Washington DC — The President of the Tibetan government in-Exile Tuesday thanked the US Senate for passing the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 (TPSA), which becomes official United States policy that decisions regarding the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama are exclusively within the authority of the current Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhist leaders, and the Tibetan people.
The President of the Tibetan government in-Exile Tuesday thanked the US Senate for passing the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 (TPSA), which becomes official United States policy that decisions regarding the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama are exclusively within the authority of the current Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhist leaders, and the Tibetan people.
The TPSA empowers the US government that "Any interference by Chinese government officials will be met with serious sanctions and be deemed inadmissible into the United States."
The bill also formally acknowledges the CTA as the legitimate institution reflecting the aspirations of the Tibetan diaspora around the world and the Sikyong as the President of the CTA. 'It is a historic achievement for the Tibetan movement,' according to the Office of Tibet – Washington DC.
The Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 (TPSA), which had been stuck at the United States Senate Foreign Relations Committee since May 2020, was unanimously passed earlier Tuesday.
Dr Lobsang Sangay, the President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), left Dharamsala and came to the US back in November, with the sole purpose to push the bill. President Sangay has been in the capital city with the Office of Tibet, Washington, D.C., for the past few days for the final passage of TPSA.
“By passing the TPSA, Congress has sent its message loud and clear that Tibet remains a priority for the United States and that it will continue its steadfast support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the CTA,” says President Sangay. “It is a momentous landmark for the Tibetan people.”
The bipartisan bill commends His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his decision to implement democratic governance and also commends the Tibetan exile community for successfully adopting a system of self-governance with democratic institutions to choose their leaders.
In addition, it formally acknowledges the CTA as the legitimate institution reflecting the aspirations of the Tibetan diaspora around the world and the Sikyong as the President of the CTA.
The TPSA also introduces new key provisions aimed at protecting the environment and water resources on the Tibetan plateau. It recognizes the importance of traditional Tibetan grassland stewardship in mitigating the negative effects of climate change in the region as opposed to the Chinese government’s forced resettlement of the Tibetan nomads. In addition, it calls for greater international cooperation to monitor the environment on the Tibetan plateau.
American citizens and companies engaged in business activities in Tibet are encouraged to practice corporate social responsibility and to adhere to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
The TPSA also authorizes a number of appropriations for Tibet and Tibetan related issues including (not less than) $8 million for Tibetan communities in the Tibet Autonomous Region and in other Tibetan communities in China; $6 million for Tibetan communities in India and Nepal; $3 million to strengthen the capacity of Tibetan institutions and governance in exile; over $3.4 million and $4 million respectively for Voice of America’s and Radio Free Asia’s reporting on Tibet and Tibetans; $1 million for Office of the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, among others.
Finally, in order to promote access to Tibet as enumerated in the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018, the TPSA calls for the establishment of a United States Consulate in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. Until such an establishment, the bill calls upon the Secretary of State to not authorize any new Chinese consulate in the United States.
Built on the landmark Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, the TPSA was introduced to the Congress by the Chairman of the Congressional China Commission and Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).
The President expressed his gratitude to the key sponsors, co-sponsors, and everyone who supported the bill, particularly Senators Marco Rubio and Ben Cardin; and Congressmen Jim McGovern and Chris Smith for their “extraordinary leadership” in introducing the bill in the House and Senate.
“I would like to especially thank House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for their steadfast support in making this historic bill come true. I also thank Senators James E. Risch and Robert Menendez, the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; and Representatives Eliot L. Engel and Michael McCaul, the Chair and Co-Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, respectively.”
The President also would like to show his appreciation to the many staffers who provided significant help and support in this process, including Bethany Poulos, Brian Burack, Charlotte Oldham-Moore, Jennifer Hendrixson-White, Jonathan Stivers, Lara Crouch, Chris Socha, Michael Schiffer, Reva Price and, Wendy.
And last but not the least, President Sangay acknowledges the ICT, RTYC, SFT, Tibetan-American associations, particularly in New York and New Jersey, and all community members who vigorously lobbied on the Hill to gain support for the bill over the years.
