Dharamshala (Himachal Pradesh) [India], August 13 (ANI): The US Senate on Tuesday introduced the Assuring the Future of Tibet Act of 2026 (AFTA), a bipartisan measure aimed at strengthening Washington’s long-term engagement with the Tibetan people and enhancing the international standing of their democratically elected leadership, according to a report by Phayul.

The legislation was introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley, Democrat from Oregon, and Jim Risch, Republican from Idaho. Senators Tim Kaine, Todd Young, Jacky Rosen, and Rick Scott joined as original co-sponsors. According to the Phayul report, the Senate bill is the companion legislation to H.R. 8982, which was introduced in the House of Representatives in May by Representatives Jim McGovern and Michael McCaul.

The proposed legislation seeks to establish a long-term framework for US policy towards Tibet by making engagement with the Tibetan people and their democratically elected leadership a continuing policy prio...