JBANC Press Release May 24, 2007 Washington, DC (JBANC) --- The Joint Baltic American National Committee, Inc. (JBANC) representing principle national organizations of Americans of Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian heritage has released a Position Paper this week calling for the United States Congress to stay on course in supporting Estonia against aggressive behavior by the Russian Federation. The U.S. House of Representatives is currently considering legislation stating solidarity with Estonian and condemning Moscow's recent malevolent actions. In its paper, JBANC urges support for H.Res. 397, introduced on May 10 by House Baltic Caucus co-chairman John Shimkus (R-IL) and supported by 33 Members as of May 23. Chicago Democrat Dan Lipinski's office notified JBANC on May 24 that Rep. Lipinski has also signed on as a co-sponsor. The legislation was passed out of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday under the direction of its chairman Tom Lantos (D-CA). It is expected that a vote on the measure will occur following the upcoming Memorial Day recess. A Senate resolution (S. Res. 187) with similar language, introduced by Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH), passed on May 3. The issue of the recent removal of the Bronze Soldier Soviet monument, and the historical context, is outlined in JBANC's paper. ### H.RES.397 Title: Condemning violence in Estonia and attacks on Estonia's embassies in 2007, and expressing solidarity with the Government and the people of Estonia. Sponsor: Rep Shimkus, John [IL-19] (introduced 5/10/2007) Cosponsors (33) ------------------------------------------------------------ COSPONSORS(33): Rep Berman, Howard L. [CA-28] - 5/16/2007, Rep Bilirakis, Gus M. [FL-9] - 5/23/2007, Rep Blunt, Roy [MO-7] - 5/14/2007, Rep Bono, Mary [CA-45] - 5/10/2007, Rep Boozman, John [AR-3] - 5/21/2007, Rep Camp, Dave [MI-4] - 5/10/2007, Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] - 5/10/2007, Rep Costello, Jerry F. [IL-12] - 5/10/2007, Rep Feeney, Tom [FL-24] - 5/10/2007, Rep Fortuno, Luis G. [PR] - 5/21/2007, Rep Gallegly, Elton [CA-24] - 5/10/2007, Rep Goodlatte, Bob [VA-6] - 5/17/2007, Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] - 5/10/2007, Rep Inglis, Bob [SC-4] - 5/21/2007, Rep Kildee, Dale E. [MI-5] - 5/10/2007, Rep King, Steve [IA-5] - 5/10/2007, Rep Lantos, Tom [CA-12] - 5/21/2007, Rep Mack, Connie [FL-14] - 5/21/2007, Rep McCaul, Michael T. [TX-10] - 5/21/2007, Rep McCotter, Thaddeus G. [MI-11] - 5/10/2007, Rep Miller, Candice S. [MI-10] -5/10/2007, Rep Musgrave, Marilyn N. [CO-4] - 5/14/2007, Rep Neal, Richard E. [MA-2] - 5/10/2007, Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-8] - 5/10/2007, Rep Pitts, Joseph R. [PA-16] - 5/10/2007, Rep Rogers, Mike J. [MI-8] - 5/10/2007, Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18] - 5/21/2007, Rep Shuster, Bill [PA-9] - 5/10/2007, Rep Smith, Christopher H. [NJ-4] - 5/10/2007, Rep Stupak, Bart [MI-1] - 5/10/2007, Rep Upton, Fred [MI-6] - 5/10/2007, Rep Watson, Diane E. [CA-33] - 5/21/2007, Rep Wexler, Robert [FL-19] - 5/21/2007 |
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