Title: Affirming the significance of' the advocacy for genuine autonomy for Tibetans in the People's Republic of China and the work His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has done to promote global peace, harmony, and understanding.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution recognizes both the cultural and religious significance of an autonomous Tibet. The resolution also presses for the assembly of a bipartisan, bicameral forum between Members of Congress and the Dalai Lama to discuss peaceful solutions to international conflicts.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 697 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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'';
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 first-ever Ministerial to 
        Advance Religious Freedom, during which the Dalai Lama addressed over 
        four hundred 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
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the cultural and religious significance of a 
        genuinely autonomous Tibet and the deep bond between the 
        American and Tibetan people;
            (2) commends the 14th Dalai Lama for his commitment to 
        global peace and nonviolence; and
            (3) determines that it would be beneficial to convene a 
        bipartisan, bicameral forum, either through a Joint Meeting of 
        Congress, a teleconference broadcast in the Auditorium at the 
        Capitol Visitor Center, or roundtable, between Members of 
        Congress and His Holiness the Dalai Lama to discuss peaceful 
        solutions to international conflicts.
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