H. Res. 697 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
November 18, 2020. 
Whereas the Dalai Lama’s principal commitments include 
cultivation of warm-heartedness and such human values 
as compassion and forgiveness; promotion of religious 
harmony; and preservation of Tibetan language and cul-
ture and protection of Tibet’s natural environment; 
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 rec-
onciliation’’; 
Whereas, in 1989, the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel 
Peace Prize for his nonviolent struggle for the liberation 
of Tibet, his advocacy for peaceful solutions to preserve 
Tibetans’ historical and cultural heritage, and his con-
structive, forward-looking proposals for resolving inter-
national conflicts, human rights issues, and global envi-
ronmental problems; 
Whereas Congress has consistently shown overwhelming, bi-
partisan, bicameral support for the Tibetan people’s aspi-
rations for internationally recognized human rights and 
freedoms and the protection of their distinct religious, 
cultural, linguistic, and historical identity, including by 
passing the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 (Public Law 
107–228; 22 U.S.C. 6901 note);
•HRES 697 EH 
Whereas, in 2006, Congress passed the Fourteenth Dalai 
Lama Congressional Gold Medal Act (Public Law 109– 
287; 31 U.S.C. 5111), and in October 2007, President 
George W. Bush, Speaker of the House of Representa-
tives Nancy Pelosi, and other Congressional leaders 
awarded the Dalai Lama the United States Congressional 
Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor awarded by Con-
gress, for his contributions to peace, nonviolence, human 
rights, and religious understanding; 
Whereas Members of Congress have on multiple occasions 
met with the Dalai Lama during congressional delega-
tions overseas, including a bipartisan delegation led by 
then-House Speaker Pelosi to meet with the Dalai Lama 
and the Tibetan exiled community in 2008, a bipartisan 
delegation led by then-House Minority Leader Nancy 
Pelosi in 2017, and a bipartisan delegation from the 
House Democracy Partnership in 2019, to spotlight the 
unjust oppression against the Tibetan people; 
Whereas the Dalai Lama has on multiple occasions visited 
the United States Capitol, including most recently in 
June 2016, during which he met with congressional lead-
ership to promote respectful inter-religious harmony and 
protection of the Tibetan people’s identity, culture, lan-
guage, and environment; 
Whereas the Department of State finds in its 2020 Report 
to Congress on Access to Tibetan Areas of the People’s 
Republic of China (PRC), as required by the Reciprocal 
Access to Tibet Act of 2018 (Public Law 115–330), that 
the Chinese Government systematically impeded travel to 
the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and Tibetan areas 
outside the TAR for United States diplomats and offi-
cials, journalists, and tourists in 2019;
•HRES 697 EH 
Whereas, in 2018, the Secretary of State convened the first- 
ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, during 
which the Dalai Lama addressed hundreds of members of 
religious organizations and civil society by video; 
Whereas under the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, it is the pol-
icy of the United States to support economic develop-
ment, cultural preservation, health care, and education 
and environmental sustainability for Tibetans inside 
Tibet; 
Whereas the human rights situation in Tibet has significantly 
deteriorated since the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 was 
signed into law; 
Whereas the Government of the People’s Republic of China’s 
repeated insistence that it must control the selection of 
the next leader of Tibetan Buddhism, a religion with ad-
herents across the globe including in Mongolia, where a 
2010 census reports 53 percent of individuals ages 15 
and older self-identify as Buddhists, is a gross violation 
of international religious freedom; 
Whereas the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed 
H.R. 4331, the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2019, 
which reiterates support for the Tibetan community and 
the need to hold Chinese officials responsible for religious 
freedom abuses targeting Tibetan Buddhists; 
Whereas after 35 years, the United States Consulate in 
Chengdu, which was responsible for operations in and 
providing diplomatic reporting on developments con-
cerning Tibetan populations in southwestern China and 
the Tibet Autonomous Region, closed on July 27, 2020; 
and