Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, July 16: The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution on Monday designating July 6, 2025, as a “Day of Compassion” to commemorate the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, aligning with the Central Tibetan Administration’s “Year of Compassion” to mark the Dalai Lama’s milestone birthday.
The resolution reaffirms longstanding bipartisan support for the Tibetan people, their human rights, and religious freedom, particularly opposing any interference by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in the recognition of the 15th Dalai Lama.
Introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Todd Young (R-IN), the resolution gained backing from 10 additional bipartisan co-sponsors. Its passage follows this year’s Tibet Lobby Day, during which over 200 Tibetan-Americans and Tibet supporters from across the U.S. gathered in Washington, D.C., to advocate for Tibetan issues, including this resolution.
The House version, H.Res.515, led by Representatives Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Jim McGovern (D-MA), continues to gain co-sponsors and is expected to pass soon.
The resolution highlights the history of the Tibet-China conflict and the U.S.’s enduring support for the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan cause. It builds on a series of Tibet-related laws passed in recent years with bipartisan support, namely the 2018 Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, the 2020 Tibetan Policy and Support Act, and the 2024 Resolve Tibet Act.
“The passage of this resolution is a demonstration of America’s deep and enduring support for the Dalai Lama’s message of compassion and non-violence, and for the human rights and democratic freedoms of the Tibetan people,” said Tencho Gyatso, President of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT).
She added, “I must express our heartfelt gratitude to Tibet’s friends in the Senate and also to the participants in Tibet Lobby Day who helped propel the resolution forward during this crucial moment.”
