Acknowledging oppression, forced eviction, and suffering experienced by tens of thousands of Bhutanese citizens during the late 1980s and early 1990s, and encouraging steps toward justice, reconciliation, and lasting peace.

Plain-English Summary

This bill is a formal statement from the U.S. House of Representatives acknowledging the suffering experienced by tens of thousands of Bhutanese citizens during the late 1980s and early 1990s. During that period, the government of Bhutan forcibly expelled a large portion of its population — primarily ethnic Nepali Bhutanese, known as Lhotshampas — from their homes. Many of these people spent years or even decades living in refugee camps, primarily in Nepal, before eventually resettling in other countries, including the United States.

The bill does not create any new laws, programs, or government spending. Instead, it serves as an official recognition by Congress of the hardships these people endured, including forced evictions, loss of citizenship, and other abuses. It also encourages steps toward justice, reconciliation, and lasting peace between those affected and the Bhutanese government.

The people most directly affected by this bill are Bhutanese refugees and their descendants, many of whom now live in the United States as resettled citizens or residents. For this community, the bill represents an official acknowledgment of their historical experience by the U.S. government. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, which handles matters related to U.S. relationships and policies with other countries, and no further legislative action has been taken yet.