help he was extending to save lives of people suffering from Covid-19, and urged him to do more.

"The US maintains a moral obligation to assist our ally India as they face severe challenges posed by Covid-19. We must take every necessary step to ensure the Indian people receive the aid and assistance they need in order to emerge from this crisis," Congressman Brad Sherman, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said on Tuesday.

"My heart goes out to the people of India and neighbouring nations as they fight an uphill battle with Covid. I'm glad that the White House is providing these life-saving vaccines, but we will need a strong, coordinated global response in the days ahead," Congresswoman Carolyn Boudreaux said.

Congressman Michael Waltz Press said India is an essential ally in America's global competition with China. "Its strength is important to stability in Asia and the United States. We must do what we can to help them curb their new wave of Covid cases," he added.

Congressman Bill Foster said while America continues to make progress in battling this pandemic, the critical situation in India can't be ignored.

Several other American lawmakers have also come out in support of India as its people battle one of the gravest challenges to its public health system.

Read | US rushing medical assistance to India to combat Covid: Biden

"I am glad to see President Biden taking action to aid the people of India as they experience a devastating surge of Covid-19. This will save lives and bring relief to millions of Indian-Americans who are worried about the health and safety of their loved ones in India," Congressman Steven Horsford said.

The United States and India have both suffered tremendously from Covid-19, and the countries will crush this virus together, he added.

Congressman Joe Morell said the US has a moral obligation to help its global partners fight back against the Covid-19 pandemic.

"I stand alongside President Biden, the Congressional India Caucus, and our local Indian American community to support increased aid to India during their time of need,” he said.

Senator Robert Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, too came out in support of India.

"Pursuing vaccine equity doesn't just advance our economic & health security – it's a moral imperative. As a bastion of innovation & champion for marginalized people everywhere, the U.S. must lead efforts to guarantee immunization access to EVERYONE at home & abroad,” Menendez tweeted.

Also Read | Americans fully vaccinated against Covid-19 need not wear mask at all times: CDC

Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said he was pleased the US will be sending its AstraZeneca supply to India and other countries in need of it as he had urged earlier.

"This is the compassionate choice and the smart one because it only takes one of India's many variants of Covid-19 to derail the US progress," he said.

Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Chair of the House Appropriations subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, and Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, praised Biden's plan to distribute 60 million AstraZeneca doses to countries in need in the coming months.

The White House on Tuesday welcomed the decision of Gilead to expand the availability of remdesivir, a key therapeutic medicine used in the treatment of Covid-19 patients, in India.

"We welcome generosity from the private sector to support the people of India. Ending the pandemic will require the partnerships with governments, industry, private citizens, non-governmental organizations and multilateral institutions," tweeted National Security Council of the White House.