Washington DC, June 27, 2017: The Office of Tibet and International Campaign for Tibet jointly hosted a reception at the US Capitol Building to celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 82nd Birthday. The reception was addressed by Leader Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, Congressman Jim McGovern, Congresswoman Ros Lehtinen and Mr. Richard Gere. Representative Penpa Tsering and ICT president Matteo Mecacci welcomed and introduced each of the members.
More than a dozen other members of Congress from both the parties joined in the celebration along with 300 other invited guests.
Earlier today, a delegation led by Richard Gere, the Chairman of ICT, met with six members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Representative Penpa Tsering, ICT President Matteo Mecacci, Vice President Buchung Tsering, Programs Officer Tenchoe Gyatso and Tsering Tashi were also part of the delegation.
Earlier today, the delegation also met with Congressman Harold Rogers-Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Congresswoman Nita Lowey – Ranking member, House Appropriations Committee and Congresswoman Betty McCollum-member of the House Appropriations Committee. The Appropriations Committee members assured that they will support putting the Tibet support programs back on track to the 2017 level.
ICT and Office of Tibet will continue to reach out to bipartisan, bicameral members of the Appropriations Committee members in the days to come till the budget for the 2018 is passed by the Congress.
Mr. Gere also led a delegation of the ICT and Office of Tibet in February this year and met with Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Chairman Lindsay Grahams. He also assured support for the Tibet programs.
Mr. Richard Gere and the delegates will meet some more members of congress tomorrow.
His Holiness was not present at the celebration.
