Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Oct. 22: A five-member bipartisan delegation from the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, met with Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama at his residence in Dharamshala on Wednesday.
Joining Representative Smith (R-Missouri) on the congressional mission were Representatives Laura Friedman (D-California), Andy Ogles (R-Tennessee), David Schweikert (R-Arizona), and Elise Stefanik (R-New York).
In video footage released by the Office of His Holiness following the engagement, the nonagenarian Nobel Laureate emphasized global unity and mutual respect, stating, ”My belief is we are the same human beings. We live together on this planet, learning different views and traditions, and we use that to help each other and serve each other and I am very much pleased with the support from the Western world, particularly America. I very much appreciate.”
Addressing media representatives after the meeting, Representative Smith reflected on the delegation’s journey, stating, ”We had a wonderful conversation, a great meeting with His Holiness, and it was a pleasure to be here. It’s a little bit of a distance from the United States here but it was well worth the journey.”
Speaking on Washington’s ongoing cross-party commitment to the Tibetan cause, Smith added, ”I think it’s important the United States continues to play an active role at all times. We have so much in common and it’s super important. It’s extremely important if you look at regardless if it’s a Republican administration or a Democrat administration, we’ve been very supportive of His Holiness’s view on Tibet.”
Another bipartisan US congressional delegation met the nonagenarian Tibetan leader in Dharamshala to reaffirm Washington’s support for the Tibetan people and the set-up in exile. The delegation comprising Congressmen Brian Mast, James Gallagher, Jimmy Patronis, Shri Thanedar, and Haley Stevens visited Dharamshala on September 30, 2026.
