In a significant legislative move, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi stood as the only Indian-American lawmaker to vote in favor of the Lindsey O Graham Sanctioning of Russia and Iran Act. The bill, which passed the US House by a margin of 262-159 on Wednesday, aims to allow the President to impose penalties on nations that purchase oil and gas from Russia, a measure that could have implications for major importers like India and China.
Krishnamoorthi's vote marked a departure from the stance of his five fellow Indian-American members in the House of Representatives, all Democrats, who followed the party line by voting against the bill. These representatives include Ro Khanna, Pramila Jayapal, Ami Bera, Shri Thanedar, and Suhas Subramanyam.
Who is Raja Krishnamoorthi?
Raja Krishnamoorthi, who is slated to retire from the House of Representatives in January next year, has represented Illinois’ 8th District since 2016. Throughout his tenure, he has been an active member of several pivotal committees within the US House.
- House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: This committee oversees the intelligence activities and programs of the United States government.
- Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party: Focused on addressing the economic, technological, and security challenges posed by China.
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: The primary investigative committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Born to immigrant parents, Krishnamoorthi grew up in Peoria, Illinois, where he excelled academically, graduating as valedictorian of his high school class. He pursued higher education at Princeton University, earning a mechanical engineering degree summa cum laude and a certificate from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. He later graduated with honors from Harvard Law School and served as a clerk for a federal judge before beginning his legal career in Chicago.
His public service career commenced as a Special Assistant Attorney General in Illinois. He also served as Vice-Chair of the Illinois Innovation Council and co-founded InSPIRE, a non-profit organization dedicated to training inner-city students and veterans in solar technology.