[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 122 (Friday, July 22, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E774]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE SOVEREIGN DECISION OF FINLAND AND SWEDEN TO 
APPLY TO JOIN THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO) AS WELL AS 
  CALLING ON ALL MEMBERS OF NATO TO RATIFY THE PROTOCOLS OF ACCESSION 
                                SWIFTLY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 18, 2022

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1130: 
Expressing support for the sovereign decision of Finland and Sweden to 
apply to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as well as 
calling on all members of NATO to ratify the protocols of accession 
swiftly.
  The resolution expresses support for Finland and Sweden's historic 
decision to apply to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and 
opposes any attempt by the Russian government to obstruct Finland and 
Sweden's decision to apply to join NATO.
  The bill also calls on the member states of NATO to formally support 
the accession of Finland and Sweden into the transatlantic alliance.
  Finland and Sweden have worked with the NATO alliance for nearly 
thirty years, and they are widely regarded as capable security 
partners.
  They joined NATO's Partnership for Peace in 1994 and both contributed 
personnel to NATO-led operations in Afghanistan, the Balkans, and Iraq.
  In 2014, they became two of just six Enhanced Opportunity Partners 
and have since worked to increase their militaries' ability to operate 
with NATO forces.
  Sweden recently hosted more than a dozen NATO allies and Finland in 
BALTOPS 22, a major maritime exercise in the Baltic Sea.
  Both nations are EU members and solid democracies with sophisticated 
economies, secure borders, and highly advanced militaries.
  There is no question that Finland and Sweden are well-equipped to 
join NATO.
  There is also no question that Russia's aggression will not diminish.
  With a reported death toll of over 10,000 soldiers and civilians, 
there is no guarantee that nearby nations are safe from mass 
destruction.
  Russia has a long history of invading and annexing bordering 
countries, which is all the more reason for fortifying the NATO 
alliance.
  We must do everything in our power to put an end to the violence 
continually caused by Russia and bring back peace to the region.
  Finnish and Swedish membership in NATO will stretch NATO's borders 
and bolster our collective defenses in northern Europe.
  Finland shares an 830 mile border with Russia, which would more than 
double Russia's border with NATO.
  Sweden's defense budget for 2022 is estimated to total $8.6 billion, 
while Finland's is $6.3 billion, according to the Global Firepower 
Index.
  Both Sweden and Finland have announced plans to dramatically boost 
their military spending in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
  I urge all my colleagues to support H. Res. 1130: Expressing support 
for the sovereign decision of Finland and Sweden to apply to join the 
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as well as calling on all 
members of NATO to ratify the protocols of accession swiftly.