Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) advocated mending U.S.- Arab relations Friday, saying that a better relationship is necessary for the health of America.

“One of the most essential relationships we need to build is the relationship between the United States and the Arab speaking world,” Ellison said in a conference at the Woodrow Wilson Center. “It is central to the security, economic viability and prosperity of so many people around the world.”

Ellison suggested that, with the long history shared between the U.S. and the Arab world, a close relationship could lead to a prosperous future focused on manufacturing, energy, technology and services.

“We are interconnected, we are tightly wound together, and we should embrace this,” he said.

Ellison added that there is often a misconception of U.S. relations with Arab-speaking countries, noting that finding common ground would be largely beneficial but currently there is a lack of motivation in Congress to mend the relationship.

“When 9/11 occurred the United States took a step back … and other nations filled that void as we withdrew,” Ellison said. “It is time for us to strengthen, renew and rebind the ties between us and it is time to do that in a way that is better than it was before.”

Ellision, who was elected in 2006, is the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Congress.