North Indy News

U.S. Senators have introduced a resolution to honor the Dalai Lama's upcoming 90th birthday and express support for the Tibetan people. The bipartisan effort is led by Senators Todd Young, Jeff Merkley, John Curtis, Jacky Rosen, Pete Ricketts, Mike Crapo, Jeanne Shaheen, and Dan Sullivan.

Senator Young stated, “Throughout his life, the Dalai Lama has stood for peace, respect, and understanding. I’m proud to stand with the Dalai Lama and the people of Tibet in their struggle for freedom and peace against the Chinese Communist Party’s continued aggression. The CCP’s status quo – both in Tibet and elsewhere – is not acceptable.”

Senator Merkley emphasized the importance of supporting Tibetan rights: “The people of Tibet have an inalienable right to self-determination, and our resolution reaffirms the United States’ commitment to Tibetans by supporting their basic human rights, religious freedom, culture, and language.” He added that it sends a message about protecting fundamental freedoms as "the Chinese government continues to ignore the rights of Tibet under international law."

Tencho Gyatso from the International Campaign for Tibet commented on the significance of this resolution: “This timely resolution expresses a wonderful, bipartisan recognition that His Holiness the Dalai Lama stands as a global icon of compassion and honors his lifelong commitment to strive for peace and justice for his homeland and the people of Tibet.” Gyatso believes that swift passage will inspire those celebrating the Dalai Lama’s birthday while providing hope to Tibetans who face risks even acknowledging it publicly.

In 2023, Senators Young and Merkley also spearheaded legislation promoting dialogue between China and Tibet towards resolving their long-standing dispute. This bill became law in July 2024.

The full text of this new resolution is available online.