Gallegly and Shimkus NATO Resolutions Pass by Wide Margins

Kuumad uudised | 08 Oct 2002 | EWR

JBANC PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release
October 8, 2002

contact: Karl Altau
tel. 301-340-1954

358-9 Vote on H.Res.468
Gallegly and Shimkus NATO Resolutions Pass by Wide Margins

Washington, DC (JBANC) - The U.S. House of Representatives passed resolutions yesterday evening reaffirming continued American commitment to NATO, and supporting the candidacies of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to join the Alliance.

The resolution introduced by Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-CA) passed by the wide margin of 358-9, while the resolution introduced by Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) passed by voice vote, which is by at least a two-thirds margin.

The Gallegly resolution, H.Res.468, was recently amended to endorse member candidacies of seven aspirant countries, including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The margin of support of those who voted was nearly 98%, which is even more than the highly successful passage of the Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act. One representative voted “present” and 63 members did not vote. Gallegly, who recently spent a week visiting the Baltics, is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe in the International Relations Committee.

Final vote results on H.Res.468 are available at:
http://jbanc.org/vote02.html

Additional supporting comments on the House floor were given by Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA), Rep. Tom Lantos (D-CA), and Rep. Doug Bereuter (R-NE), all members of the House International Relations Committee. Credit was given to both the Committee chairman, Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL) and Ranking Member Lantos for helping move the debate and vote on the measure. There were 20 co-sponsors of the Gallegly bill, with Lantos, Bereuter and Rep. Christopher Cox (R-CA) as original co-sponsors.

The Shimkus resolution, HCR116, supporting membership of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania was originally introduced in April 2001 and eventually garnered 56 co-sponsors. Supporting voices on the House floor were Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA), Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Rep. Gallegly, Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) and Shimkus, who added that it is “important for the House of Representatives to send a message to NATO leaders before the 2002 summit that the United States stands firmly behind the Baltics’ candidacy.”

Shimkus and Kucinich are co-chairs of the House Baltic Caucus, currently with over 75 members.

JBANC represents the Estonian American National Council, Inc., the American Latvian Association, Inc. and the Lithuanian American Council, Inc.

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JOINT BALTIC AMERICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE, INC.

Representing:
Estonian American National Council, Inc.
American Latvian Association, Inc.
Lithuanian American Council, Inc.

400 Hurley Avenue
Rockville, MD 20850

Tel: (301) 340-1954
Fax: (301) 309-1406
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