[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 114 (Thursday, September 14, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           FOURTEENTH DALAI LAMA CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 13, 2006

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 
2784, which authorizes the awarding of the Congressional Gold Medal to 
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama. The Congressional Gold Medal is the 
highest expression of national appreciation for exceptional service and 
for lifetime contributions. The medal has been awarded to individuals 
from all walks of life. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott 
King, Pope John Paul II, the Navajo Code Talkers, Rosa Parks, Frank 
Sinatra, and Elie Wiesel are among those who have been honored. The 
Dalai Lama is well qualified to join the list of individuals who have 
received this most distinguished of honors.
  Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama is recognized in the United 
States and throughout the world as a leading figure of moral and 
religious authority. He is the unrivaled spiritual and cultural leader 
of the Tibetan people, and has used his leadership to promote 
democracy, freedom, and peace for the Tibetan people through a 
negotiated settlement of the Tibet issue, based on autonomy within the 
People's Republic of China.
  This Dalai Lama has led the effort to preserve the rich cultural, 
religious, and linguistic heritage of the Tibetan people and to promote 
the safeguarding of other endangered cultures throughout the world.
  For his efforts on behalf of humanity, this Dalai Lama was awarded 
the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. His efforts to promote peace and non-
violence throughout the globe, and to find democratic reconciliation 
for the Tibetan people through his ``Middle Way'' approach has won him 
world-wide acclaim.
  This Dalai Lama has significantly advanced the goal of greater 
understanding, tolerance, harmony, and respect among the different 
religious faiths of the world through interfaith dialogue and outreach 
to other religious leaders and, perhaps most important, he has used his 
moral authority to promote the concept of universal responsibility as a 
guiding tenet for how human beings should treat one another and the 
planet we share.
  For these reasons, I strongly support S. 2784 and urge my colleagues 
to join me in voting to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Tenzin 
Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama.

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