Dharamsala, October 21, 2026: A five-member bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation, led by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, met His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and senior leaders of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamsala on Wednesday. Speaking to Tibet Radio, Congressman Jason Smith reaffirmed strong bipartisan support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibet, emphasizing that U.S. support remains consistent regardless of which political party holds power in Washington. Smith highlighted the bipartisan nature of the delegation, which includes Republican Representatives David Schweikert of Arizona, Elise Stefanik of New York and Andy Ogles of Tennessee, along with Democratic Representative Laura Friedman of California. The Dharamsala visit followed the delegation's meeting with India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Mumbai on October 20, where discussions focused on India–U.S. relations, including trade, energy, security, technology and Indo-Pacific cooperation.