WASHINGTON, D.C. —  Today, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Grace Meng (NY-06) led 22 House and Senate Democrats in welcoming nineteen Buddhist Monks as they finished their 2,300-mile-long Walk for Peace pilgrimage to our nations capital.

The Venerable Monks started their journey from the Huong Ð?o Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas and walked over 100 days to spread a message of peace, loving kindness, and compassion across the country and the world. They are also accompanied by a rescue dog named Aloka.

It is a great honor to welcome the Venerable Monks who have walked thousands of miles across the United States to spread a message of peace that our nation desperately needs, said Rep. Grace Meng, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. Their journey inspired millions of people from different faiths and backgrounds to live each day with greater compassion, understanding, and respect for others. It is a movement we must sustain.

Chair Meng and Members of Congress greeted the Venerable Monks at the Peace Monument located west of the U.S. Capitol and presented handmade leis gifted by a constituent of Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02). The Monument was erected between 1877-1878 to commemorate naval deaths at sea during the Civil War.

Over the course of their 2,300-mile-long journey, the Venerable Monks have faced immense challenges—from severe winter storms to a tragic car accident that resulted in the loss of a limb. Tomorrow, the Monks will travel back to Texas on a bus, where they expect to arrive in Forth Worth early Saturday.

The Members of Congress in attendance at todays event include: CAPAC Chair Grace Meng, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, House DPCC Chair Debbie Dingell, CAPAC Chair Emerita Judy Chu, CAPAC members Senator Andy Kim, Senator Mazie Hirono, Representatives Ami Bera, Suhas Subramanyam, Derek Tran, Wesley Bell, Gil Cisneros, Steven Horsford, Jimmy Panetta, Jan Schakowsky, Lateefah Simon, Tom Suozzi, and Democratic Caucus members Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester and Representatives Maxine Dexter, Adelita Grijalva, Jennifer McClellan, and Johnny Olszewski.