Dharamshala, India — His Holiness the Dalai Lama congratulated Hon. Nancy Pelosi on her re-election as the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. He reiterated his belief that the United States is the leading nation of the free world and his confidence that in her role as the Speaker, she would help to lead during these difficult times.
His Holiness also thanked Speaker Pelosi for her personal friendship and for her loyal and unwavering support in the past decades to the just cause of the Tibetan people.
"Your friendship, support and solidarity during this most difficult period in Tibet’s long history have been a source of hope, inspiration and strength in our enduring and challenging quest for justice and freedom".
"Consequently, notwithstanding the uncertainty and upheaval we are presently witnessing in different parts of the world, including the continuing plight of my compatriots in Tibet, I remain hopeful and optimistic that ultimately truth, justice and human reasoning and decency will prevail".
Democratic Representative Nancy Pelosi was elected as Speaker, US House of Representatives on Thursday, returning her to a position she last held in January 2011, for her third term. The 78-year-old veteran lawmaker was nominated by New York Democratic Representative Hakeem Jeffries, as Democrats took control of the lower chamber.
Pelosi carried 220 of the 235 Democrats in the House. There are also 199 Republicans, with one vacancy in a contested North Carolina district. A number of Democrats voted against Pelosi, including some of the far left wing of the party, who had called for new leadership in the caucus.
Pelosi reportedly, however, ensured her election by agreeing to limit her tenure to no more than four years in the chamber’s top spot. Pelosi, who drew a standing ovation, swore into office a record number of women – 102 women in the House – which have changed the face of Congress and made up nearly a quarter of the voting membership.
