A High-level Delegation from the United States Visits Central Tibetan Administration

18th June 2024 / Dharamshala: A high-level bipartisan delegation from the United States visited the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and met with Tibetan leadership today on the eve of their much-anticipated meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

*Tibetans receiving the delegation in traditional style at the Kangra Airport. Photo / Tenzin Phende / CTA*

Rep. Michael McCaul, the Chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee, led the delegation that comprises Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Speaker Emerita; Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), House Veterans Affairs Committee; Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Ranking Member, House Foreign Affairs Committee; Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), House Ways and Means Committee; Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), House Rules Committee; and Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA), House Foreign Affairs Committee. The delegation was accompanied by their family members and staff.

Upon arrival at Kangra Airport, members of the U.S. delegation were accorded a warm welcome reception by Kalon (Minister) Norzin Dolma of the Department of Information & International Relations (DIIR) and her aides made up of Secretary Karma Choeying, Representative Dr Namgyal Choedup from the Washington-based Office of Tibet, Secretary of the Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New Delhi Dhondup Gyalpo, Dharamshala Tibetan Settlement Officer Kunchok Migmar, and CTA’s Protocol Officer Tenzin Paljor.

*Rep. Michael McCaul, the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, speaking to the media.*

Speaking to the media at the Airport, Congressman McCaul said, “We are very excited to see His Holiness tomorrow to talk about many things, including the bill that just passed out of Congress that basically says that the United States of America stands with the people of Tibet.” The Representative further assured that the bill would be signed by POTUS when the media asked.

In addition, to honour their dedicated support and commitment to finding solutions to the longstanding Tibet-China conflict, a throng of Tibetan residents, including young students and members of various NGOs, lined both sides of the road before the Hyatt Regency hotel to warmly greet the visiting U.S. legislators.

The delegation then stopped at Gangchen Kyishong to tour CTA premises following a short stay at the hotel, where they briefly met with CTA leadership, namely Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Tibetan Justice Commissioner Tenzin Lungtok, Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang, Education Kalon Tharlam Dolma, Security Kalon Dolma Gyari, DIIR Kalon Norzin Dolma, Election & Public Service Commissioner Wangdu Tsering Pesur, Standing Committee Members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, and Secretaries of CTA Departments and Offices.

As part of their visitation programme at CTA, the delegation visited the Tibetan Parliament in Exile and the Tibet Museum.

Later in the evening, CTA will host a dinner reception at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) in honour of the visiting lawmakers from the United States.