[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 119 (Monday, August 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE BALTIC AMERICAN FREEDOM LEAGUE

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                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 1, 2011

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 30th Anniversary 
of the founding of the Baltic American Freedom League, an important 
national Baltic American organization. The Baltic American Freedom 
League (BAFL) was founded in February 1981 by Baltic American political 
activists in southern California to raise American consciousness about 
Baltic issues and to carry out specific and concrete goals and projects 
toward helping achieve freedom for the Soviet occupied Baltic countries 
of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
  In 1982, BAFL initiated a Congressional resolution asking President 
W. Reagan to designate June 14, 1982 as Baltic Freedom Day--reiterating 
U.S. non-recognition of the forcible and illegal incorporation of the 
Baltic Republics into the U.S.S.R. This Proclamation continued each 
year until the Baltic countries regained their independence in 1991.
  Due to the combined efforts of BAFL, other Baltic organizations, and 
the Senate and House Baltic Caucuses, the Senate passed SCR 35 on May 
19, 2005, and the House of Representatives unanimously adopted H.R. 128 
on July 22, 2005; historic resolutions stating that ``. . . it is the 
sense of Congress that the Government of the Russian Federation should 
issue a clear and unambiguous statement of admission and condemnation 
of the illegal occupation and annexation by the Soviet Union from 1940 
to 1991 of the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the 
consequences of which will be significant increase in good will among 
the affected people''.
  In February 1997, at the request of BAFL, a Baltic Caucus in the U.S. 
House of Representatives was organized by me and my colleague, 
Congressman Kucinich of Ohio. The Caucus currently has 55 House Members 
and has played and continues to play an important role in supporting 
Baltic issues.
  Since November 17, 2008, the citizens of Estonia, Latvia, and 
Lithuania have been able to travel to the U.S. without obtaining visas, 
thanks to BAFL and other Baltic organizations, and all those in 
Congress whose dedication and persistent work overcame strong 
opposition, and persuaded the U.S. to expand its Visa Waiver Program to 
include the Baltic countries.
  I want to congratulate the Baltic American Freedom League and all its 
members, past and present, on this 30th anniversary celebration, and to 
join with other Members of this House in wishing them continued success 
for another 30 years and beyond.

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