US Senators Introduce Assuring the Future of Tibet Act

Senators Jeff Merkley and Jim Risch introduced the bipartisan Assuring the Future of Tibet Act (AFTA) in the US Senate on August 12, 2026. The legislation seeks to formalize and strengthen US engagement with the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), recognizing it as the legitimate representative of the Tibetan people and the continuity of governance established by the Dalai Lama.

Key provisions of the bill direct the Secretary of State to engage with the Sikyong at senior levels and extend diplomatic courtesies and security similar to those provided to a head of government. The act further directs the US government to advocate for the CTA to receive observer status within the United Nations and other international bodies. To ensure stability beyond the lifetime of the 14th Dalai Lama, the bill designates the Gaden Phodrang Trust as the sole authority to recognize future Dalai Lamas.

The legislation serves as a Senate companion to a similar bill introduced in the House of Representatives in May 2026 by Representatives Jim McGovern and Michael McCaul. Supporters, including the International Campaign for Tibet, state that the act affirms that resolving the dispute between Tibet and China is a strategic interest of the United States.