wash National Express and Petermann to Sell Off School Bus Contracts in Texas and Washington to Resolve Antitrust Concerns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:05:18 EDT National Express Corporation and Petermann Partners Inc. will divest several school bus contracts and associated assets in the states of Washington and Texas in order to proceed with their proposed merger. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Justice Department Settles Lawsuit with Pierce County, Washington, Alleging Employment Discrimination By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 1 Jun 2012 17:31:33 EDT The Justice Department announced today it has entered into a consent decree with Pierce County, Wash., that, if approved by the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, will resolve allegations that the county discriminated against a female employee by retaliating against her in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII is a federal statute which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin or religion and protects employees who file complaints under any of those bases. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the SEED School of Washington, D.C. 2012 Commencement Ceremony By www.justice.gov Published On :: Sat, 9 Jun 2012 09:35:17 EDT "Yet – if, as they say, what’s past is prologue – and if this class’s record of achievement is any indication – then I believe there is good reason for confidence in the future that your generation will create, and the legacy of progress that each of you will carry forward – and build upon," said Attorney General Holder. Full Article Speech
wash New Zealand Fishing Company Found Guilty in Washington, D.C., of Environmental Crimes and Obstruction of Justice By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:32:46 EDT A federal jury in Washington, D.C., today returned guilty verdicts against Sanford Ltd., a New Zealand fishing company, on six counts of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Washington, DC, Tax Return Preparer Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Preparing False Tax Returns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 1 Nov 2012 12:09:52 EDT Enyinnaya Udo was sentenced to 24 months in prison today and ordered by U.S. District Judge Barbara J. Rothstein to pay more than $262,966 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as a condition of supervised release, the Justice Department and IRS announced. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Assistant Attorney General Perez Speaks at the George Washington University Law School Symposium By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:17:22 EST "Let’s work to prevent fraud, but let’s not erect new, unnecessary requirements that have a discriminatory impact. Let’s have a debate on the merits without trying to make it harder for our perceived opponents to vote," said Assistant Attorney General Perez. Full Article Speech
wash Founder and President of Labor Union Convicted in Washington for Stealing from Union’s Treasury and Pension Fund, Related Crimes By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 5 Dec 2012 12:34:52 EST The founder and president of the National Association of Special Police and Security Officers (NASPSO) – which represents private security guards assigned to protect federal buildings in the metropolitan Washington area – was convicted yesterday in Washington federal court, following a jury trial, of 18 counts related to his theft of union treasury and pension funds. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Washington Man Sentenced to Ten Years for Sex Trafficking By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 22 Jan 2013 18:57:37 EST Joseph McDaniels, 43, of Shoreline, Wash., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court for interstate transportation of a 22 year old woman for purposes of prostitution. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash High Ranking Gulf Cartel Member Convicted in Washington for Drug Trafficking By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 26 Feb 2013 18:59:26 EST Aurelio Cano Flores, a Mexican national and high ranking member of the Gulf Cartel, was found guilty today by a federal jury of conspiring to import multi-ton quantities of cocaine and marijuana into the United States. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Former Department of Health and Human Services Employee Pleads Guilty in Washington to Wire Fraud Charge in Retention Bonus Scheme By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:12:39 EDT An employee of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (HHS-ASPR) pleaded guilty today in Washington, D.C., to defrauding the United States by submitting fraudulent employment offers in order to claim retention bonuses totaling $138,8875. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force Executive Director Michael J. Bresnick at the Exchequer Club of Washington, D.C. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 20 Mar 2013 13:21:26 EDT "When a bank allows its customers, and even its customers’ customers, access to the national banking system, it should endeavor to understand the true nature of the business that it will allow to access the payment system, and the risks posed to consumers and society regarding criminal or other unlawful conduct," said Executive Director Bresnick. Full Article Speech
wash Washington Man Indicted on Federal Hate Crime Charge Related to Racially-motivated Assault By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 2 Apr 2013 15:56:19 EDT The Department of Justice today announced that a federal grand jury sitting in Seattle has indicted Jamie Larson, 49, on a federal hate crime charge relating to a racially-motivated assault of a 50-year-old Sikh man. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Former Medical Doctor Pleads Guilty in Washington, D.C. to Engaging in Illicit Sexual Conduct with Minors in Kenya By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 7 May 2013 16:51:18 EDT A former medical doctor pleaded guilty today in Washington, D.C., to engaging in illicit sexual conduct in Kenya. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington Jenny A. Durkan Testifies Before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 8 May 2013 09:44:39 EDT "The Department’s approach to 21st Century cyber threats is rooted in three interests: 1) deterring, disrupting, and dismantling the threat; 2) holding bad actors accountable; and 3) protecting our national security, economic interests, and individual privacy," said U.S. Attorney Durkan. Full Article Speech
wash High Ranking Gulf Cartel Member Sentenced in Washington, D.C., to 35 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 13 May 2013 15:18:51 EDT Aurelio Cano Flores, a Mexican national and high ranking member of the Gulf Cartel, was sentenced today to serve 35 years in prison for conspiring to import multi-ton quantities of cocaine and marijuana into the United States. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Special Naturalization Ceremony in Washington, D.C. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 28 May 2013 11:05:44 EDT "All of you have become indispensable parts of your communities and your new nation. No matter your profession, your background, or your reason for immigrating to the United States – each of you has come to embody the very best of what it means to be an American." Full Article Speech
wash Washington State Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Hate Crime in Attack on Sikh Man By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 27 Jun 2013 19:06:38 EDT The Department of Justice today announced Jamie Larson, 49, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Seattle to a federal hate crime relating to a racially-motivated assault of a 50-year-old Sikh man who works as a taxi cab driver. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Justice Department Files Fair Housing Lawsuit Against Owners and Managers of Rental Homes in Washington State for Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 1 Jul 2013 19:25:27 EDT The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit against the owners and managers of rental homes in and near Kelso and Longview, Wash., for violating the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against persons with disabilities. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Tacoma, Wash., Medical Firm to Pay $14.5 Million to Settle Overbilling Allegations By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 3 Jul 2013 13:25:10 EDT Sound Inpatient Physicians Inc. will pay $14.5 million to settle allegations that it overbilled Medicare and other federal health care programs. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash False Claims Act Judgment Entered Against Washington, DC, Health Care Provider for More Than $17 Million By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 30 Jul 2013 16:50:04 EDT The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has entered judgment for more than $17 million against Dr. Ishtiaq Malik and his two companies, Ishtiaq Malik M.D., P.C. and Advanced Nuclear Diagnostics, for submitting false nuclear cardiology claims to federal and state health care programs. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Former Washington, D.C. Accountant Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 18:05:25 EDT The Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today that John T. Hoang, of Woodbridge, Va., pleaded guilty in federal district court in Washington, D.C., to willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns for tax year 2004. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Major Colombian Narcotics Trafficker Sentenced in Washington, D.C., to 25 Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 5 Aug 2013 17:35:09 EDT Christian Fernando Borda, a major narcotics trafficker aligned with paramilitary groups in Colombia, was sentenced today to serve 25 years in prison for conspiring to import ton-quantities of cocaine into the United States, announced Acting Assistant Attorney General Mythili Raman of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Administrator Michele M. Leonhart of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Justice Department Obtains $22,000 Settlement in Housing Discrimination Lawsuit Against Mt. Washington, KY., Landlord By www.justice.gov Published On :: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 18:43:51 EDT The Justice Department announced today that Jerry L. Wilson, a Mt. Washington, Ky., landlord has agreed to pay $22,000 to resolve allegations that he violated the Fair Housing Act by discriminating against African-American apartment seekers and making statements indicating a preference for families without children for certain available apartments. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Attorney General Eric Holder Releases Statement on the Washington Navy Yard Shooting By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 17:54:00 EDT The Attorney General issued the following statement today in the wake of the tragedy at the Washington Navy Yard. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Justice Department Announces Settlement Agreement with Everett, Wash., Battery Company to Protect Employment Rights of Returning Military Reservist By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 28 Oct 2013 14:04:49 EDT The Department of Justice announced today that it has reached a settlement with All Battery Sales and Service (ABS) of Everett, Wash., to resolve a lawsuit it filed on behalf of Curtis Kirk, a U.S. Army reservist. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole Delivers Remarks at Money Laundering Enforcement Conference in Washington, D.C. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 18 Nov 2013 10:58:35 EST As all of you know, banking and financial services play a vital role in our country. They spawn growth, spread risk, facilitate the creation of jobs, and generally drive our economy. Without it, much of the prosperity that allows for our freedoms and our power in the world would not exist. Full Article Speech
wash Former Washington, D.C.-Area Accountant Sentenced to Prison for Tax Fraud By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 11 Dec 2013 18:26:55 EST The Justice Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today that John T. Hoang, of Woodbridge, Va., was sentenced in federal district court in Washington, D.C., for willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns for the 2004 tax year. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash U.S., Canada and Mexico Antitrust Officials Participate in Trilateral Meeting in Washington to Discuss Antitrust Enforcement By www.justice.gov Published On :: Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:01:45 EST The heads of the antitrust agencies of the United States, Canada and Mexico – Assistant Attorney General Bill Baer of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, Chairwoman Edith Ramirez of the Federal Trade Commission, Canadian Commissioner of Competition John Pecman and President Alejandra Palacios Prieto of the Mexican Federal Competition Commission – met today in Washington, D.C., to discuss their mutual efforts to ensure continued effective antitrust enforcement cooperation in our increasingly interconnected markets. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Washington-Based Medical Device Manufacturer to Pay up to $5.25 Million to Settle Allegations of Causing False Billing of Federal Health Care Programs By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 19 Feb 2014 12:08:18 EST Medical device manufacturer EndoGastric Solutions Inc. has agreed to pay the government up to $5.25 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by misleading health care providers about how to bill federal health care programs for a procedure using a device manufactured by the company and by paying kickbacks. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Owner of Tax Preparation Business in Washington, D.C., Indicted for Conspiring to Defraud the Internal Revenue Service and Preparing False Individual Income Tax Returns By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 7 Mar 2014 18:45:33 EST On Feb. 26, 2014, a federal grand jury sitting in the District of Columbia returned a 17 count indictment charging Sherri Davis for conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), aiding and assisting in the preparation of false individual income tax returns and filing false individual income tax returns, the Justice Department and IRS announced following the unsealing of Davis’ indictment today. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Alleged Human Smuggler Extradited to Face Charges in Washington, D.C. By www.justice.gov Published On :: Mon, 28 Apr 2014 15:50:14 EDT Habtom Merhay, a national of Eritrea and a citizen of the United Kingdom, made his initial appearance today in federal court to face human smuggling charges for his role in smuggling primarily Eritrean and Ethiopian undocumented migrants. Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Washington, D.C., Mother and Son Charged with Conspiring to Defraud Internal Revenue Service By www.justice.gov Published On :: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 12:51:00 EDT Sherri Davis and her son, Andre Davis, were charged in a superseding indictment with conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and with aiding and assisting in the preparation of false individual income tax returns, the Justice Department and IRS announced today. Sherri Davis was also charged with filing her own false individual income tax returns for tax years 2007 to 2009 Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Attorney General Holder Statement on Jenny Durkan Stepping Down as U.S. Attorney for Western District of Washington By www.justice.gov Published On :: Wed, 3 Sep 2014 15:19:30 EDT Attorney General Eric Holder released the following statement Wednesday on the resignation of U.S. Attorney Jenny Durkan for the Western District of Washington: Full Article OPA Press Releases
wash Amin Talati Continues its Expansion in Washington DC With Addition Of Dietary Supplement Industry Leader By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mon, 05 Feb 2018 17:56:00 GMT Rend Al-Mondhiry has joined the firm Amin Talati from the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) as Senior Counsel, resident in the Washington, D.C. Office. Full Article
wash Washington Should Take Action on AI or Stay Out of the Way By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mar 19, 2020 Mar 19, 2020Federal and local regulations are part of the solution to tough issues related to Artificial Intelligence, writes K. Gretchen Greene, but no regulatory approach on its own can fully answer these questions today. "Finding answers will require significant investments in research and development, collaboration, negotiation, and experimentation, deep and careful thought across many fields and leadership at all levels, across and between governments. The U.S. federal government is well positioned to lead, but if it won't, it should at least stay out of the way." Full Article
wash Washington Should Take Action on AI or Stay Out of the Way By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mar 19, 2020 Mar 19, 2020Federal and local regulations are part of the solution to tough issues related to Artificial Intelligence, writes K. Gretchen Greene, but no regulatory approach on its own can fully answer these questions today. "Finding answers will require significant investments in research and development, collaboration, negotiation, and experimentation, deep and careful thought across many fields and leadership at all levels, across and between governments. The U.S. federal government is well positioned to lead, but if it won't, it should at least stay out of the way." Full Article
wash Washington Should Take Action on AI or Stay Out of the Way By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mar 19, 2020 Mar 19, 2020Federal and local regulations are part of the solution to tough issues related to Artificial Intelligence, writes K. Gretchen Greene, but no regulatory approach on its own can fully answer these questions today. "Finding answers will require significant investments in research and development, collaboration, negotiation, and experimentation, deep and careful thought across many fields and leadership at all levels, across and between governments. The U.S. federal government is well positioned to lead, but if it won't, it should at least stay out of the way." Full Article
wash Washington Should Take Action on AI or Stay Out of the Way By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mar 19, 2020 Mar 19, 2020Federal and local regulations are part of the solution to tough issues related to Artificial Intelligence, writes K. Gretchen Greene, but no regulatory approach on its own can fully answer these questions today. "Finding answers will require significant investments in research and development, collaboration, negotiation, and experimentation, deep and careful thought across many fields and leadership at all levels, across and between governments. The U.S. federal government is well positioned to lead, but if it won't, it should at least stay out of the way." Full Article
wash Washington Should Take Action on AI or Stay Out of the Way By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mar 19, 2020 Mar 19, 2020Federal and local regulations are part of the solution to tough issues related to Artificial Intelligence, writes K. Gretchen Greene, but no regulatory approach on its own can fully answer these questions today. "Finding answers will require significant investments in research and development, collaboration, negotiation, and experimentation, deep and careful thought across many fields and leadership at all levels, across and between governments. The U.S. federal government is well positioned to lead, but if it won't, it should at least stay out of the way." Full Article
wash Washington Should Take Action on AI or Stay Out of the Way By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mar 19, 2020 Mar 19, 2020Federal and local regulations are part of the solution to tough issues related to Artificial Intelligence, writes K. Gretchen Greene, but no regulatory approach on its own can fully answer these questions today. "Finding answers will require significant investments in research and development, collaboration, negotiation, and experimentation, deep and careful thought across many fields and leadership at all levels, across and between governments. The U.S. federal government is well positioned to lead, but if it won't, it should at least stay out of the way." Full Article
wash Washington Should Take Action on AI or Stay Out of the Way By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mar 19, 2020 Mar 19, 2020Federal and local regulations are part of the solution to tough issues related to Artificial Intelligence, writes K. Gretchen Greene, but no regulatory approach on its own can fully answer these questions today. "Finding answers will require significant investments in research and development, collaboration, negotiation, and experimentation, deep and careful thought across many fields and leadership at all levels, across and between governments. The U.S. federal government is well positioned to lead, but if it won't, it should at least stay out of the way." Full Article
wash Washington Should Take Action on AI or Stay Out of the Way By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mar 19, 2020 Mar 19, 2020Federal and local regulations are part of the solution to tough issues related to Artificial Intelligence, writes K. Gretchen Greene, but no regulatory approach on its own can fully answer these questions today. "Finding answers will require significant investments in research and development, collaboration, negotiation, and experimentation, deep and careful thought across many fields and leadership at all levels, across and between governments. The U.S. federal government is well positioned to lead, but if it won't, it should at least stay out of the way." Full Article
wash Washington Should Take Action on AI or Stay Out of the Way By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mar 19, 2020 Mar 19, 2020Federal and local regulations are part of the solution to tough issues related to Artificial Intelligence, writes K. Gretchen Greene, but no regulatory approach on its own can fully answer these questions today. "Finding answers will require significant investments in research and development, collaboration, negotiation, and experimentation, deep and careful thought across many fields and leadership at all levels, across and between governments. The U.S. federal government is well positioned to lead, but if it won't, it should at least stay out of the way." Full Article
wash Washington Should Take Action on AI or Stay Out of the Way By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mar 19, 2020 Mar 19, 2020Federal and local regulations are part of the solution to tough issues related to Artificial Intelligence, writes K. Gretchen Greene, but no regulatory approach on its own can fully answer these questions today. "Finding answers will require significant investments in research and development, collaboration, negotiation, and experimentation, deep and careful thought across many fields and leadership at all levels, across and between governments. The U.S. federal government is well positioned to lead, but if it won't, it should at least stay out of the way." Full Article
wash Washington Should Take Action on AI or Stay Out of the Way By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mar 19, 2020 Mar 19, 2020Federal and local regulations are part of the solution to tough issues related to Artificial Intelligence, writes K. Gretchen Greene, but no regulatory approach on its own can fully answer these questions today. "Finding answers will require significant investments in research and development, collaboration, negotiation, and experimentation, deep and careful thought across many fields and leadership at all levels, across and between governments. The U.S. federal government is well positioned to lead, but if it won't, it should at least stay out of the way." Full Article
wash Washington Should Take Action on AI or Stay Out of the Way By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: Mar 19, 2020 Mar 19, 2020Federal and local regulations are part of the solution to tough issues related to Artificial Intelligence, writes K. Gretchen Greene, but no regulatory approach on its own can fully answer these questions today. "Finding answers will require significant investments in research and development, collaboration, negotiation, and experimentation, deep and careful thought across many fields and leadership at all levels, across and between governments. The U.S. federal government is well positioned to lead, but if it won't, it should at least stay out of the way." Full Article
wash To fix our infrastructure, Washington needs to start from scratch By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Tue, 03 Dec 2019 18:56:02 +0000 The 2016 presidential election felt like a watershed moment for federal infrastructure reform. For the first time in decades, both the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates made infrastructure a central component of their platforms. Their proposals reflected years of consistent calls for congressional action from groups representing cities, states, and industries—all of whom welcomed the… Full Article
wash Why Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan should ditch a rushed, Washington-brokered Nile Treaty By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Tue, 18 Feb 2020 23:29:27 +0000 The ambitious Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) has been a point of contention among Ethiopia, Egypt, and Sudan in recent years. The GERD is now 70 percent complete and its reservoir expected to start being filled in the rainy season of 2020. The three countries, however, have not yet reached an agreement on the process… Full Article
wash Clouded thinking in Washington and Beijing on COVID-19 crisis By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Mon, 04 May 2020 18:41:17 +0000 In 2015, an action movie about a group of elite paratroopers from the People’s Liberation Army, “Wolf Warrior,” dominated box offices across China. In 2020, the nationalistic chest-thumping spirit of that movie is defining Chinese diplomacy, or at least the propaganda surrounding it. This aggressive new style is known as “wolf warrior diplomacy,” and although… Full Article
wash Mr. Modi goes to Washington (again) By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Fri, 03 Jun 2016 15:02:00 -0400 Next week, Americans will be looking westward to the Tuesday Democratic primary in California. Meanwhile, in Washington, President Obama and then the U.S. Congress will host someone very familiar with electoral politics: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This will be the third Modi-Obama summit since the Indian prime minister took office two years ago. Since their first phone call on May 16, 2014, the two leaders have also met multiple times at regional and global gatherings or on the sidelines of those summits. This frequency has been a departure from the past and has even led some—particularly in the Indian media—to ask: why is Modi visiting the United States again? A simple answer would be “because he was invited,” and there are a few reasons why the White House extended that invitation and why Modi accepted. At a time when [Obama] is being criticized for not having done enough or for doing the wrong thing on foreign policy, he can point to the U.S.-India relationship as a success. Achievements logged For President Obama, there’s the legacy issue. At a time when he is being criticized for not having done enough or for doing the wrong thing on foreign policy, he can point to the U.S.-India relationship as a success, particularly in the context of the rebalance to the Asia-Pacific. U.S. popularity is up in India according to polls and three-quarters of those surveyed in India last year expressed confidence in Obama on world affairs. President George W. Bush left office after having signed the historic civil nuclear deal with India. Obama can claim to have put quite a few more runs on the board. At a recent Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Biswal indeed laid out some key developments in the relationship in the Obama era: the launch of the annual U.S.-India Strategic Dialogue (now the U.S.-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue); the long list of functional and regional issues on which the two countries now have dialogues or working groups; the signing of the Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions and the deepening cooperation under that framework; the increase in trade from $60 billion in 2009 to $107 billion in 2015; the number of jobs that American exports to India have created in the United States; the tripling of foreign direct investment from India into the United States; and U.S. defense sales to India increasing from $300 million less than a decade ago to $14 billion today. Strengthening friendships For Prime Minister Modi and the Indian government, the visit represents another chance to strengthen India’s partnership with a country that Modi has called “a principal partner in the realization of India’s rise as a responsible, influential world power.” The United States is India’s largest trading partner and a crucial source of capital, technology, knowledge, resources, remittances, and military equipment. It can also help ensure multi-polarity in Asia, which is a crucial goal for Indian policymakers. The visit is also an opportunity for Modi to engage with legislators and the American private sector—two key constituencies that can help determine the pace of progress in the relationship. House Speaker Paul Ryan has invited the Indian leaders to address a joint session of the U.S. Congress, and Modi will be the fifth Indian prime minister to do so (India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru gave back-to-back speeches to the House and Senate separately in 1949). But it’ll likely hold special significance for the prime minister and his supporters, given that from 2005 to 2014, then Gujarat Chief Minister Modi was denied entry into the United States. A busy calendar Modi’s has a packed schedule in Washington. On June 6, he’ll visit Arlington National Cemetery, meet with the heads of think tanks, and participate in an event involving the recovery and return of stolen Indian antiquities. On June 7, he’ll meet with President Obama, who will also host a lunch for him, and then Defense Secretary Ashton Carter. That will be followed by meetings with business leaders and an address to the U.S.-India Business Council. Expect to see Modi highlight and defend his government’s two-year record on the economy and make a pitch for U.S. businesses to increase their involvement in India—and particularly some of Modi’s flagship initiatives such as Make in India and Digital India. Expect to see Modi highlight and defend his government’s two-year record on the economy and make a pitch for U.S. businesses to increase their involvement in India. June 8 will be devoted to Congressional engagement, including the joint address, a lunch hosted by Speaker Ryan, and a reception hosted by the House and Senate Foreign Relations Committees, as well as the India Caucus. Modi will acknowledge the legislature’s role and significance in developing the U.S.-India relationship, and will likely highlight the democratic values the two countries share, as well as how India and Indians have contributed to the United States, global growth, and the international order. Importantly, in an election year, Modi will likely note the bipartisan nature of the relationship—there’s no indication yet that he will or wants to meet any of the presidential candidates on this visit, though the sessions potentially offer opportunities for him to do so. Republican members of Congress will also seek to highlight their role in the development of the partnership. The interactions on Capitol Hill will also be a chance for Modi to address some Congressional concerns—such as human rights, Iran, non-proliferation, the investment climate—and for Modi to call for the two countries to “accommodat[e] each other’s concerns.” Do not, however, expect to hear the word “Pakistan”—the Indian government wants to avoid hyphenation and get Americans to think of India beyond India-Pakistan terms. Nor should you expect to hear the word “China,” though there might be subtle attempts to note the contrast with that other Asian giant and make the case for the United States to support the rise of a large Asian democracy that can demonstrate that democracy and development aren’t mutually exclusive. Parting glance between Modi and Obama And what’s on the agenda for the Modi-Obama meeting? In one sense, the last few years have signaled a regularization of U.S.-India leader-level summits (with bilateral meetings in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016). Over the last two years, high-level meetings have been effective as action-forcing events. This time, officials have been managing expectations, broadly describing the visit as “part of consolidating and celebrating the relationship.” So this is a chance to recognize the steps that the other side has taken to increase the run-rate of the relationship—particularly on defense and security fronts—and tie up some loose ends with an eye towards sustaining momentum into the next administration (without necessarily tying its hands). In terms of focus areas, the governments have emphasized (to varying degrees) economic ties, energy and climate change, as well as defense and security cooperation. The Obama administration would like to India ratify the Paris agreement, for instance—unlike in the United States, India doesn’t require legislative approval. Indian officials recognize the importance of this issue to Obama, but are also concerned about U.S. policy continuity given the presumptive Republican nominee’s stand on the issue. Delhi, in turn, is partly using the shared desire for India to meet its clean energy commitments to make the case for an American full-court press to facilitate Indian membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)—similar to the Bush administration’s efforts to help India get an NSG waiver in 2008. The U.S. position has been that India is ready for NSG membership and meets requirements for membership of the Missile Technology Control Regime, and it has supported Indian application and eventual membership of both, as well as two other nonproliferation and export control regimes. Asked if Modi would ask Obama to “go to bat for India” with others on this, the Indian foreign secretary didn’t answer directly but noted: “countries that feel we’re doing the right thing...if they take it upon themselves to…articulate their positions and talk to others, this is what friends do for each other.” Modi himself will visit two other NSG members (Switzerland and Mexico) just before and after the U.S. visit partly to make the case for India’s membership. The visit will also be a chance to cement and highlight cooperation in and on the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. In addition, observers will be watching to see whether the two countries will sign the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA)—the logistics support agreement that the Indian defense minister said in April that Secretary Carter and he had “agreed in principle to conclude”—or whether there’ll be further announcements with regard to the Defense Technology and Trade Initiative. There’ll also be interest in whether the countries get serious talks restarted on a Bilateral Investment Treaty, and whether Westinghouse and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India can finalize an agreement to set up reactors in India. Overall, there is a desire to take the relationship to the “next level” but not necessarily in terms of a big deal; rather there’s a search for ways to deepen, operationalize, and institutionalize cooperation—such as through arrangements to share information in the counterterrorism space—and facilitate interaction between an increasing number of stakeholders. While highlighting areas of convergence, both sides will likely also discuss the divergences that remain—perhaps including the east-west divergence related to Pakistan, the north-south divergence related to Russia, the security-economic divergence with more progress in the partnership on the former than the latter, and the potential expectations-reality divergence. And while the direction of the U.S.-India relationship is likely to remain the same in the near future, how the two countries deal with these divergences will determine the trajectory and the pace of the relationship. Authors Tanvi Madan Full Article