---
kind: "diff"
citation: "H.R. 4331"
bill: "116-hr-4331"
heading: "Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2019"
from: "ih"
from_label: "Introduced in House"
to: "eh"
to_label: "Engrossed in House"
sections_amended: 7
sections_added: 0
sections_removed: 0
url: "https://uscodex.org/bills/116/hr/4331/changes/eh"
---
# H.R. 4331 — what changed
H.R. 4331, Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2019 — 7 sections amended between Introduced in House and Engrossed in House.
Edits are marked `struck` and `inserted`.
## Sec. 2 Modifications to and reauthorization of Tibetan Policy Act of 2002
- (a) Tibetan negotiations— Section 613 of the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 (22 U.S.C. 6901 note) is amended—
- (1) in subsection (a)—
- (A) in paragraph (1)—
- (i) by inserting “without preconditions” after “a dialogue”;
- (ii) by inserting “or Central democratically-elected leaders of the Tibetan Administration representatives” community” after “his representatives”; and
- (iii) by adding at the end before the period the following: “and should coordinate with other governments in multilateral efforts toward this goal”;
- (B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
- (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
- “(2) Policy communication—The President shall direct the Secretary of State to ensure that, in accordance with this Act, United States policy on Tibet, as coordinated by the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, is communicated to all Federal departments and agencies in contact with the Government of the People’s Republic of China.”
- (2) in subsection (b)—
- (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)—
- (i) by striking “until December 31, 2021”; and
- (ii) by inserting “and direct the Department of State to make public on its website” after “appropriate congressional committees”;
- (B) in paragraph (1), by striking “and” at the end;
- (C) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; “; and” ; and
- (D) by adding at the end the following:
- “(3) the steps taken by the United States Government to promote the human rights and genuine cultural, religious, linguistic, and national identity of the Tibetan people, including the right of the Tibetan people to choose their own religious leaders in accordance with their established religious practice and system; and
- “(4) an analysis of United States business activities in Tibet, whether those activities employ Tibetans and how many, whether those activities are consistent with the protection of the environment and Tibetan cultural traditions, and whether those activities contribute to or support, through goods or services, the surveillance of the people of Tibet.”
- (b) Economic development in Tibet— Section 616 of such Act (22 U.S.C. 6901 note) is amended—
- (1) in subsection (d)—
- (A) in paragraph (5), by inserting “human rights” after “respect Tibetan”;
- (B) in paragraph (8), by striking “and” at the end;
- (C) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
- (D) [was (3)(3)(5)] by adding at the end the following:
- “(3) the steps taken by the United States Government to promote the human rights and distinct religious, cultural, linguistic, and historical identity of the Tibetan people, including the right of the Tibetan people to select, educate, and venerate their own religious leaders in accordance with their established religious practice and system.”
- (b) Tibet project principles— Section 616 of such Act (22 U.S.C. 6901 note) is amended—
- (1) in subsection (d), by striking paragraphs (1) through (9) and inserting the following:
- “(1) neither provide incentive for, nor facilitate the migration and settlement of, non-Tibetans into Tibet;
- “(2) neither provide incentive for, nor facilitate the transfer of ownership of, Tibetan land or natural resources to non-Tibetans;
- “(3) neither provide incentive for, nor facilitate the involuntary or coerced relocation of, Tibetan nomads from their traditional pasture lands into concentrated settlements;
- “(4) be implemented in consultation with the Tibetan people and, as appropriate, after the conduct of cultural and environmental impact assessments;
- “(5) foster self-sufficiency and self-reliance of Tibetans;
- “(6) respect human rights and Tibetan culture and traditions;
- “(7) be subject to ongoing monitoring and evaluation; and
- “(8) be conducted, as much as possible, in the Tibetan language.”
- “(10) neither provide incentive for, nor facilitate the involuntary or coerced relocation of, Tibetan nomads from their traditional pasturelands into concentrated settlements.”
- (2) by adding at the end the following:
- “(e) Private sector investment—The Secretary of State, United States assistance—The President shall provide funds to nongovernmental organizations to support sustainable development, cultural and historical preservation, health care, education, and environmental sustainability projects for Tibetan communities in coordination Tibet, in accordance with the Secretary principles specified in subsection (d) and with the concurrence of Commerce, should—the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues under section 621(d).”
- “(1) encourage United States businesses and individuals that are engaged in commerce or investing in enterprises in Tibet to abide by the principles contained in subsection (d) and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; and
- “(2) request that such businesses and individuals provide to the Department of State periodic reports on their adherence to such principles.
- “(f) United States assistance—The President shall provide grants to nongovernmental organizations to support sustainable economic development, cultural and historical preservation, health care, education, and environmental sustainability projects for Tibetan communities in Tibet, in accordance with the principles specified in subsection (d) and subject to the review and approval of the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues under section 621(d) or, if the Coordinator has not been appointed, the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor.”
- (c) Diplomatic representation relating to Tibet— Section 618 of such Act (22 U.S.C. 6901 note) is amended to read as follows:
- “618. Diplomatic representation relating to Tibet
- “(a) United States Consulate in Lhasa, TibetTibet—The Secretary should seek to establish a United States consulate in Lhasa, Tibet—
- “(1) In general—The Secretary shall seek to establish a United States consulate in Lhasa, Tibet, to provide consular services to United States citizens traveling in Tibet and to monitor political, economic, and cultural developments in Tibet.Tibet; and
- “(2) Consular districts—The Secretary should organize the United States Embassy’s consular districts within the People’s Republic of China so that all areas designated as autonomous for Tibetans are contained within the same consular district.to monitor political, economic, and cultural developments in Tibet.
- “(b) Tibet section Policy—The Secretary may not authorize the establishment in the United States Embassy of any additional consulate of the People’s Republic of China until such time as a United States consulate in Beijing, ChinaLhasa, Tibet, is established under subsection (a).”
- “(1) In general—The Secretary shall establish a Tibet section within the United States Embassy in Beijing, China, to follow political, economic, and social developments in Tibet until such time as a United States consulate in Lhasa, Tibet, is established under subsection (a).
- “(2) Duties—The Tibet section established under paragraph (1) shall have the primary responsibility of reporting on human rights issues and access to Tibet by United States Government officials, journalists, non-governmental organizations, and the Tibetan diaspora and shall work in close cooperation with the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.
- “(c) Policy—The Secretary should not authorize the establishment in the United States of any additional consulate of the People’s Republic of China until such time as a United States consulate in Lhasa, Tibet, is established under subsection (a).”
- (d) Religious persecution in Tibet— Section 620(b) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 6901 note) is amended by adding at the end before the period the following: “, including with respect to the reincarnation system of Tibetan Buddhism”.
- (e) United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues— Section 621 of such Act (22 U.S.C. 6901 note) is amended—
- (1) in subsection (c) to read as follows:
- “(c) Objectives—The objectives of the Special Coordinator are to—
- “(1) promote substantive dialogue without preconditions between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Dalai Lama or his representatives or Central democratically-elected leaders of the Tibetan Administration representatives community leading to a negotiated agreement on Tibet;Tibet and coordinate with other governments in multilateral efforts toward this goal;
- “(2) encourage the Government of the People’s Republic of China to address the aspirations of the Tibetan people with regard to their distinct historical, cultural, religious, linguistic, and national linguistic identity;
- “(3) promote the human rights and religious freedoms of the Tibetan people, including women’s human rights;people;
- “(4) promote activities to preserve the distinct environment and water resources of the Tibetan plateau;
- “(5) promote economic encourage sustainable development as enumerated in accordance with section 616(e) of this Act; 616(d), cultural and historical preservation, health care, education, and environmental sustainability projects for Tibetan communities in Tibet; and
- “(6) promote access to Tibet in accordance with the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018.”2018 (Public Law 115–330).”
- (2) in subsection (d)—
- (A) in paragraph (5), by striking “and” at the end;
- (B) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (8); and
- (C) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
- “(6) review and approve provide concurrence with respect to all projects carried out pursuant to section 616(f) and assistance provided under section 7(b) of the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2019;616(e);
- “(7) seek to establish international diplomatic coalitions to—
- “(A) oppose any effort by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to identify or install select, educate, and venerate Tibetan Buddhist religious leaders in a manner inconsistent with Tibetan Buddhism in which the established religious practice and system succession or identification of Tibetan Buddhism; Buddhist lamas, including the Dalai Lama, should occur without interference, in a manner consistent with Tibetan Buddhists’ beliefs; and
- “(B) ensure that the identification and installation of Tibetan Buddhist religious leaders, including a any future 15th Dalai Lama, is determined solely within the Tibetan Buddhist faith community, in accordance with the universally-recognized right to religious freedom; and”
- (3) by adding at the end the following:
- “(e) Personnel—The Secretary shall assign not less than three individuals to ensure that the Office of the Special Coordinator is adequately staffed at all times to assist in the management of the responsibilities of this section.”
- (f) Geographic definition of Tibet— Such Act (22 U.S.C. 6901 note), as so amended, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
- “622. Geographic definition of Tibet
- “In this Act and in implementing policies relating to the Tibetan people under other provisions of law, the term “Tibet”, unless otherwise specified, means—
- “(1) the Tibet Autonomous Region; and
- “(2) the Tibetan areas of Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan provinces.”
## Sec. 3 Statement of policy regarding the succession or reincarnation of the Dalai Lama
- (a) Findings— Congress finds the following:
- (1) Notwithstanding that Tibetan Buddhism is practiced in many countries including Bhutan, India, Mongolia, Nepal, the People’s Republic of China, Bhutan, Nepal, Mongolia, India, the Russian Federation, and the United States.States, the Government of the People’s Republic of China has repeatedly insisted on its role in managing the selection of Tibet’s next spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, through actions such as those described in the “Measures on the Management of the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas” in 2007.
- (2) No single political entity encompasses On March 19, 2019, Chinese Ministry of Affairs spokesperson reiterated that the territory in which Tibetan Buddhism is practiced.“reincarnation of living Buddhas including the Dalai Lama must comply with Chinese laws and regulations and follow religious rituals and historical conventions”.
- (3) The Dalai Lama is widely revered by Tibetan Buddhists and those who practice Tibetan Buddhism around the world, including those in the United States, as their spiritual leader.
- (4) Under the Tibetan Buddhist belief system, there have been 14 persons recognized as the Dalai Lama, each a manifestation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, selected according to the spiritual traditions and practices of Tibetan Buddhism.
- (5) The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, issued a statement on September 24, 2011, explaining the traditions and spiritual precepts of the selection of Dalai Lamas, setting forth his views on the considerations and process for selecting his successor, and providing a response to the Chinese government’s claims that only the Chinese government has the ultimate authority in the selection process of the Dalai Lama.
- (6) The 14th Dalai Lama said in his statement that if a decision to continue the institution of the Dalai Lama is made, that the responsibility shall primarily rest with the Dalai Lama’s Gaden Phodrang Trust, who will be informed by the written instructions of the 14th Dalai Lama.
- (7) Since 2011, the 14th Dalai Lama has reiterated publicly on numerous occasions that decisions on the succession or reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama belongs to the Tibetan Buddhist faith community alone.
- (3) [was (2)(10)] The Government of the People’s Republic of China has interfered in the process of recognizing a successor or reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhist leaders, including in 1995 by arbitrarily detaining Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, a 6-year old boy who was identified as the 11th Panchen Lama, and purporting to install its own candidate as the Panchen Lama.
- (4) The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, issued a statement on September 24, 2011, explaining the traditions and spiritual precepts of the selection of Dalai Lamas, setting forth his views on the considerations and process for selecting his successor, and providing a response to the Chinese government’s claims that only the Chinese government has the ultimate authority in the selection process of the Dalai Lama.
- (5) The 14th Dalai Lama said in his statement that the person who reincarnates has sole legitimate authority over where and how he or she takes rebirth and how that reincarnation is to be recognized and if there is a need for a 15th Dalai Lama to be recognized, then the responsibility shall primarily rest with the officers of the Dalai Lama’s Gaden Phodrang Trust, who will be informed by the written instructions of the 14th Dalai Lama.
- (6) Since 2011, the 14th Dalai Lama has reiterated publicly on numerous occasions that decisions on the successions, emanations, or reincarnations of the Dalai Lama belongs to the Tibetan Buddhist faith community alone.
- (7) On June 8, 2015, the United States House of Representatives unanimously approved House Resolution 337 which calls on the United States Government to “underscore that government interference in the Tibetan reincarnation process is a violation of the internationally recognized right to religious freedom * * * and to highlight the fact that other countries besides China have long Tibetan Buddhist traditions and that matters related to reincarnations in Tibetan Buddhism are of keen interest to Tibetan Buddhist populations worldwide”.
- (9) During his confirmation hearings to be Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo testified to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that “If confirmed, I will press the Chinese government to respect the legitimacy of Tibetan Buddhists’ religious practices. This includes the decisions of Tibetan Buddhists in selecting, educating, and venerating the lamas who lead the faith, such as the Dalai Lama.”.
- (10) The Department of State’s Report on International Religious Freedom for 2017 reported on policies and efforts of the Government of the People’s Republic of China to exert control over the selection of Tibetan Buddhist religious leaders, including reincarnate lamas, and stated that “U.S. officials underscored that decisions on the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should be made solely by faith leaders.”.
- (11) In July 2015, Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, Sarah Sewall, serving concurrently as United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, testified to Congress that “the basic and universally recognized right of religious freedom demands that any decision on the next Dalai Lama be reserved to the current Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhist leaders, and the Tibetan people”.
- (12) On June 8, 2015, the United States House of Representatives unanimously approved House Resolution 337 which calls on the United States Government to “underscore that government interference in the Tibetan reincarnation process is a violation of the internationally recognized right to religious freedom, and that matters related to reincarnations in Tibetan Buddhism are of keen interest to Tibetan Buddhist populations worldwide”.
- (8) [was (2)(15)] On April 25, 2018, the United States Senate unanimously approved Senate Resolution 429 which “expresses its sense that the identification and installation of Tibetan Buddhist religious leaders, including a future 15th Dalai Lama, is a matter that should be determined solely within the Tibetan Buddhist faith community, in accordance with the inalienable right to religious freedom”.
- (9) The Department of State’s Report on International Religious Freedom for 2018 reported on policies and efforts of the Government of the People’s Republic of China to exert control over the selection of Tibetan Buddhist religious leaders, including reincarnate lamas, and stated that “U.S. officials underscored that decisions on the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should be made solely by faith leaders.”.
- (b) Statement of policy— It is the policy of the United States that—
- (1) decisions regarding the identification selection, education, and installation veneration of Tibetan Buddhist religious leaders, including a future 15th Dalai Lama, leaders are exclusively spiritual matters that should be made by the appropriate religious authorities within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and in the context of the will of religious practitioners and the instructions of the 14th Dalai Lama; andTibetan Buddhism;
- (2) interference by the Government wishes of the People’s Republic of China or 14th Dalai Lama, including any other government written instructions, should play a determinative role in the process selection, education, and veneration of recognizing a successor or reincarnation of the future 15th Dalai Lama would represent a clear violation of the fundamental religious freedoms of Tibetan Buddhists and the Tibetan people.Lama; and
- (3) interference by the Government of the People’s Republic of China or any other government in the process of recognizing a successor or reincarnation of the 14th Dalai Lama and any future Dalai Lamas would represent a clear violation of the fundamental religious freedoms of Tibetan Buddhists and the Tibetan people.
- (c) Amendments to Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991—Holding Chinese officials responsible for religious freedom abuses targeting Tibetan Buddhists— Section 901(b) It is the policy of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 (Public Law 101–246; 104 Stat. 80) is amended—United States to consider senior officials of the Government of the People’s Republic of China who are responsible for, complicit in, or have directly or indirectly engaged in the identification or installation of a candidate chosen by China as the future 15th Dalai Lama of Tibetan Buddhism to have committed—
- (1) by redesignating paragraphs (7), (8), and (9) as paragraphs (8), (9), and (10), respectively; a gross violation of internationally recognized human rights for purposes of imposing sanctions with respect to such officials under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 2656 note); and
- (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) a particularly severe violation of religious freedom for purposes of applying section 212(a)(2)(G) of the following:Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)(G)) with respect to such officials.
- “(7) protecting the internationally recognized right to the freedom of religion and belief, including ensuring that the identification and installation of Tibetan Buddhist religious leaders, including a future 15th Dalai Lama, is a matter determined solely within the Tibetan Buddhist faith community, based on instructions of the 14th Dalai Lama, without interference by the Government of the People’s Republic of China;”
- (d) Holding Chinese officials responsible for Department of State programming To promote religious freedom abuses targeting for Tibetan Buddhists— It is Consistent with section 401 of the policy Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act (Public Law 114–281; 130 Stat. 1436), of the United States—funds available to the Department of State for international religious freedom programs, the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom should support efforts to protect and promote international religious freedom in China and for programs to protect Tibetan Buddhism in China and elsewhere.
- (1) to consider any effort by the Government of the People’s Republic of China to identify or install its own candidate as the future 15th Dalai Lama of Tibetan Buddhism to be—
- (A) a serious human rights abuse as such term is used in Executive Order 13818 (2017); and
- (B) a particularly severe violation of religious freedom for purposes of applying section 212(a)(2)(G) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)(G)); and
- (2) to consider any official of the Government of the People’s Republic of China determined to be complicit in identifying or installing a government-approved candidate as the future 15th Dalai Lama, contrary to the instructions provided by the 14th Dalai Lama, and one not recognized by the faith community of Tibetan Buddhists globally to be subject to sanctions described in Executive Order 13818 (2017) and to inadmissibility into the United States under section 212(a)(2)(G) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(2)).
- (e) Department of State programming To promote religious freedom for Tibetan Buddhists— Consistent with section 401 of the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act (Public Law 114–281; 130 Stat. 1436), of the funds available to the Department of State for international religious freedom programs, the Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom should provide funding to vigorously protect and promote international religious freedom in China and for programs to protect Tibetan Buddhism in China and elsewhere.
## Sec. 4 Policy regarding the environment and water resources on the Tibetan Plateau
- (a) Findings— Congress finds the following:
- (1) The Tibetan Plateau contains glaciers, rivers, grasslands, and other geographical and ecological features that are crucial for supporting vegetation growth and biodiversity, regulating water flow and supply for an estimated 1.8 billion people. Global warming threatens the glaciers in Tibet that feed the major rivers of South and East Asia, which supply freshwater to an estimated 1.8 billion people.
- (2) Rising global temperatures—especially in the Tibetan Plateau where the average temperature has increased at twice the global average—will result in variable water flows in the future.
- (3) The construction in Tibet of large hydroelectric power dams intended to be used in part to transmit power to Chinese provinces outside of Tibet, as well as other infrastructure projects, including the Sichuan-Tibet railroad, may also lead to the resettlement of thousands of Tibetans and transform the environment.
- (4) The grasslands of Tibet play a significant role in carbon production and sequestration and Tibet’s rivers support wetlands that play a key role in water storage, water quality, and the regulation of water flow, support biodiversity, foster vegetation growth, and act as carbon sinks.
- (5) Rising temperatures and intensifying evaporation, can affect the water supply, cause desertification, and destabilize infrastructure on the Tibetan Plateau and beyond.
- (6) Traditional Tibetan grassland stewardship practices, which can be key to mitigating the negative effects of warming on the Tibetan Plateau, are undermined by the resettlement of nomads from Tibetan grasslands.
- (7) The People’s Republic of China has approximately 20 percent of the world’s population but only around 7 percent of the world’s water supply, while many countries in South and Southeast Asia rely on the rivers flowing from the Himalayas of the Tibetan Plateau.
- (8) The People’s Republic of China has already completed water transfer programs diverting billions of cubic meters of water yearly and has plans to divert more waters from the Tibetan plateau in China.
- Section 102(b)(1) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6412(b)(1)) is amended—
- (b) Water resources in Tibet and the Tibetan watershed— in subparagraph (B), by striking “, including policies” and inserting “, including interference The Secretary of State, in the right coordination with relevant agencies of religious communities to choose their leaders, policies”; andthe United States Government, should—
- (1) pursue collaborative efforts with Chinese and international scientific institutions, as appropriate, to monitor the environment on the Tibetan Plateau, including glacial retreat, temperature rise, and carbon levels, in order to promote a greater understanding of the effects on permafrost, river flows, grasslands and desertification, and the monsoon cycle;
- (2) engage with the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Tibetan people, and nongovernmental organizations to encourage the participation of Tibetan nomads and other Tibetan stakeholders in the development and implementation of grassland management policies, in order to utilize their indigenous experience in mitigation and stewardship of the land and to assess policies on the forced resettlement of nomads; and
- (3) encourage a regional framework on water security, or use existing frameworks, such as the Lower Mekong Initiative, to facilitate cooperative agreements among all riparian nations that would promote transparency, sharing of information, pollution regulation, and arrangements on impounding and diversion of waters that originate on the Tibetan Plateau.
- (2) by adding at the end the following:
- “(H) China—Because matters relating to religious freedom in China are complex in scope and intensity and often vary by ethnicity and geographic or administrative region, each chapter on China in the Annual Report shall include separate sections on—
- “(i) Tibet;
- “(ii) the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region;
- “(iii) Hong Kong and Macau;
- “(iv) unrecognized or independent Catholics and Protestant “house churches”; and
- “(v) Falun Gong and other faith-based or new religious movements.”
## Sec. 5 Democracy in the Tibetan exile community
- (a) Findings— Congress finds the following:
- (1) Glaciers in Tibet feed ten of The 14th Dalai Lama advocates the major rivers of South and East Asia, Middle Way Approach, which supply freshwater to an estimated 1.8 billion people.seeks genuine autonomy for the six million Tibetans in Tibet.
- (2) Chinese scientists have reported that since 1960 The 14th Dalai Lama has overseen a process of democratization within the Tibetan Plateau’s annual average temperature has increased at twice polity, beginning in Tibet in the global average, causing melting 1950s and continuing in exile from the 1960s to the present and to address the needs of the glaciers, which will result in variable water flows Tibetan people until such time as genuine autonomy in Tibet is realized, the future.14th Dalai Lama devolved his political responsibilities to the elected representatives of the Tibetan people in exile in 2011.
- (3) Tibet’s rivers support wetlands that play a key role in water storage, water quality, In 2011 and the regulation again in 2016, members of water flow, and support biodiversity, foster vegetation growth, the Tibetan exile community across some 30 countries held elections to select political leaders to serve in the Central Tibetan Administration parliament and act as carbon sinks.chief executive, elections which were monitored by international observers and assessed to be free and fair.
- (4) The grasslands of Tibet play Dalai Lama has said that the Central Tibetan Administration will cease to exist once a significant role in carbon production negotiated settlement has been achieved that allows Tibetans to freely enjoy their culture, religion and sequestration.language in Tibet.
- (5) Changes in permafrost levels, caused by rising temperatures and intensifying evaporation, can affect the water supply, cause desertification, and destabilize infrastructure on the Tibetan Plateau and beyond.
- (6) The warming of the Tibetan plateau may cause changes in the monsoon cycle in South and Southeast Asia, which could lead to droughts or floods that overwhelm infrastructure and damage crops.
- (7) The resettlement of nomads from Tibetan grasslands undermines the application of traditional stewardship practices developed though centuries of pastoral practices, which can be key to mitigating the negative effects of warming on the Tibetan Plateau.
- (8) The construction of large hydroelectric power dams in Tibet, planned to be used in part to transmit power to Chinese provinces outside of Tibet, as well as other infrastructure projects, including the Sichuan-Tibet railroad may also lead to the resettlement of thousands of Tibetans and transform the environment.
- (9) Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam are members of the Mekong River Commission, which promotes sustainable management and development of water and related resources among member nations.
- (10) The People’s Republic of China is not a full party to the Mekong River Commission.
- (11) The People’s Republic of China has approximately 20 percent of the world’s population but only around 7 percent of the world’s water supply, with India and the rest of South and Southeast Asia also relying on the rivers flowing from the Himalayas of the Tibetan Plateau.
- (12) The People’s Republic of China has already completed water transfer programs diverting billions of cubic meters of water yearly and there are plans to divert more waters from the Tibetan plateau in China.
- (b) Water resources in Tibet and the Tibetan watershed—Sense of Congress— The Secretary of State, in coordination with relevant agencies of It is the United States Government, shall—sense of Congress that—
- (1) pursue collaborative efforts with Chinese and international scientific institutions to monitor Tibetan exile communities around the environment on world should be commended for the Tibetan Plateau, including glacial retreat, temperature rise, and carbon levels, in order to promote adoption of a greater understanding system of the effects on permafrost, river flows, grasslands and desertification, and the monsoon cycle;self-governance with democratic institutions to choose their leaders;
- (2) engage with the Government of the People’s Republic of China and nongovernmental organizations Dalai Lama should be commended for his decision to encourage the participation of Tibetan nomads and other Tibetan stakeholders in the development and implementation of grassland management policies, in order devolve political authority to utilize their indigenous experience elected leaders in mitigation and stewardship of the land and to assess policies on the forced resettlement of nomads; accordance with democratic principles; and
- (3) encourage a regional framework on water security, or use existing frameworks, such as consistent with section 621(d)(3) of the Lower Mekong Initiative, to facilitate cooperative agreements among all riparian nations that would promote transparency, sharing Tibetan Policy Act of information, pollution regulation, and arrangements on impounding 2002 (22 U.S.C. 6901 note), the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues should continue to maintain close contact with the religious, cultural, and diversion political leaders of waters that originate on the Tibetan Plateau.people.
- (c) Tibetan water resources and national security— Section 1202(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2000 (Public Law 106–65; 10 U.S.C. 113 note) is amended by adding at the end the following:
- “(29) Tibet’s strategic importance and the strategic importance of water resources from the Tibetan Plateau in regional and territorial disputes.”
## Sec. 6 Sustainability in Tibetan communities seeking to preserve their culture, religion, and language
- The Secretary of State should urge the Government of Nepal to honor the Gentleman’s Agreement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and to provide legal documentation to long-staying Tibetan residents in Nepal who fled a credible threat of persecution in Tibet in order to allow them to more fully participate in the economy and society of Nepal.
- (a) Findings— Congress finds the following:
- (1) The 14th Dalai Lama has overseen a process of democratization within the Tibetan polity, beginning in Tibet in the 1950s and continuing in exile from the 1960s to the present.
- (2) The first representative body in Tibetan history, formed on September 2, 1960, was the precursor of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, the legislative branch within the Central Tibetan Administration.
- (3) The first direct election for the chief executive of the Central Tibetan Administration was held on July 29, 2001, with the election of Professor Samdhong Rinpoche.
- (4) On March 10, 2011, the 14th Dalai Lama announced that he would relinquish his political responsibilities and on August 8, 2011, he transferred full political power to the elected leadership of the Central Tibetan Administration.
- (5) On March 20, 2011, members of the Tibetan exile community across some 30 countries held elections, monitored by international observers and assessed to be free and fair, to select the next parliament and chief executive.
- (6) As a result of the codification of the transfer of political power from the Dalai Lama, the Kalon Tripa, or Chief of the Cabinet, assumed full executive authority and the Tibetan Parliament in Exile assumed full legislative authority within the Central Tibetan Administration.
- (7) As a result of the 2011 elections, the 15th Tibetan Parliament was seated and Lobsang Sangay was chosen as Kalon Tripa, a title changed to Sikyong in 2012.
- (8) Approximately six million Tibetans in Tibet do not enjoy a democratic form of government or the ability to elect their political representatives.
- (9) Section 355 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 expressed the sense of Congress that Tibet’s true representatives are the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile as recognized by the Tibetan people and that Tibet has maintained throughout its history a distinctive and sovereign national, cultural, and religious identity separate from that of China and, except during periods of illegal Chinese occupation, has maintained a separate and sovereign political and territorial identity.
- (10) The Middle Way Approach, the official policy of the Central Tibetan Administration, seeks genuine autonomy for the six million Tibetans in Tibet.
- (b) Sense of Congress— It is the sense of Congress that—
- (1) Tibetan exile communities around the world should be commended for the successful adoption of a system of self governance with democratic institutions and free elections to choose their leaders;
- (2) the Dalai Lama should be commended for his decision to transfer political authority to elected leaders in accordance with democratic principles;
- (3) the Central Tibetan Administration legitimately represents and reflects the aspirations of Tibetan people around the world and the Sikyong is the President of the Central Tibetan Administration;
- (4) as consistent with section 621(d)(3) of the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002 (22 U.S.C. 6901 note), the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues should continue to maintain close contact with the religious, cultural, and elected leaders of the Tibetan people; and
- (5) the adoption of democracy within the Tibetan exile community can serve as an example to other sub-national or non-sovereign communities around the world.
## Sec. 7 Authorization of appropriations
- (a) Findings—Office of the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues— Congress finds There is authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for each of the following:fiscal years 2021 through 2025 for the Office of the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.
- (b) Tibetan scholarship program and Ngawang Choephel Exchange Programs—
- (1) Tibetan scholarship program— There is authorized to be appropriated $675,000 for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out the Tibetan scholarship program established under section 103(b)(1) of the Human Rights, Refugee, and Other Foreign Relations Provisions Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–319; 22 U.S.C. 2151 note).
- (2) Ngawang Choephel Exchange Programs— There is authorized to be appropriated $575,000 for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out the “Ngwang Choepel Exchange Programs” (formerly known as “programs of educational and cultural exchange between the United States and the people of Tibet”) under section 103(a) of the Human Rights, Refugee, and Other Foreign Relations Provisions Act of 1996.
- (1) Following the flight into exile of the Dalai Lama and tens of thousands of fellow Tibetans, the Government of India graciously granted land on which the Tibetan refugees could settle.
- (2) Under the leadership of the Dalai Lama, Tibetan refugees established in settlements in India, Nepal, and Bhutan monastic, cultural, and educational institutions for the purpose of preserving their religion, culture, and language until the time that they could return to Tibet.
- (3) Many of the Tibetan settlements are more than 50 years old with aging infrastructure, challenging the capacity to absorb new refugees and provide modern services and gainful employment.
- (4) The threats to Tibetan culture, religion, and language in the People’s Republic of China justify support for efforts by Tibetans outside China to preserve their heritage.
- (5) Many long-staying Tibetans in Nepal have not received documentation that would provide legal resident status and allow them fuller access to educational opportunities and sustainable participation in the economy and society of Nepal.
- (6) It is United States policy to promote the human rights of the Tibetan people and the preservation of the distinct Tibetan cultural, religious, and linguistic heritage.
- (7) The Dalai Lama has said that the Central Tibetan Administration will cease to exist once a negotiated settlement has been achieved that allows Tibetans to freely enjoy their culture, religion, and language in Tibet.
- (b) Development assistance— Of the amount authorized to be appropriated for development assistance for fiscal year 2020, such sums as may be necessary are authorized to be available to support the preservation of Tibetan cultural, religious, and linguistic heritage, as well as the education, skills development, and entrepreneurship of Tibetans residing in settlements in South Asia, subject to review and approval of the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.
- (c) Status of Tibetans Humanitarian assistance and support to Tibetan refugees in Nepal—South Asia— The Secretary Amounts authorized to be appropriated to carry out chapter 9 of State shall urge part I of the Government Foreign Assistance Act of Nepal to provide legal documentation 1961 and the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 are authorized to long-staying be made available for humanitarian assistance, including food, medicine, clothing, and medical and vocational training, for Tibetan residents refugees in Nepal South Asia who have fled facing a credible threat of persecution in Tibet in order to allow them to more fully participate in the economy and society People’s Republic of Nepal.China.
- (d) Sense of Congress—Tibetan Autonomous Region and Tibetan communities in China— It There is authorized to be appropriated $8,000,000 for each year of the sense fiscal years 2021 through 2025 under chapter 4 of Congress that part II of the Office Foreign Assistance Act of Tibet 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2346 et seq.) to support activities which preserve cultural traditions and promote sustainable development, education, and environmental conservation in Washington, DC, is the representative office Tibetan communities in the United States of the Dalai Lama Tibet Autonomous Region and the Central in other Tibetan Administration.communities in China.
- (e) Sunset—Assistance for Tibetans in India and Nepal— This section shall terminate on the date that There is one year after authorized to be appropriated $6,000,000 for each of the date on which fiscal years 2021 through 2025 under part I of the Secretary Foreign Assistance Act of State certifies 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 et seq.) for programs to Congress that a negotiated settlement between promote and preserve Tibetan culture and language development, and the Government resilience of Tibetan communities in India and Nepal, and to assist in the People’s Republic of China education and development of the Dalai Lama or his representatives on Tibet has been concluded.next generation of Tibetan leaders from such communities.
- (f) Tibetan governance— There is authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 for programs to strengthen the capacity of Tibetan institutions and strengthen democracy, governance, information and international outreach, and research.
- (g) Voice of America and Radio Free Asia—
- (1) Voice of America— There is authorized to be appropriated $3,344,000 for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to Voice of America for broadcasts described in paragraph (3).
- (2) Radio Free Asia— There is authorized to be appropriated $4,060,000 for each of the fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to Radio Free Asia for broadcasts described in paragraph (3).
- (3) Broadcasts described— Broadcasts described in this paragraph are broadcasts to provide uncensored news and information in the Tibetan language to Tibetans, including Tibetans in Tibet.
## Sec. 8 Determination of budgetary effects
- The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest statement titled “Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation” for this Act, submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.
- (a) Office of the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues— Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated to the Department of State for administration of foreign affairs, not less than $1,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2020 and each subsequent fiscal year for the Office of the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.
- (b) Tibetan scholarship program and “Ngwang Choepel Exchange Programs”— Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for educational and cultural exchange programs for fiscal year 2020 and each subsequent fiscal year—
- (1) not less than $750,000 is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the Tibetan scholarship program established under section 103(b)(1) of the Human Rights, Refugee, and Other Foreign Relations Provisions Act of 1996 (Public Law 104–319; 22 U.S.C. 2151 note); and
- (2) not less than $650,000 is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the “Ngwang Choepel Exchange Programs” (formerly known as “programs of educational and cultural exchange between the United States and the people of Tibet”) under section 103(a) of the Human Rights, Refugee, and Other Foreign Relations Provisions Act of 1996.
- (c) Humanitarian assistance to Tibetan refugees in South Asia— Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated for migration and refugee assistance for fiscal year 2020 and each subsequent fiscal year, such sums as may be necessary are authorized to be appropriated for humanitarian assistance, including food, medicine, clothing, and medical and vocational training, to Tibetan refugees in South Asia who have fled facing a credible threat of persecution in the People’s Republic of China.
- (d) Development assistance— Of the funds appropriated under the heading Economic Support Fund for fiscal year 2020 and each subsequent fiscal year, not less than $6,000,000 is authorized for programs to promote and preserve Tibetan culture and language both in the refugee and diaspora Tibetan communities, development, and the resilience of Tibetan communities and the Central Tibetan Administration in India and Nepal, and to assist in the education and development of the next generation of Tibetan leaders from such communities.
- (e) Tibetan governance— Of the funds appropriated under the heading “Economic Support Fund” for fiscal year 2020 and each subsequent fiscal year, not less than $3,000,000 is authorized for programs to strengthen the capacity of the Central Tibetan Administration, institutions and strengthen democracy, governance, information and international outreach, and research.