Three additional US lawmakers have joined the Congressional Caucus for Bangladesh, including Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford and New York congressmen Mike McMahon and Scott Murphy. This announcement was made during a meeting of the new alliance, the 'New Democratic Coalition Pact', on Monday. The congressmen have committed to advocating for Bangladesh's interests on issues such as climate change, the environment, and the proposed Indian construction of the Tipai Dam. Representatives from the Bangladeshi-American Public Affairs Front and US-based BNP leader Gias Ahmed were also present at the meeting. Congressman Joseph Crowley, who serves as co-chairman of the Bangladesh Caucus, stated that he is actively working towards securing duty-free access for Bangladeshi readymade garments in the US market. He also expressed interest in providing expatriate Bangladeshis with legal permission to reside and work in the United States. Currently, there are approximately 39 congressmen who are members of the Bangladesh Caucus. Recently, Patrick Kennedy, the son of the late senator Edward Kennedy who was a strong supporter of Bangladesh, also joined the Bangladeshi Caucus in America.