IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 697 

Recognizing the significance of the genuine autonomy of Tibet and the Tibetan people and the work His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has 

done to promote global peace, harmony, and understanding. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 13, 2019 

Mr. YOHO (for himself, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, and Mr. 

MCGOVERN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the significance of the genuine autonomy of 

Tibet and the Tibetan people and the work His Holiness 

the 14th Dalai Lama has done to promote global peace, 

harmony, and understanding. 

Whereas the three principal commitments that the Dalai 

Lama has articulated are the promotion of human values, 

promotion of religious harmony, and preservation of Tibetan culture and religion; 

Whereas the Dalai Lama has stated, ‘‘I remain convinced 

that most human conflicts can be solved through genuine 

dialogue conducted with the spirit of openness and reconciliation’’; 


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•HRES 697 IH 

Whereas, in 1989, the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel 

Peace Prize for his nonviolent struggle for the liberation 

of Tibet and proposed Middle Way Policy to end the 

Sino-Tibet Problem; 

Whereas, in 2006, the United States Congress passed the 

Fourteenth Dalai Lama Congressional Gold Medal Act 

(Public Law 109–287) to award the Dalai Lama the 

United States Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor awarded by Congress, for his contributions 

to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and religious understanding; 

Whereas there are over 6,000,000 Tibetans in the world, 

spanning over 40 countries; 

Whereas there are over 31,000 individuals of Tibetan descent 

living in North America; 

Whereas 2019 marked 60 years of friendship between the 

United States and the Tibetan people; 

Whereas there is overwhelming bipartisan Congressional support for the Tibetan people’s aspirations for internationally recognized human rights and freedoms and the protection of their distinct religious, cultural, linguistic, and 

national identity; 

Whereas under the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 (Public Law 

107–228), it is the policy of the United States to support 

economic development, cultural preservation, health care 

and education, and environmental sustainability for Tibetans inside of Tibet; 

Whereas, in 2018, the Secretary of State convened the firstever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, during 

which the Dalai Lama addressed over four hundred 


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•HRES 697 IH 

heads of religious organizations and civil societies by 

video; 

Whereas, in May 2019, United States Ambassador to China 

Terry Branstad traveled to Tibet, the first trip to the region by an American envoy in four years, during which 

he met with senior Tibetan religious and cultural leaders; 

and 

Whereas, in October 2019, United States Ambassador at 

Large for Religious Freedom, Samuel D. Brownback, 

traveled to Dharamsala, India, to meet with the Dalai 

Lama to discuss ways to advance religious freedom: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the cultural and religious signifi3 cance of a genuinely autonomous Tibet and the deep 

4 bond between the American and Tibetan people; 

5 (2) commends the 14th Dalai Lama for his 

6 commitment to global peace and nonviolence; and 

7 (3) determines that it would be beneficial to 

8 convene a bipartisan, bicameral forum, either 

9 through a Joint Meeting of Congress, a teleconfer10 ence broadcast in the Auditorium at the Capitol Vis11 itor Center, or roundtable, between Members of Con12 gress and His Holiness the Dalai Lama to discuss 

13 peaceful solutions to international conflicts. 

Æ 


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