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NEW DELHI--U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, a member of the President’s Export Council, addressed business and trade leaders in New Dehli Tuesday, part of a nine-day trade mission to India. In a speech to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), Cornyn noted that U.S.-Indo trade in software grew by 25 percent last year, and that the U.S. and India can and should work together “in support of one another to emphasize the strengths of our respective citizens.”Cornyn urged the assembled leaders to continue to push for free trade, protection of intellectual property and common sense immigration reform. He is also a member of the Congressional Oversight Group on Trade which supervises and consults with the U.S. Trade Representative.-- Below is the complete text of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks as prepared --Ladies and Gentlemen, it is a pleasure to be with you today. This is my first visit to India, and I want to say that it has been interesting. As a Senator from Texas, I am used to “big things.” The saying “bigger is better” is very common back home.As I learn more about India, I have been amazed by the “bigness” of this land in terms of population, history, cultural and religious diversity and economic prospects. Much has been said about the expanding security relationship between the U.S. and India governments. Fighting terrorism and ensuring peace and stability in South Asia will continue to be the main agenda items.However, the world has been changing in equally significant ways concerning business and trade. The development of software and location of many business support activities in India is testimony to technology bringing our economies closer together. Like any elected official, I am always concerned about jobs for my constituents. Work is the way parents support children. Work is also the way an individual maintains a sense of worth as a contributing member of society. There is no doubt that the pace of economic change can create hardship for some, while many others prosper. Governments have a proper role to play to mitigate these difficulties by helping workers affected by trade to transition to new jobs.The U.S. is simultaneously emerging from a period of slow economic growth and beginning an election year. As a result, we have seen an increase in protectionist and anti-free trade rhetoric. These passions of the moment must be resisted. Technical and economic innovation is inevitable, and should be embraced and adopted, rather than feared and opposed. Political leaders should recognize what many in business have already realized; the economies of the United States and India can work in support of one another to emphasize the strengths of our respective citizens. However, it can be difficult at times for politicians of any nationality to focus on the long-term benefits of trade and economic liberalization when they are concentrating on upcoming elections. I attended the WTO talks in Cancun, and witnessed the triumph of political gamesmanship over international statesmanship. According to the World Bank, a successful Doha round could raise global income by more than $500 billion a year by 2015 with more than sixty percent of the benefits going to poor countries -- lifting 144 million people out of poverty. With an energetic and entrepreneurial population, India is well positioned to take advantage of the benefits of a successful Doha round. Honest people can disagree about the cause of the collapse of the WTO talks, but it is clear that leaders from major trading countries must put aside any bitterness remaining from Cancun and breathe new life into the WTO talks. Cutting edge companies today are producers of ideas as well as manufactured goods. Intellectual property protection needs to be strengthened here for the benefit of India as well as the United States. Legislation must be matched by the will and means to enforce patent, trademark and copyright laws.The entrepreneurs in Bollywood and Bangalore will benefit as much as the entrepreneurs in Hollywood and the Silicon Valley.Immigration laws should also reflect the flow of people involved in the global economy to facilitate the exchange of ideas and support economic growth. This is a particular challenge since we must also be vigilant against terrorists crossing borders to inflict harm on peaceful people.Many American information technology workers, and their elected representatives, are concerned about losing jobs to H1-B and L-1 visa holders in the U.S. We should certainly take steps to prevent abuses of these programs. However, I believe American workers, consumers and employers benefit from this “brain gain.”A major reduction in these visas could actually accelerate the shifting of some IT jobs overseas if employers are not able to relocate valuable foreign employees to make American companies more competitive and innovative. I also am a major supporter of an expanded guest worker program to enable foreign workers to come to the U.S. for a limited period of time. This past year I introduced legislation to establish such a program. The absence of a guest worker has produced an undocumented worker population estimated to be at least eight million, including 200,000 Indian nationals. These hard working individuals seeking jobs are forced into the shadows, and can easily be exploited by unscrupulous employers and criminals. In conclusion, I want to urge the leaders here today to continue to push for free trade, protection of intellectual property and common sense immigration laws.I would also like to thank the Confederation of Indian Industry for their dedication to improving communications between our two great countries.