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US lawmakers unite for South Asian flood reliefs
Lawmakers from both India and Pakistan Caucuses urge U.S. action after devastating floods displaced millions across South Asia.
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Staff Reporter - Fri, 26, Sep 2025
- 17:10 EDT
- 19
(Top L-R Rich) McCormick, Raja Krishnamoorthi (Below L-R) Jack Bergman and Tom Suozzi / Wikipedia
The Congressional India and Pakistan Caucuses have united in an unprecedented display of cooperation to request an update from the State Department regarding U.S. relief efforts in the aftermath of the devastating floods in South Asia.
The letter, led by Congressman Tom Suozzi (D–NY), Chair of the Congressional Pakistan Caucus and active member of the India Caucus, was co-signed by Rep. Jack Bergman (R–MI), Co-Chair of the Pakistan Caucus, and India Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Ro Khanna (D–CA) and Rep. Rich McCormick (R–GA). Addressed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, it requests a Member briefing on U.S. recovery coordination in India and Pakistan.
Also Read: 100 missing after flash flood washes out Indian Himalayan town
“In the aftermath of last month’s horrific floods, I stand with my Indian and Pakistani constituents and admire their resilience in the face of such hardship,” said Suozzi. “Natural disasters do not recognize borders. This bilateral and bipartisan collaboration shows that, in the face of tragedy, we must stand united in our common purpose to support our communities.”
The lawmakers’ Sept. 23 letter underscores the destruction of homes, businesses, and cultural and religious landmarks, including Kartarpur Sahib, a Sikh shrine regarded as a symbol of peace between India and Pakistan.
“As Members of Congress who represent large Indian and Pakistani American populations, we are hearing firsthand from families whose ancestral homes have been lost, whose livelihoods have been wiped out,” the lawmakers wrote. They expressed gratitude for the support provided so far by the United States government and the Indian and Pakistani diasporas.
The floods have left a severe humanitarian and economic toll across the region. In Pakistan, monsoon rains combined with dam water releases have inundated vast areas of Punjab province, submerging more than 1.8 million acres of farmland and causing billions of dollars in crop losses.
More than two million people have been displaced, with official reports confirming that over 900 lives have been lost. Entire villages have been washed away, and more than 4,500 settlements in Punjab alone have been flooded, affecting more than 4.4 million residents.
In India, regions vulnerable to monsoon extremes and glacial melt have also been badly hit. Flash floods in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir triggered widespread displacement and rescue operations by national and local authorities. Experts have warned that climate change is intensifying such events by accelerating glacial melt and producing heavier monsoon rains.
Against this backdrop, the joint letter from U.S. lawmakers stands out for its focus on humanitarian needs over political divides. Suozzi emphasized that “working across party lines and across borders isn’t just possible, it’s essential. Our communities deserve that kind of leadership.”
The United States has already mobilized relief efforts. The State Department has authorized funding for food, shelter, and emergency assistance, while U.S. military aircraft have begun delivering tents, generators, and dewatering pumps to Pakistan for use in Army-run relief camps.
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