Political Quotes

“It is now my pleasure to yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. McGovern), the co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and a longtime supporter of the Dalai Lama and of Tibet. Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) for yielding me the time and for his leadership on this issue and on so many other issues. I also want to thank Chairman Royce; Subcommittee Chairman Salmon; my friend and fellow co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, Congressman Joe Pitts; as well as my colleague from New Jersey, Congressman Smith, for working in such a bipartisan way to bring this resolution to the House floor during this week when we are all celebrating the 80th birthday of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. I especially want to thank Democratic Leader Pelosi for her many years of leadership and support of the Tibetan people. She is a true champion in the struggle to protect their basic human rights and autonomy. We are all here because we care about the fundamental human rights of Tibetans, including the right to worship as they choose and to enjoy and protect their culture. But we may be running out of time to guarantee those rights. As we celebrate the 80th birthday of Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama, the Chinese Government has recently asserted its right to approve his successor. The very continuation of the ancient line of Tibetan spiritual leadership and reincarnation is in question.…”