Senators Feinstein and Thomas Introduce Legislation to Award Congressional Gold Medal to His Holiness

Friday, 12 May 2006, 3:30 PM

Washington DC: US Senators Dianne Feinstein and Craig Thomas yesterday introduced legislation to award Congressional Gold Medal, US government’s highest honor, to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in recognition of his outstanding contributions to peace, tolerance, human rights, compassion and religious understanding.

Senator Feinstein said “The Dalai Lama has struggled for half a century to better the lives of the Tibetan people — armed only with his compassion, courage and conviction. In doing so, he has been a shining light to all those fighting for freedom around the world. So I cannot say how much it means to me that three quarters of the Senate have put the daily battles aside to come together to say that this man deserves our nation’s highest civilian honor — the Congressional Gold Medal. It is my hope that the Senate will pass this resolution soon.”

While Senator Thomas said “The Dalai Lama has been one of the leading voices in advocating for peace, tolerance, human rights, non-violence, and compassion throughout the globe. He has worked tirelessly for nearly 50 years to increase understanding between the Tibetan and Chinese people. In these difficult times, I believe it is important to recognize those who fight to bring people together.”

Representatives Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Lantos (D-CA) introduced the companion bill, HR 4562. Before the bill can be signed into law by the president, it requires the support of at least two-thirds of the members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Senators Feinstein and Thomas have already got support from 73 other senators.

Past recipients of this award were Pope John Paul II, Mother Teresa, and Nobel Peace Laureates Elie Wiesel and Nelson Mandela.

(www.tibet.net is the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration.)