History made. First Ever American Sikh Congressional Caucus Launched

[JSinghnz]

April 25, 2013 (Washington, DC) – History was made yesterday as Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) and Representative David Valadao (R-CA) announced the launch of the first-ever American Sikh Congressional Caucus.

Representatives Chu and Valadao are the Co-Chairs of the Caucus. As of yesterday’s launch, 30 bipartisan Members of the U.S. House of Representatives have already joined the Caucus.

The purpose of the Caucus is to educate Members of Congress and the general public about Sikh American issues. It will also allow Members to strategize on how to support the Sikh American community.

Addressing Sikh community leaders, Members of Congress, and journalists on Capitol Hill yesterday, Congresswoman Chu said, "Today marks the day when Sikh Americans will finally have a unified voice to advocate for them in the United States House of Representatives. This bipartisan caucus, made up of members from California to Virginia, from New Jersey to Arizona, will stand by your side, and fight for you."

Chu continued, "More than a decade after 9/11, too many Sikhs across America face discrimination, bullying, and even bias-motivated violence from misguided individuals associating them with the terrorist attacks." Citing the American founding principles of religious freedom, acceptance and tolerance, Chu hoped that the newly formed American Sikh Congressional Caucus for Sikh Americans "will finally have a united bipartisan voice in Congress."

Congressman Valadao noted, "The Central Valley is home to more than 25,000 Sikhs, the largest population in the United States. Just in my district, California's 21st congressional district, there are at least seven Gurdwaras," adding, "I am excited and honored that I will be able to represent the Sikh community in Washington and am looking forward to working with my colleagues to address the unique issues this community faces."

While Sikhs have contributed greatly to our nation’s prosperity, they do face challenges to the enjoyment of their rights. Although Sikhs have served with distinction in the U.S. Armed Forces in both World Wars, Vietnam and most recently in Afghanistan, Sikhs are not presumptively permitted to join the U.S. Armed Forces because of restrictive appearance regulations.

Similarly, in the aftermath of September 11th, Sikh Americans have experienced a sharp rise in incidents of bias-motivated violence and bullying. The Associated Press reported that more than 700 such incidents took place in the U.S. over the last decade. Surveys have also found that up to three out of every four Sikh boys in the United States are bullied due to their appearance. The shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin last year is a tragic example of why Congress must focus on Sikh American issues.

The effort to create the Caucus was spearheaded by community members Harpreet Sandhu and Dr. Pritpal Singh from California. Sikh organizations SALDEF, Sikh Coalition and UNITED SIKHS, worked together to increase Congressional support for the Caucus. Sikh Americans and Sikh organizations are hopeful that the Caucus will serve as a platform for better engagement with the United States Congress.

Current Members of the American Sikh Congressional Caucus are listed below. If you do not see your Member of Congress listed as a member of the Caucus, please email or call us so that we can work with you to secure their participation in the Caucus.

Current Members of the American Sikh Congressional Caucus as of April 25, 2013

Democrats
Rep. Judy Chu

Rep. Karen Bass
Rep. Ami Bera
Rep. Gerry Connolly
Rep. John Conyers Jr.
Rep. Jim Costa
Rep. John Garamendi
Rep. Raul Grijalva
Rep. Rush Holt
Rep. Mike Honda
Rep. Hank Johnson
Rep. Zoe Lofgren
Rep. Carolyn Maloney
Rep. Doris Matsui
Rep. Jerry McNerney
Rep. George Miller
Rep. Frank Pallone
Rep. Bill Pascrell
Rep. Gary Peters
Rep. Jan Schakowsky
Rep. Jackie Speier
Rep. Chris Van Hollen

Republicans
Rep. David Valadao
Rep. Jeff Denham
Rep. Joe Heck
Rep. Doug LaMalfa
Rep. Devin Nunes
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Rep. Tom McClintock
Rep. Pat Meehan

[JSinghnz]

First American Sikh Congressional Caucus launched

Yudhvir Rana, TNN | Apr 25, 2013, 10.53 AM IST

AMRITSAR: The first American Sikh Congressional Caucus that would provide a formidable platform to the community to address its issues has been launched in the US.

The caucus is a giant step forward to address issues and problems confronting the community. There are Sikh identity issues, issues relating to security of the community members and Sikh shrines in US along with human rights' issues," said coordinator, American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (AGPC) Dr Pritpal Singh while talking to TOI on Thursday.

President of AGPC JS Hothi called the caucus as a major step ahead for the US based Sikh community. Director of United Sikhs - one of the Sikh advocacy organizations, Hardyal Singh said they look forward to being in direct contact and communication with lawmakers concerning issues that directly or indirectly affect the Sikh community.

"History has been made today, some 130 years after our forefathers first arrived on American shores. From today, we are hopeful that theAmerican Sikh Caucus will ensure that Sikh voices will be heard loud and clear in Congress, so that Sikhs enjoy all the rights and freedoms promised in the American constitution, in particular, pertaining to the Sikh identity," he said.

He said their dream of a direct voice to the US Congress about Sikh related issues has come true. "The caucus' purpose is to educate and allow members to strategize on how to support the American Sikh community and attack the many issues we face today including bullying, armed forces, and homeland security" he said.

Pritpal said Congresswoman Judy Chu and Congressman David Valadao had been whole heartedly supporting the caucus ever since they initiated the move. Chu and Valadao would co-chair the new caucus, which will primarily educate members of Congress and the general public about Sikh issues and support the American Sikh community.

He said the caucus would be the voice for American Sikhs in the House of Representatives working across the aisles to address the uniqe challenges which the community faces.

[JSinghnz]

In historic landmark, Sikh caucus formed in US Congress

Chidanand Rajghatta, TNN | Apr 26, 2013, 02.38 AM IST

WASHINGTON: With their distinctive, colourful turbans, their storied industry, and their expansive presence all over the world across a range of professions, Sikhs are easily India's most prominent ethnic community. On Wednesday, the community that has also given India its 13th - and first Sikh Prime Minister, established its voice on Capitol Hill, seat of the US legislatures, with the formation of the Sikh Congressional Caucus aimed at ensuring they get a fair hearing in a country where they began settling more than 100 years ago.

Thirty lawmakers signed up to be members ofthe Caucus at a busy Capitol Hill reception where community members described the event as a milestone. While caucuses are typically organized around common political affiliations, ideological orientation, or interest groups, the Sikh Caucus will be one of the few organized along racial or ethnic lines, joining the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus in this regard.

That makes sense to many community members because the Sikhdiaspora now extends far beyond the Indian subcontinent, and indeed, even beyond the United States. The first Sikhs settled in America at the turn of the 19th to 20th century when groups hit by British mercantilism in Punjab began migrating to the Pacific Northwest and trickled south to work in lumber mills and farms in British Columbia, Washington state, Oregon, and California. More groups came during the World Wars, when Sikhs recruited by the British army moved to the US.

Some even enlisted directly in the US army. Among them was Khalsa College alumnus Bhagat Singh Thind, who would go on to fight a landmark case in the US Supreme Court on citizenship rights for Indians in 1923. By then, many west coast Sikhs had joined with their Hindu counterparts from Punjab, to form the Pacific Coast Hindustan Association, subsequently renamed the Ghadar (Rebellion) Party. Headed by Sohan Singh Bhakna and Lala Hardayal, its principle aim was to liberate India from British rule.

Although the Ghadar Party dissolved in 1948, such was its political legacy that it eventually led to the election to Congress of Dalip Singh Saund, the first Asian-American, the first Indian-American, the first Sikh-American, and indeed the first member of non-Abrahamic faith to be elected to the US House of Representatives. There are now an estimated 250,000 Sikhs in the US. Although the 2000 US Census counts about 72,000 people with the last name Singh, not all Singhs are Sikhs, and not all Sikhs carry the last name Singh.

On a bright, sunny day in Washington DC, political legatees of Thind, Saund, and more recentSikh immigrants milled about as US lawmakers pledged to represent the aspirations and grievances of Sikhs, including instances of hate crimes that have hit the community. "Sikhs are suffering because many people do not understand or are simply unfamiliar with their religion," said Ileana Ross-Lehtinen, a Florida Republican. "The Sikh-American community continues to be disproportionally affected by school bullying and hate crimes."

"More than a decade after 9/11, too many Sikhs across America face discrimination, bullying, and even bias-motivated violence from misguided individuals associating them with the terrorist attacks," her Democratic colleague, Judy Chu, who will co-chair the caucus with Republican David Valadao, agreed, promising that, "Together, we will preserve religious freedom, protect the safety of all people, and celebrate America's diversity.''

Lawmakers also pledged to address issues such as military discrimination preventing American Sikhs from enlisting due to bans on turbans, racial profiling by law enforcement, and employment discrimination. The move to form the Sikh Caucus gathered momentum after a white supremacist and Army veteran Wade Michael Page killed six people and wounded four others in a shooting at a Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, last August.

Among lawmakers who joined the caucus is Congressman John Garamendi, whose Northern California district includes the cities of Yuba City, Fairfield, and Davis, which have some of the largest Sikh concentrations in the US. Last month, Congressman Garamendi helped form a coalition encouraging the FBI to track hate crimes against Sikh, Hindu, and Arab-Americans with a letter signed by over 100 Members of Congress. This month, he introduced legislation honouring the Sikh community's celebration of the Baisakhi festival.

"Despite facing widespread prejudice, the Sikh community has worked hard for their American dream," Garamendi said at the launch of the caucus, promising to "amplify the voice of my many Sikh constituents."

Other lawmakers who joined what is formally the American Sikh Congressional Caucus include: Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37), Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27), Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA-11), Rep. John Conyers (MI-13), Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16), Rep. Jeff Denham (CA-10), Rep. John Garamendi (CA-3), Rep. Raul Grijalva (AZ-3), Rep. Joe Heck (NV-3), Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12), Rep. Mike Honda (CA-12), Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-4), Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-1), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-19), Rep. Tom McClintock (CA-4), Rep. Jerry McNerney (CA-9), Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-6), Rep. George Miller (CA-11), Rep. Devin Nunes (CA-22), Rep. Frank Pallone (NJ-6), Rep. Bill Pascrell (NJ-9), Rep. Gary Peters (MI-14), Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-27), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), Rep. Jackie Speier (CA-14), Rep. David Valadao (CA-21), Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD-8)

[chatanga]

Excellent development.

[Sikhistan]

Great effort by united sikhs but word of caution.. Keep free loader and highly controversial "Dr. Pritpal" from California. Not sure if he is real doc or not. He is the lone man running AGPC and does nothing but create problems. His major support was sarna delhi. He was the one who supported dhunda on california tour and even went far to hold a special seminar in some hotel after Fremont Gurdwara rejected that rogue dhunda preacher.

Having such people involved in this will stop new talent and volunteers to come forward.

Sorry for negativity..

Greate Efforts by US Sikh organization !!

[GPS]

Great effort by united sikhs but word of caution.. Keep free loader and highly controversial "Dr. Pritpal" from California. Not sure if he is real doc or not. He is the lone man running AGPC and does nothing but create problems. His major support was sarna delhi. He was the one who supported dhunda on california tour and even went far to hold a special seminar in some hotel after Fremont Gurdwara rejected that rogue dhunda preacher.

Having such people involved in this will stop new talent and volunteers to come forward.

Sorry for negativity..

Greate Efforts by US Sikh organization !!

Spot on. Good news for this development. United sikhs efforts are laudable. As above poster has written so called two men show

American Gurudwara committee ( With no gurudwara under them) is a shady and anti panthic organization. Its support base is from

tainted tout of congress Sarna. They will never help sikhs.