Welcoming His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and recognizing his commitment to non-violence, human rights, freedom, and democracy.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time so I can join in praising the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman) for bringing this important resolution to the floor and for his leadership on the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations where he works closely with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk), and I commend the gentleman from Illinois also for making the issue of Tibet a priority. The gentleman from Illinois learned at the knee of John Porter who worked with the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), and I congratulate the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking member of the Committee on International Relations. He and John Porter founded the Human Rights Caucus 20 years ago. We observed that yesterday, and it was absolutely fitting and appropriate that His Holiness was the special guest speaker yesterday. What an honor it was for all of us. It brought luster to the Congress, and it was again a fitting tribute to the Human Rights Caucus.

I thank the gentleman from California for his extraordinary leadership. When I first came to Congress in 1987, I was invited to a meeting with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, and I was overwhelmed to receive such an invitation. He and John Porter were hosting the meeting in a small room. At that meeting His Holiness put forth his five points of autonomy, not independence, of nonviolence, protecting the environment and stopping the resettlement, et cetera, a very peaceful approach to a resolution of the conflict that could have been.

The Chinese regime did not see it that way. They kept saying they say autonomy; they mean independence, and until they reject independence, we cannot have a conversation, and so these many years have gone by without a resolution.

That is why I am pleased to rise in strong support of H. Res. 359, welcoming His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, and recognizing his commitment to nonviolence, human rights, freedom and democracy. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Rothman resolution, and I commend the gentleman for bringing this to the floor. The gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) has a lifetime commitment to human rights, and in his position as co-chair and ranking member, he has spoken out for hundreds of thousands of victims of religious, ethnic, and political oppression all over the world.

In 40 years in exile, His Holiness has used his position and leadership to promote wisdom, compassion, and nonviolence as a solution not only to the present crisis in Tibet, but to other long-standing conflicts around the world. We must heed the guidance of His Holiness. He is a constant reminder that the crisis in Tibet is a challenge to the conscience of the world. We have not forgotten the people of Tibet and their struggle. We must and will continue our efforts to improve their lot.

The self-determination for Tibetans must be a priority in the U.S.- China relationship. We know that more than a million Tibetans have died under the Chinese occupation as a result of torture, starvation and execution. More than 6,000 monasteries and irreplaceable jewels of Tibetan culture have been destroyed. Tibetans are routinely imprisoned and tortured for nonviolently expressing their views. Freedom of religion is severely curtailed. China is encouraging the large-scale settlement of nonTibetans into Tibet, which is overwhelming the Tibetan population in many areas and threatening its very culture.

The U.S. Government knows the facts. In March 2003, the U.S. State Department issued its annual Country Report on Human Rights. The report documents continuing human rights abuses by the Chinese government in Tibet and states, ``Chinese authorities continue to commit serious human rights abuses, including instances of torture, arbitrary arrest, detention without public trial, and lengthy detention of Tibetan nationalists for peacefully expressing their political or religious views.''

The survival of the Tibetan identity is an issue of urgent U.S. and international concern. That concern will not diminish until a negotiated solution is achieved and the rights of the Tibetan people are respected. This is an important time for the Tibetan people. Tibetans urge the world to support the Dalai Lama's proposal for the restoration of peace and human rights in Tibet. There is some reason for optimism, as has been mentioned. Envoys of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, have traveled to China and Tibet twice in the past year to continue discussions with Chinese authorities on a permanent negotiated settlement.

But unless the United States and other countries of the world are committed to meeting that challenge I mentioned that Tibet poses to the conscience of the world, then we cannot be consistent when we talk about human rights in any other part of the world. How can we talk about the violations of human rights and drastic actions we want to take in response to them one place and totally ignore them in Tibet? It undermines our moral authority to talk about human rights any place in the world unless we also talk about them in Tibet and China.

Today we recognize the Dalai Lama for his efforts to peacefully resolve the Tibetan issue and to promote the human rights of the Tibetan people. I talked at the beginning of my remarks when I first met His Holiness as a new Member of Congress 16 years ago. I remember a number of years later when the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), Mr. Porter, and Senator George Mitchell and Senator Dole, then the Republican and Democratic leaders of the U.S. Senate, we all joined together and we had a speech by His Holiness in the Rotunda of the Capitol. It was a momentous occasion, and we moved from a very small room into the center of the Capitol of the United States.

At that time, His Holiness told us about what was going on in Tibet, but he also was hopeful and optimistic about what could be in the future. I remember a personal story he told us when he was a little boy and he was already the Dalai Lama, he visited the United States. This was before he escaped from Tibet before the Chinese came in, but he came to the United States on a visit and President Franklin Roosevelt gave him a watch and he talked about that watch. It had the setting of the sun.

It was one of those watches that showed it was day time with the sun coming up or going down and what that meant to him. So he has had a connection to our country since he was a child. Since he was a child he has been the Dalai Lama. His presence in the

United States any time is a blessing for all of us.

Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that we honor and welcome him as the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman) has done so magnificently with this resolution. I urge my colleagues to unanimously support it.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 359) welcoming His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama and recognizing his commitment to non-violence, human rights, freedom, and democracy.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H. Res. 359, the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

At the outset, I would like to express my great appreciation for the distinguished ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), for his long interest in this issue and congratulate the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman) for sponsoring this thoughtful and timely resolution welcoming his Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, and recognizing his commitment to nonviolence, human rights, freedom, and democracy.

As my colleagues may be aware, the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader in exile, is in the United States for a 3-week lecture and teaching tour. While he is in Washington, his Holiness is expected to meet with President Bush and other senior administration officials to update them on the status of contacts between his envoys and representatives of the People's Republic of China.

The United States is encouraged that China invited the Dalai Lama's envoys to visit the Beijing and Tibetan regions in the fall of 2002 and again in the spring of 2003. The resumption of direct contacts has been accompanied by the release of several high-profile Tibetan political prisoners in what appears to be a softening of rhetoric regarding the Dalai Lama and the Tibet issue in the official Chinese media. Despite these encouraging signs of progress, however, severe human rights abuses and tight controls on fundamental freedoms persist in Tibet.

To date, the Chinese have insisted that the Dalai Lama renounce the prospect of independence before a substantive dialogue can resume. Although the Dalai Lama heads a ``government in exile'' in India, he has stated publicly and repeatedly he is seeking greater autonomy and not independence for Tibet.

While the United States Government recognizes Tibet as part of China, it is the policy of the U.S. to support respect for the human rights of all Chinese citizens, including ethnic Tibetans. To emphasize our concerns in this regard, Secretary Powell has appointed a special coordinator for Tibetan issues. The U.S. continues to raise Tibet during bilateral and multilateral exchanges with Chinese leaders.

While the U.S. does not have official diplomatic relations with the ``government in exile'' in Dharamsala, the U.S. maintains contact with a wide variety of groups inside and outside of China, including with Tibetans in the United States, China, and around the world. Our contacts include meetings with the Dalai Lama in his capacity as an important and revered spiritual leader and Nobel Prize laureate. It is a sign of enormous respect and affection for the Dalai Lama that the President, the Secretary of State, and other senior administration officials meet with him on an ongoing basis.

The executive branch and Congress continue to urge the Chinese Government to respect fundamental freedoms, to refrain from detaining individuals for the peaceful expression of their views, and to protect and preserve Tibet's unique religious, cultural, and linguistic heritage. We are all likewise united in our desire to encourage Beijing to follow through on discussions with the Dalai Lama's special envoys and engage in substantive dialogue, hopefully leading to a negotiated settlement of outstanding issues.

Finally, during these troubled times, it may be useful to reflect on the observations of His Holiness, who has spoken strongly of his desire for better understanding and respect among the different faiths and peoples of the world. ``The need for simple human-to-human relationships is becoming increasingly urgent,'' the Dalai Lama has noted. Today, he stresses, ``The world is smaller and increasingly interdependent. One nation's problems can no longer be solved by itself completely. Thus, without a sense of universal responsibility, our very survival becomes threatened. Basically, universal responsibility is feeling for other people's suffering just as we feel our own. This is the way to achieve a true understanding unfettered by artificial consideration.''

These are the words of the Dalai Lama. With the Dalai Lama's poignant observations in mind, I would suggest that there is no better way to honor this distinguished spiritual leader and symbol of the aspirations of the Tibetan people than for Members to support this very thoughtful resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk) who is such a leader on human rights issues in this body.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

It is always awkward for this Congress, or any body, to comment on the affairs of other societies; but the uniqueness of our foundation as a nation state was that we were the first country established on the principle of individual rights which were assumed to be universal, not simply particular to those living in the original 13 colonies.

Thus we have an obligation to our forbears to speak to the universality of political values, rights endowed by a Creator to all citizens of this planet. It is in this context that we recognize the transcendent universality of the Dalai Lama's mantle of leadership values which track so consistently our heritage.

I urge Members to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I rise in strong support of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to commend my good friend from Iowa, the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), and the chairman of our full committee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), for facilitating the consideration of this resolution. I want also to commend my good friend, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman), for introducing this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the Congress marked an important date. It was the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama was the principal speaker at the festivities.

Twenty years ago, my distinguished Republican colleague, who left us just a couple of years ago, Mr. Porter of Illinois, and I founded the Congressional Human Rights Caucus. For 2 decades, this organization, supported across the board by hundreds of colleagues, has fought for human rights in every part of the world.

When we started the Human Rights Caucus, much of our attention was aimed at the Soviet Union, and the Soviet Union is no more. Many of the refuseniks and dissidents and persecuted political prisoners in the Soviet Union had their battle fought for them by the Congressional Human Rights Caucus.

When we commenced the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, South Africa was an apartheid state divided on racial lines with strict punitive regulations impacting the black population. That South Africa exists no more. And it was one of the great joys of the Human Rights Caucus to have played a modest role in the liberation of Nelson Mandela.

It was appropriate that the organization which has been the umbrella organization in the Congress of the United States for 2 decades on behalf of human rights across this globe, fighting discrimination on racial, ethnic, religious, political grounds, fighting discrimination against women, which is still so prevalent in many parts of the Islamic world, should have as its principal speaker His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama is the embodiment of human rights on our planet. Despite the tragedies which have befallen the Tibetan people at the hands of the Chinese Communists since 1959, His Holiness has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the Chinese Tibetan conflict. And it is a significant historic fact, Mr. Speaker, that 16 years ago it was within the framework of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus that His Holiness the Dalai Lama presented his five-point peace plan calling for reconciliation between the Chinese authorities and the people of Tibet.

When he first came here at our invitation 16 years ago, he was not seen by the Department of State; he could not go near the White House. Today, he is an honored guest at the White House. And the recognition that his work has received is demonstrated by the Dalai Lama being a recipient of the Nobel prize for peace.

When we invited His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1987, none of us dared hope that his posture as a moral authority would rise to the heights it has attained. As we meet here this morning, there are strong indications that the Chinese at long last are ready to make their peace with Tibet and with the Dalai Lama.

The Dalai Lama's representative, Lodi Gyari, was received in Beijing this summer. And when the British Prime Minister Tony Blair met with the new Chinese President, there was a serious, substantive, and constructive discussion of the role of Tibet within China. The Congressional Human Rights Caucus yesterday called on the government of China to invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Beijing so that at long last peace can prevail between the long-suffering people of Tibet and the Chinese Government.

It is appropriate, Mr. Speaker, that this House express its respect and admiration for this great moral authority whose stature transcends Tibet, whose stature transcends his Buddhist principles, who stands globally as a symbol of peace, reconciliation, and an acceptance of pluralism on this small planet. I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), the distinguished Democratic leader. Since she first joined us in Congress, she has been an indefatigable fighter for human rights across the globe, but she has had a special relationship with the people of Tibet and His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. She has been the leader in calling for a peaceful reconciliation between the government in Beijing and the people of Tibet, and yesterday she graced us with her presence at the 20th commemoration of the birth of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and the visit of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman), a distinguished former member of the Committee on International Relations whose interest on foreign policy has been retained even after he left our committee, and who is the author of this important resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I merely want to underscore how significant it is that across the political spectrum, Republicans and Democrats join forces in paying tribute both to the concept of the role of human rights in U.S. foreign policy and to the embodiment of human rights on this planet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my distinguished colleague, the ranking member of the Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), who is a mentor to so many of us in this Congress and an example of what a Member of Congress can achieve not only in the Congress, but around the world with regard to human rights and so many other important issues.

While I have left the Committee on International Relations, I have not left the field, so to speak. I join many distinguished friends and colleagues on the Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations.

Mr. Speaker, I would like acknowledge the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) for his work on the issues of human rights; and of course my cherished friend, the chairman of the Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde) for all of his courtesies and leadership he has extended throughout the years. I would also like to thank the majority leader and our Democratic leader, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) whose eloquent remarks speak for themselves as to her long commitment to this issue of freedom for Tibet and the Tibetan people.

Mr. Speaker, the issue of Tibet is not a new one to this House, as the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) and so many other Members have eloquently stated. Congress has been on record throughout these many, many years in support of the people of Tibet speaking out against the persecution of Tibetans, opposing the destruction of the 6,000 monasteries in Tibet. Congress is on record condemning the torture and abuse of Tibetan monks and nuns. Congress is on record bringing the world's attention to the economic marginalization and impoverishment of Tibetans in their own land.

We as a Congress have also provided support for the Tibetan refugees who have made the difficult journey and decision to leave Tibet and seek refuge from persecution in foreign lands. I am proud to add my voice as the sponsor of this resolution in support of the Tibetan people, led, of course, by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. That is because I believe that it is not only our obligation as freedom-loving Americans who believe in the value of each individual's human rights and dignity but because it is our moral duty, I believe, as human beings to speak out for the voiceless, the powerless, and the victims in the world.

Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 359 welcomes His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the United States and recognizes the Dalai Lama for his efforts to peacefully resolve the Tibetan issue. The measure encourages dialogue between the relevant parties, China and Tibet, in order to achieve genuine autonomy and respect for the human rights and religious freedoms of the people of Tibet.

Since 1959 when His Holiness the Dalai Lama was forced to flee his homeland of Tibet and seek refuge in India, he has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Tibetans both inside and outside of Tibet and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict so that his fellow Tibetans can return to their homeland. The Dalai Lama has promoted a democratically elected government for Tibetans in exile located in Dharamsala, India; and he remains the head of state and spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. But His Holiness has indicated that should a negotiated settlement be reached on the issue of Tibet, he would not play any role in a future Tibetan government or seek the Dalai Lama's traditional political responsibilities. The Dalai Lama has also actively worked to sustain the distinct cultural and religious identity of Tibetans, which can be seen in Tibetan communities in India, Nepal, and in so many places around the world.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has taken the courageous step of promoting his middle path, the middle-way approach, which provides genuine autonomy for Tibetans but does not call for independence or separation of Tibet. For over 40 years, His Holiness has been a leader in promoting nonviolent solutions for conflicts across the globe and has been a vocal supporter of human rights for all people, including the freedom of religion. He was, as we know, awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for these efforts.

Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to support House Resolution 359 and ask for them to continue to speak out so that one day Tibetans will be afforded the basic human rights that every single human being on this planet deserves.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

We celebrate this week the 20th birthday of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus founded by my predecessor, John Porter, and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos). We think about the Lantoses and other families who were saved by Raoul Wallenberg, the living history and symbol of civil rights at the end of World War II. We think about one of the founders of the Democratic Party, Thomas Jefferson, and remember him largely for his legacy in human rights. We think about one of the founders of the Republican Party, Abraham Lincoln, and we think about his remembrance for human rights, and we are so lucky today to be in the presence of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, who is our generation's symbol for human rights.

I thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Rothman) for putting this resolution together, the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman Hyde), and of course the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for bringing this so quickly to the floor during His Holiness' visit to Washington.

The fourteenth Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, and he has been leading a nonviolent struggle for freedom for his people for 40 years.

In 1959, the year I was born, he was forced to flee his Tibetan homeland and resettle in northern India. From Dharamsala, India, the Dalai Lama and his Tibetan government in exile have established a democracy under which the Tibetans in exile are free to practice their religion and lead a democratic life. However, while the Dalai Lama leads a small contingent in Dharamsala, there are over 6 million Tibetans living inside China, and his struggle is their struggle.

In 1989, the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace prize in recognition of his work seeking a peaceful resolution of the Tibet problem. Congress has a strong history of supporting the Tibetan people. In 1987, it was the human rights caucus which hosted him on his first visit to Washington. At that time he unveiled his five-point peace plan. Congress and the U.S. Government continued to be supportive of the Tibetan cause for religious freedom, and we have established U.S. offices to help the Tibetan people, and we are encouraged by the recent dialogue between His Holiness and the Chinese government.

Representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama have twice traveled to Beijing and Lhasa to bring further progress on the Tibetan issue. Hopefully the day is coming when Tibetans in exile can return to their homeland and Tibetans in Tibet can enjoy a freedom of religion and a rich cultural history upon which is a key value of our country.

I want to recognize the leadership of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi) who has been a dear friend of the Dalai Lama when it was a bit more of a lonely struggle, and I salute her leadership and the visit of the Dalai Lama.