By Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Oct 27: The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama sent a congratulatory message to the newly elected Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Mike Johnson. The Dalai Lama extended his warm wishes and expressed his hopes for a more harmonious world under Speaker Johnson’s leadership.
In his letter, the Dalai Lama wrote, “The United States is the leading nation of the world and I have long admired the way your country champions democracy, liberty and respect for human rights, including religious freedom.”
“Since 1979, I have had the opportunity to visit the USA many times and have enjoyed the chance to share my thoughts with the leadership, including some of your predecessors as Speaker. In addition to sharing with them my ideas on broader issues, I have also been able to convey to them my appreciation for the broad-based bipartisan support the United States has extended to the distinctive culture, language and traditions of the Tibetan people,” the Tibetan leader further wrote.
The octogenarian leader also expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the country’s continuous support to Tibetan refugees over the years. “The Tibetan people and I are deeply grateful to the United States of America for its continued encouragement of our efforts to protect and preserve our identity, as well as our Buddhist cultural heritage, which focuses on peace, nonviolence and compassion. I sincerely believe that this heritage can be of benefit to all human beings.”
The U.S. House of Representatives elected Republican Mike Johnson as the new Speaker on Wednesday in a 220 to 209 party-line vote. This decision comes after a turbulent three-week period during which the chamber struggled to perform its basic duties due to a leadership vacuum. This appointment marks a transition in leadership and concludes a period of uncertainty that began when Kevin McCarthy was ousted from the position on October 3.
Rep. Johnson has outlined his commitment to advancing critical legislative agendas in a letter to his colleagues and during his inaugural speech. Speaker Johnson has expressed his determination to address overdue spending legislation and prevent a government shutdown when current funding expires on November 17. Additionally, he has highlighted his priorities, which include border security and the establishment of a bipartisan commission to address the $33 trillion national debt.
