US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has appointed Indian-origin US lawmakers
Pramila Jayapal and Raja Krishnamoorthi to key congressional committees on budget
and the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday.

Congresswoman Jayapal was assigned to the House budget
committee while Congressman Krishnamoorthi was chosen to a key congressional
committee on the coronavirus crisis, reported PTI.

Krishnamoorthi, a US Representative for Illinois’s 8th congressional
district since 2017, said, “I am honoured to join Chairman Clyburn and our
colleagues on this panel to provide vital oversight of the federal coronavirus
response to protect the health and safety of the American people as we defeat
the pandemic and rebuild our economy.”

“I look forward to working with members of both parties as we ensure
that the trillions of dollars in taxpayer funds dedicated to our country’s
response to this pandemic and its economic impacts are used as efficiently,
transparently and effectively as possible,” he added.

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Jayapal, the first Indian-American woman to be elected to the US House
of Representatives, has been serving as US Representative for Washington’s 7th
congressional district since 2017. Her appointment to the budget committee will
play a vital role in passage of the budget.

Congressman John Yarmuth has been chosen to chair the House Budget
Committee, reported PTI.

The US is worst-affected nation from the coronavirus pandemic.
Over 420,000 people have lost their lives due to COVID-19 and there are more than 25,293,000 confirmed
cases in the country.

President Joe Biden has suggested a $1.9
trillion relief package, including $1,400 relief payments for most Americans,
along with unemployment benefits and substantial aid to cash strapped state and
local governments.