; Whereas the 2016 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for China published by the Department of State stated, Under the professed objectives of controlling border areas, maintaining social stability, combating separatism, and extracting natural resources, the government engaged in the severe repression of Tibet’s unique religious, cultural, and linguistic heritage by, among other means, strictly curtailing the civil rights of the Tibetan population, including the freedoms of speech, religion, association, assembly, and movement ; Whereas since 2009, 150 Tibetans have self-immolated to protest against China’s rule in Tibet and most Tibetans publicly call for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet; Whereas the Chinese government has refused to allow an independent investigation into the causes of the self-immolations and has instead criminalized them, by imprisoning the survivors and collectively punishing the relatives, friends and villagers of the self-immolators, as documented by the International Campaign for Tibet; Whereas Congress has a long history of support for Tibet, including— (1) declaring that the United States should make Tibet issue a higher policy priority; (2) declaring that the United States should urge China to establish a constructive dialogue with the Dalai Lama; (3) requiring Voice of America and Radio Free Asia to begin broadcasts in the Tibetan language; (4) mandating that Tibet be listed separately in the annual Country Reports on Human Rights published by the Department of State; (5) requiring a report from the Department of State on the state of negotiations between the representatives of the Tibetan people and the Chinese government; (6) establishing educational and cultural exchange programs with Tibet; (7) providing humanitarian, food, medical, vocational training, primary and secondary education, and other assistance to Tibetan refugees; (8) funding programs to promote and preserve Tibetan culture and the resilience of Tibetan communities in India and Nepal