House Democratic Partnership hosts reception in honour of Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay

September 10, 2019

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Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay speaking the reception hosted at the Rayburn House by the House Democratic Partnership.

Washington D.C.: Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay arrived in Washington D.C this Monday for a series of meetings to discuss the new Tibet Policy Act and to highlight the importance of religious freedom for the reincarnation process.

Dr. Sangay attended a reception hosted at the Rayburn House—the first reception ever hosted for the Central Tibetan Administration. It was hosted by the House Democratic Partnership, and it was attended largely by the Dharamshala delegation. Attendants included HDP Chair Congressman David Price, Congresswoman Judy Chu, Congresswoman Terri Sewell, Congressman Ted Yoho, Congressman Gerry Connolly, and Carl Gershman, the president of the National Endowment for Democracy. The president of the National Democratic Institute, the Vice President of the International Republican Institute, and the Vice President of the United States Agency for International Development also spoke at the meeting. Presidents of the Tibetan Association of NY, Philadelphia, and Capitol area, Vice President of International Campaign for Tibet, all the staffers of the Office of Tibet – DC, and many other Congressional staffers attended the event.

House Democratic Partnership Chair Congressman David Price delivering a speech in support of Tibet at the event.

“This [Tibet] has always been a bipartisan issue,” explained Congressman Price, the first speaker of the night.

Sikyong gave a speech stating his thanks for those who organized the event and praised His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s past and current leadership as a compassionate and forward-thinking icon. Sikyong joked that His Holiness had his longest lunch ever with the Dharamshala delegation.

Sikyong Dr Sangay thanking HDP Chair Congressman Price and his Party for long-standing support for Tibet.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi came to the reception immediately after a house vote and gave a riveting speech about her support for Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and the Central Tibetan Administration. She shared fond memories of her time with His Holiness and also sorrowful moments when she witnessed Tibetan refugees recount the human rights violations in Tibet because of the Chinese government. Speaker Pelosi said she would help make the new Tibet Policy Act a priority in Congress. She stated that the United States loses all moral authority if they fail to stand up against China.

Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a staunch supporter of Tibet at the event.

Sikyong earlier in the day met with Congressman Jim McGovern, the chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, and Jon Stivers, the staff director of the CECC. They discussed the new Tibet Policy Act, which will be announced formally within a few weeks.

-Filed by Office of Tibet, Washington D.C