Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, June 17: In a significant show of bipartisan support, U.S. lawmakers have introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives designating July 6, 2025, as “A Day of Compassion” in honour of the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. The resolution, spearheaded by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Chairman Emeritus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), highlights the Tibetan spiritual leader’s lifelong commitment to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and the preservation of Tibetan culture.
“Despite having faced persecution, oppression, and unspeakable violence at the hands of the CCP, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has maintained inner peace and continues to preach compassion — inspiring not only his own people, but the entire world,” said Rep. McCaul. Reflecting on his meeting with the Dalai Lama at his residence in Dharamshala last year, McCaul added, “Ahead of His Holiness’s 90th birthday, I am proud to introduce this resolution… and affirm Tibetans’ fundamental human rights as we look forward to the day the Dalai Lama and his people can return to their homeland in peace.”
Rep. McGovern echoed similar sentiments, stating, “His Holiness the Dalai Lama is an inspiration to millions of people around the world, including to me. His teachings on religious tolerance, non-violent responses to conflict and violent extremism, and peace-building are both timeless and urgently needed in our present circumstances.” He added, “May his next one be celebrated in Lhasa.”
The resolution is co-sponsored by a group of bipartisan lawmakers including Reps. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), and Young Kim (R-Calif.).
Tencho Gyatso, President of the International Campaign for Tibet, welcomed the resolution as a meaningful gesture. “This resolution expresses a wonderful, bipartisan recognition that His Holiness the Dalai Lama stands as a global icon of compassion and honours his lifelong commitment to strive for peace and justice for his homeland and the people of Tibet,” she said. She further emphasized its significance for Tibetans inside Tibet, for whom even acknowledging the Dalai Lama’s birthday remains a risky act under Chinese surveillance.
The resolution recognizes July 6 as “A Day of Compassion,” congratulates the Dalai Lama on his 90th birthday, and affirms his global contributions to peace, nonviolence, and interreligious understanding. It reaffirms the Tibetan people’s right to self-determination and to preserve their cultural, religious, and linguistic identity.
Crucially, it upholds provisions from the Tibetan Policy and Support Act, reaffirming that the succession of Tibetan Buddhist leaders, including the eventual 15th Dalai Lama lies solely with the Tibetan Buddhist community, particularly the current Dalai Lama himself. It denounces any interference by the Chinese government as a violation of religious freedom.
The resolution also acknowledges the exile Tibetan government known officially as the Central Tibetan Administration’s declaration of 2025 as the “Year of Compassion,” further aligning the symbolic gesture with the broader Tibetan diaspora’s efforts to honour the Dalai Lama’s legacy.
The resolution concluded with a recommendation that it be presented to the Dalai Lama as a mark of esteem and respect from the U.S. Congress.
One Response
Thank you very much for your support to the Tibetan people and making the 90th birthday oh His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama as a day of compassion