H.Res. 515

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 515 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 515

Commemorating the 90th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on July 
6, 2025, as ``A Day of Compassion'', and expressing support for the 
human rights, religious freedom, and cultural and linguistic protection 
of the Tibetan people.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 13, 2025

Mr. McCaul (for himself, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, 
Mr. Krishnamoorthi, Mr. Lawler, Ms. Schakowsky, Mrs. Kim, and Mr. 
Raskin) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Commemorating the 90th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on July 
6, 2025, as ``A Day of Compassion'', and expressing support for the 
human rights, religious freedom, and cultural and linguistic protection 
of the Tibetan people.

Whereas July 6, 2025, marks the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai 
Lama;
Whereas the 14th Dalai Lama was born in north-eastern Tibet in 1935, was 
enthroned as the 14th incarnation in 1940, and was called upon to assume 
temporal leadership of Tibet in 1950 in response to a tumultuous time as 
the newly established People's Republic of China sent its military to 
seize control of Tibet;
Whereas Communist Party of China Chairman Mao Zedong assured the Dalai Lama that 
Tibet would have autonomy under Chinese rule and conveyed to the Dalai 
Lama that Tibet's unique religious and cultural traditions would be 
respected, and even formalized these assurances in the 17 Point 
Agreement of 1951;
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China, led by the Chinese 
Communist Party, steadily eroded Tibet's autonomy to which it committed 
in the Seventeen Point Agreement through repressive political and 
military actions, leading to tension, resistance, and ultimately the 
Dalai Lama's exile in 1959;
Whereas, in March 1959, the Dalai Lama had to flee Tibet after the People's 
Liberation Army began shelling Lhasa and has since then been residing in 
India, along with tens of thousands of Tibetan refugees;
Whereas, for more than seven decades, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has 
significantly advocated for interfaith dialogue, emphasizing tolerance, 
harmony, and respect among major world religions;
Whereas the Dalai Lama has led the effort to preserve the rich and unique 
cultural, religious, historical, and linguistic heritage of the people 
of Tibet while working to safeguard other endangered cultures throughout 
the world;
Whereas the Dalai Lama has been gravely concerned by the degraded state of the 
environment of Tibet and the unchecked exploitation of the natural 
resources of Tibet, including fresh water, because they have 
implications not only for the people of Tibet, but for the whole of 
Asia;
Whereas, beginning in 1979, the Dalai Lama has visited various parts of the 
United States and subsequently gained the admiration of all levels of 
society in the United States;
Whereas the people of the United States have consistently expressed their 
appreciation for the culture and Tibetan Buddhism, including through 
their support of its preservation, and political and diplomatic support 
for the Dalai Lama in his capacity as a spiritual leader;
Whereas there is strong bipartisan support from successive Congresses and 
Administrations for the Dalai Lama and his vision for Tibet and the 
world and for a negotiated resolution between Tibet and China that leads 
to meaningful autonomy for Tibetans that ensures they are able to freely 
practice their religion, culture, and language without repercussions;
Whereas, on October 17, 2007, Congress awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to 
the Dalai Lama, finding in the Fourteenth Dalai Lama Congressional Gold 
Medal Act (Public Law 109-287) that he is recognized around the world as 
``a leading figure of moral and religious authority'' and is ``the 
unrivaled spiritual and cultural leader of the Tibetan people'';
Whereas followers of Tibetan Buddhists in Tibet, the United States, India, 
Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, Russia, and elsewhere look to the Dalai Lama 
for religious leadership and spiritual guidance;
Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights holds that ``[e]veryone has 
the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion,'' including 
the freedom to change religion or belief and to practice it in private 
or public;
Whereas at least 159 Tibetans in Tibet are known to have self-immolated, with 
statements or records left by many of them calling for freedom for Tibet 
and the return of the Dalai Lama;
Whereas, in 1991, section 355 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal 
Years 1992 and 1993 (Public Law 102-138) expressed the sense of Congress 
that Tibet ``is an occupied country under the established principles of 
international law'' and that ``Tibet's true representatives are the 
Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government in exile as recognized by the 
Tibetan people'';
Whereas, in 1961, with the support of the United States, the United Nations 
General Assembly recognized the Tibetan people's ``fundamental human 
rights and freedoms, including the right to self-determination'';
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China has interfered in the 
identification and installation of reincarnated leaders of Tibetan 
Buddhism, as part of its efforts to maintain control over Tibet, 
including in 1995 arbitrarily detaining the then-recently identified 
11th Panchen Lama, then a six-year-old boy, and purporting to install 
China's own candidate, Gyaltsen Norbu, as Panchen Lama;
Whereas, in 2011, the 14th Dalai Lama declared that the responsibility for 
identifying a future 15th Dalai Lama will rest with officials of Gaden 
Phodrang, the Dalai Lama's office, and that ``apart from the 
reincarnation recognized through such legitimate methods, no recognition 
or acceptance should be given to a candidate chosen for political ends 
by anyone, including those in the People's Republic of China'';
Whereas, in 2011, the 14th Dalai Lama initiated a historic devolution of power 
to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in which he formally 
renounced his political role, transferring full democratic governance to 
an elected Tibetan leadership, thereby ensuring a democratic and secular 
political system for the Tibetan people;
Whereas the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 (subtitle E of title III of 
division K of Public Law 116-260) was passed, strengthening the landmark 
Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 (22 U.S.C. 6901 note on December 21, 2020, 
the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020), including by--

(1) addressing the issue of water security and environmental 
destruction in Tibet;

(2) providing humanitarian assistance and support for Tibetans in Tibet 
and in exile;

(3) stipulating that the objectives of the United States Special 
Coordinator for Tibet include promoting ``substantive dialogue without 
preconditions between the Government of the People's Republic of China and 
the Dalai Lama, his or her representatives, or democratically elected 
leaders of the Tibetan community'';

(4) stating that it is the policy of the United States that ``decisions 
regarding the selection, education, and veneration of Tibetan Buddhist 
religious leaders are exclusively spiritual matters that should be made by 
the appropriate religious authorities within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition 
and in the context of the will of practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism'' and 
that the wishes of the 14th Dalai Lama ``should play a key role'' in the 
selection, education, and veneration of a future 15th Dalai Lama; and

(5) stating that it is the policy of the United States to hold 
accountable, including through the imposition of sanctions, any officials 
of the People's Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party who 
directly interfere with the identification and installation of a future 
Dalai Lama;

Whereas, on July 12, 2024, the Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute 
Act (Public Law 118-70) was signed into law, with the Act affirming that 
it is the policy of the United States that the Tibet issue must be 
resolved in accordance with international law by peaceful means, through 
dialogue without preconditions, and that China should cease propagating 
disinformation about Tibet's history, and stating that it is the sense 
of Congress that the People's Republic of China's claims that Tibet has 
been part of the People's Republic of China since ``ancient times'' are 
``historically inaccurate'';
Whereas the Central Tibetan Administration, the institution that represents and 
reflects to the greatest extent the aspirations of the Tibetan diaspora 
around the world, has officially decided to celebrate the 14th Dalai 
Lama's 90th birth year as the ``Year of Compassion''; and
Whereas the Dalai Lama has highlighted the oneness of humanity and has dedicated 
his life for the promotion of compassion and human values, and is 
considered a leader of compassion by the international community: Now, 
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes ``A Day of Compassion'';
(2) congratulates His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his 90th 
birthday and affirms its recognition of his outstanding 
contributions to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and 
religious understanding;
(3) affirms the Tibetan people's fundamental human rights 
and freedoms, including their right to self-determination and 
the protection of their distinct religious, cultural, 
linguistic, and national identity;
(4) reiterates as outlined in the Tibetan Policy and 
Support Act that the identification and installation of Tibetan 
Buddhist religious leaders are within the authority of the 
Tibetan Buddhist faith community, in accordance with their 
inalienable right to religious freedom and a future 15th Dalai 
Lama is a matter that should be determined solely by the 
present 14th Dalai Lama;
(5) reiterates that any attempt by the Government of the 
People's Republic of China to identify or install Tibetan 
Buddhist religious leaders, including a future 15th Dalai Lama, 
is invalid interference in the right to religious freedom of 
Tibetan Buddhists around the world, including in Tibet and in 
the United States; and
(6) encourages that this resolution be presented to His 
Holiness the Dalai Lama as an expression of esteem and respect.
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