[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 45 (Monday, March 9, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S1627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 536--RECOGNIZING THE BALTIC STATES OF ESTONIA, 
  LATVIA, AND LITHUANIA ON THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE RESTORATION OF 
                           THEIR INDEPENDENCE

  Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. 
Feinstein, Mr. Braun, Mr. Peters, Mr. Rounds, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. 
Collins, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Cotton, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Van 
Hollen, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Coons, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Rubio, Ms. 
Klobuchar, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Markey, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Reed, and Ms. 
Stabenow) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 536

       Whereas, 3 decades ago, the peoples of Estonia, Latvia, and 
     Lithuania inspired the world through their victory over the 
     forces of Soviet totalitarianism after decades of resistance;
       Whereas the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania 
     originally declared their independence in 1918 and 
     established diplomatic relations with the United States as 
     independent countries on July 28, 1922;
       Whereas, 100 years ago this year, Soviet Russia signed 
     treaties with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania recognizing 
     their sovereignty and renouncing all territorial claims over 
     each Baltic State in perpetuity;
       Whereas, on August 23, 1939, the Soviet Union and Nazi 
     Germany signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, which contained a 
     secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of 
     influence, with the Baltic States ultimately being assigned 
     to the Soviet Union, leading soon after to the forcible 
     incorporation of the Baltic States into the Soviet Union;
       Whereas, following World War II, the Soviet Union occupied 
     the Baltic States, imposing for more than 5 decades its model 
     of Soviet totalitarianism, which the United States never 
     recognized, instead maintaining 98 years of continuous 
     diplomatic relations with the Baltic States;
       Whereas, in August 1989, approximately 2,000,000 people 
     joined hands in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to form a 373-
     mile human chain across the 3 states known as the Baltic 
     Chain of Freedom;
       Whereas, in February 1990, the people of Lithuania 
     participated in the first free election to select a new 
     parliament, which promptly voted for restoration of 
     independence, making Lithuania the first occupied Soviet 
     republic to declare the restoration of independence on March 
     11, 1990, a move subsequently followed by Latvia on May 4, 
     1990, and Estonia on August 20, 1991;
       Whereas, in January 1991, Soviet military forces tried to 
     quash the growing independence restoration movement, leading 
     to approximately 14 Lithuanian deaths, as well as 6 Latvian 
     deaths and many injuries;
       Whereas, in February and March 1991, the Lithuanian, 
     Estonian, and Latvian people voted overwhelmingly in support 
     of their respective independence restoration referendums, 
     which the United States recognized later that year;
       Whereas the Baltic States helped pave the path for 
     democracy and freedom across Eastern Europe, leading to the 
     fall of the Soviet Union;
       Whereas, after restoration of independence, the economies 
     of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania emerged as modern market 
     economies leading in technology and financial services 
     sectors;
       Whereas Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania continue to 
     demonstrate their commitment to advancing democratic values, 
     peace, and security through their membership and active 
     participation in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
     (NATO), the European Union (EU), and the Organisation for 
     Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD);
       Whereas the Baltic States have been loyal NATO allies, 
     contributing to regional security and global security through 
     operations in Afghanistan and leadership in the NATO 
     Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Estonia, 
     the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence in 
     Latvia, and the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence in 
     Lithuania;
       Whereas the Baltic States further their contributions to 
     the security of the Euro-Atlantic area by spending at least 2 
     percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for defense, and 
     contribute to global security through determined 
     participation in international allied operations and 
     missions;
       Whereas, since their restoration of independence in 1990 
     and 1991, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have faced 
     considerable Russian aggressive behavior, intimidation, and 
     cyber attacks, and as a result have worked to shape total 
     defense strategies to counter Russian intervention;
       Whereas the Government of the Russian Federation has 
     pursued an aggressive disinformation campaign in the Baltic 
     States, including intimidation of Western civilians and 
     troops stationed in Europe and abroad via hacking, pushing 
     propaganda, and other cyber attacks, and has increased air 
     provocations in Eastern Europe;
       Whereas the presence of the United States in the Baltic 
     States remains a crucial factor for ensuring security in the 
     region and complements the efforts of NATO to strengthen its 
     deterrence and defense posture, including an Enhanced Forward 
     Presence posture in the eastern part of the Alliance with 
     multinational battlegroups;
       Whereas, in 2019, the United States and the Baltic States 
     signed the Security Cooperation Roadmaps outlining joint 
     security cooperation priorities for 2019 to 2024;
       Whereas the Baltic States have been models for democratic 
     governance with strong institutions and respect for civil 
     liberties and the rule of law, cherished shared values 
     between the Baltic States and the United States; and
       Whereas the democratic development and progress of Estonia, 
     Latvia, and Lithuania since those countries regained 
     independence has established the Baltic States as 3 shining 
     beacons for freedom: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the Baltic States of Estonia, Latvia, and 
     Lithuania on the 30th anniversary of the restoration of their 
     independence;
       (2) commits continued support for the Baltic allies of the 
     United States through economic and security cooperation, 
     further strengthening transatlantic ties and regional 
     presence;
       (3) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the 
     North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the enduring 
     transatlantic alliance;
       (4) recognizes the courage and resilience of the Estonian, 
     Latvian, and Lithuanian people in their fight for freedom and 
     democracy in the face of Russian aggressive behavior; and
       (5) expresses the wish that the next 30 years of friendship 
     between the Baltic States and the United States are just as 
     full of positive achievements and progress as the last 30 
     years have been.

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