Seattlepi.com
July 21, 2014
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) — U.S. Rep. James McGovern is pushing for legislation that seeks to promote access to Tibetan areas of China.
The Republican reports (http://bit.ly/1zUT6hn ) that McGovern has scheduled a news conference for 11 a.m. Monday outside Northampton City Hall to discuss the legislation. It’s intended to promote access to Tibetan areas of China for U.S. officials, journalists and citizens.
McGovern, a Democrat, says travel restrictions to Tibet imposed by the Chinese government are severe and have negative consequences for U.S. citizens and Tibetans.
For example, he says that after an October 2013 bus crash involving Americans, U.S. consular officers faced delays getting access to Tibet, hindering their ability to serve Americans in distress.
Speakers who are members of the Tibetan community are expected to join the congressman.
