Whereas, on July 12, 2015, revered Tibetan spiritual leader and social activist Tenzin Delek Rinpoche died in Chuandong Prison in Sichuan Province during the 13th year of his life sentence as a prisoner of conscience; Whereas Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was a spiritual leader, educator, environmentalist, and women’s rights advocate renowned throughout Tibet for championing the economic, social, cultural, spiritual, and environmental aspirations of Tibetans in the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, a traditional Tibetan area located in Sichuan Province; Whereas Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was recognized as a reincarnated lama by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and played a leading role in restoring Tibetan Buddhist life in Tibet and rebuilding sacred monasteries destroyed during the Cultural Revolution; Whereas Tenzin Delek Rinpoche founded schools for orphans and economically disadvantaged children, a nunnery for the education of Tibetan women, and old age homes and clinics; Whereas Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was revered for helping local communities peacefully resolve conflicts and advocated for the rights of Tibetans at the regional and national level of the People’s Republic of China; Whereas Tenzin Delek Rinpoche successfully led campaigns against mining and logging practices that contribute to pollution, flooding, and soil erosion and opposed indiscriminate hunting that threatens biodiversity; Whereas Chinese authorities regarded Tenzin Delek Rinpoche as a threat to the Chinese occupation of Tibet because of Rinpoche’s influence in his community and his efforts to preserve Tibetan identity, religion, and language; Whereas Chinese authorities targeted Tenzin Delek Rinpoche with increasing harassment and intimidation over the course of a decade; Whereas after being detained and interrogated twice, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche fled to the mountains on June 16, 2000, leaving behind a recorded statement warning that a case against him was being fabricated and proclaiming his innocence