Indian-American Congressman endorsed for third term

Cleveland (US), October 23

Indian-American Congressman from Silicon Valley Ami Bera has been endorsed by a prestigious newspaper for the third consecutive term, the elections for which would be held on November 8.

"Bera is a hardworking and thoughtful member of Congress who has shown that he is willing to find common ground with Republicans, to the extent possible in these partisan times. We recommend voters return the Elk Grove Democrat to Washington for a third term," Sacramento Bee wrote in its editorial section.

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The 51-year-old is the only Indian-American in the current Congress and is third ever elected to the House of Representatives after Dalip Singh Saund in 1950 and Bobby Jindal in 2000s.

If re-elected for the third term, Bera would equal the record of Dalip Singh Saund, who was elected to the House of Representatives from the 29th Congressional District of California from January 1957 to January 1963.

Jindal, who later went on to become the two-term Governor of Louisiana, was elected to the US House of Representatives twice in 2004 and 2006.

The Sacramento Bee in its editorial also pointed to Bera's record and expertise, given the problems officials will have to tackle in the next Congress.

"I am honoured to be endorsed by the Sacramento Bee. As a doctor, I have lived a life committed to service and would be honoured to continue serving the people of Sacramento County in Congress for another two years," Bera, who is contesting from the seventh Congressional District of California, said.

According to the daily, Bera can help focus attention on health care threats, including the spread of the Zika virus.

He has also served as an associate dean for admissions at UC Davis medical school, and intends to engage in efforts to curb the rising cost of college.

"Bera, the only member of Congress who is the son of immigrants from India, sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee, where he has focused on trade, which benefits the Central Valley," Sacramento Bee noted.

Bera is pitted against Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones for the upcoming elections. — PTI