December 20, 2001 ASK YOUR SENATOR TO SUPPORT NATO ENLARGEMENT BY CO-SPONSORING S. 1572 Washington, DC (JBANC) On December 19, Sen. John Warner (R-VA) placed a hold on pending consideration of the Freedom Consolidation Act, a bill which endorses a bipartisan vision of further NATO enlargement. Sen. Warner’s actions effectively postpone action on the bill until after the New Year, when a formal debate and vote are expected. Formal NATO enlargement ratification is not foreseen until after invitations to the Alliance are issued at the Prague Summit in November 2002. In the meantime, your help is greatly needed in getting more Senators to co-sponsor S. 1572. Please contact your local Senate offices. The holiday recess is an excellent time to seek meetings with Senators and their staff in the home states. Please also consider faxing copies of your letter to the Senate offices in Washington, DC. During Wednesday’s floor session, Sen. Warner stated his concerns about proceeding with the bill without the “careful consideration” of the Senate. He was the only Senator to voice objection to the bill being “hotlined”, which would have meant quick and unanimous consent on passing the legislation. In April 1998, Sen. Warner was one of only 19 Senators who voted against NATO enlargement ratification. At the time, he also introduced an amendment, which would have placed a three-year moratorium on further enlargement. That amendment was defeated. Sen. Warner is expected to seek re-election in November 2002. Sen. Jesse Helms introduced S. 1572 in the Senate on October 24. There are currently 20 co-sponsors: George Allen, Sam Brownback, Michael DeWine, Richard Durbin, Michael B. Enzi, Bill Frist, Charles Grassley, Chuck Hagel, Orrin G. Hatch, Jon Kyl, Joseph Lieberman, Trent Lott, Richard Lugar, John McCain, Mitch McConnell, Barbara Mikulski, Gordon Smith, and George V. Voinovich. Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Sen. Zell Miller (D-GA) have also recently endorsed the bill. The House passed their version of the legislation, H.R. 3167, on November 7 by the overwhelming margin of 372-46. The bill was designated as the Gerald B. H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act of 2001, after the late New York Congressman, a champion of NATO enlargement in Congress. Thank you letters to those Senators who have already co-sponsored S. 1572 are also very important. We need to let our friends in Congress know we appreciate their support. Talking points and a sample letter are available by request and can also be located on JBANC’s website: http://jbanc.org. JBANC represents the Estonian American National Council, Inc., the American Latvian Association, Inc. and the Lithuanian American Council, Inc. |
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