US House lawmakers back resolution for Indian American Heritage Month

A bipartisan resolution to designate July as Indian American Heritage Month has secured support from 256 members of the US House of Representatives, representing more than half of the chamber. Introduced by Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat, the measure aims to recognize the contributions of the Indian American community to the United States.

The resolution links the proposed observance to the Luce-Celler Act, which was signed into law by President Harry S. Truman on July 2, 1946. This legislation ended decades of restrictions by making individuals of Indian descent eligible for naturalization as US citizens.

Citing 2023 US Census Bureau estimates, the resolution notes that more than 5.2 million people in the United States identify as Indian American. The text highlights the community's diverse religious background and its significant contributions to fields such as science, medicine, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and computing, as well as service in the US military and government.