[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 17]
[House]
[Pages 23445-23446]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  AUTHORIZING THE USE OF THE ROTUNDA AND GROUNDS OF THE CAPITOL FOR A 
 CEREMONY TO AWARD THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL TO TENZIN GYATSO, THE 
                         FOURTEENTH DALAI LAMA

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to 
discharge the Committee on House Administration and the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure from further consideration of House 
Concurrent Resolution 196, and ask for its immediate consideration in 
the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. 
Res. 196, which authorizes the use of the Rotunda grounds of the 
Capitol for a ceremony to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Tenzin 
Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. I would like to thank Congressman 
Brady for introducing this bill to honor such an inspirational and 
charismatic person who has touched the lives of millions around the 
world.
  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 around 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 H. Con. Res. 196 and urge my 
colleagues to join me in voting to authorize the use of the Rotunda 
grounds of the Capitol for a ceremony to award the Congressional Gold 
Medal to Tenzin Gyatso, the Fourteenth Dalai Lama.
  The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 196

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),

[[Page 23446]]



     SECTION 1. USE OF ROTUNDA FOR GOLD MEDAL CEREMONY FOR DALAI 
                   LAMA.

       (a) Use of Rotunda.--The rotunda of the Capitol is 
     authorized to be used on October 17, 2007, for a ceremony to 
     award the Congressional Gold Medal to Tenzin Gyatso, the 
     Fourteenth Dalai Lama, in accordance with Public Law 109-287.
       (b) Preparations.--Physical preparations for the ceremony 
     referred to in subsection (a) shall be carried out in 
     accordance with such conditions as the Architect of the 
     Capitol may prescribe.

     SEC. 2. USE OF CAPITOL GROUNDS IN CONNECTION WITH CEREMONY.

       (a) In General.--The International Campaign for Tibet (in 
     this resolution referred to as the ``sponsor'') shall be 
     permitted to sponsor a public event on the Capitol Grounds 
     (in this resolution referred to as the ``event'') on October 
     17, 2007, in connection with the ceremony to be held in the 
     rotunda of the Capitol under section 1.
       (b) Terms and Conditions.--
       (1) In general.--Under conditions to be prescribed by the 
     Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board, the 
     event shall be--
       (A) free of admission charge and open to the public; and
       (B) arranged not to interfere with the needs of Congress.
       (2) Expenses and liabilities.--The sponsor shall assume 
     full responsibility for all expenses and liabilities incident 
     to all activities associated with the event.
       (c) Event Preparations.--Subject to the approval of the 
     Architect of the Capitol, the sponsor is authorized to erect 
     upon the Capitol Grounds such stage, sound amplification 
     devices, and other related structures and equipment, as may 
     be required for the event.
       (d) Enforcement of Restrictions.--The Capitol Police Board 
     shall provide for enforcement of the restrictions contained 
     in section 5104(c) of title 40, United States Code, 
     concerning sales, advertisements, displays, and solicitations 
     on the Capitol Grounds, as well as other restrictions 
     applicable to the Capitol Grounds, in connection with the 
     event.

  The concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________