Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), the Ranking Member of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, has announced that he will step down from his leadership role later this month.

“I have informed Leader Hakeem Jeffries of my intention to step down as Ranking Member of the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party later this month,” Rep. Krishnamoorthi said in a statement issued on January 5.

Rep. Krishnamoorthi expressed deep gratitude to Leader Hakeem Jeffries for entrusting him with the responsibility of leading House Democrats on the Committee over the past three years. 

He noted that Jeffries’ decision to appoint the first South Asian American to ever lead a congressional committee, either as Chair or Ranking Member, would remain part of his enduring legacy and reflect a commitment to expanding opportunity and representation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

He also thanked the “dedicated and thoughtful members” of the Committee during the 118th and 119th Congresses, noting that they brought seriousness, expertise, and a strong sense of responsibility to work that often carried significant national and global consequences.

“While we did not always agree, we consistently found ways to collaborate, seek common ground, and focus on strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness and security,” said Rep. Krishnamoorthi. “The confidence and partnership you extended, particularly as we built this Committee from the ground up, meant a great deal to me.”

Referring to the Committee staff as “extraordinary,” Rep. Krishnamoorthi said they approached their work with “rigor, humility, and an unwavering sense of purpose.” He noted that their focus extended beyond confronting challenges posed by the Chinese Communist Party to advancing policies that unlock American innovation, protect workers and consumers, and ensure that the United States remains the world’s leading economic and technological power. He added that they serve with integrity and quiet patriotism, and that he will greatly miss working alongside them.

“I am proud of what we accomplished together. We built a credible, bipartisan Committee that strengthened U.S. economic and national security while keeping American competitiveness at the center of our work,” he added. “Our efforts advanced policies to protect American innovation, secure critical supply chains, counter forced labor and economic coercion, and prevent U.S. capital and technology from being used to undermine our security or values. Just as importantly, we demonstrated that the United States can compete from a position of confidence by investing in our people, our ideas, and our democratic institutions.”

Rep. Krishnamoorthi emphasized that the challenge posed by China is among the defining tests of the current era, spanning economic, technological, and military domains, and resisting simple solutions. 

Addressing it, he said, requires nuance, seriousness, and a commitment to practical and enforceable policy solutions, along with a firm resolve to strengthen American competitiveness without giving way to fear or prejudice. He added that meeting this moment must also reflect the deeper values that define the nation.

“I am confident that Leader Jeffries will make an excellent decision in appointing my successor, and I look forward to working closely with them to ensure that Democrats on this Committee continue to succeed, advancing policies that allow the United States to compete and win while remaining firmly grounded in the values that define us,” he stressed.

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