Funding to the Baltics

June 6, 2006

FMF and IMET Funding to the Baltics

Dear Members:

The Baltic American Freedom League is thankful for all the military assistance that the United States has provided for Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. U.S. International Affairs funding has helped build the military and defense capabilities of these countries. This additional funding and training has provided the ability for the Baltic countries to be active partners with the U.S. and NATO in actions in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Balkans. These three countries have stood fast in their support of US and Coalition policies in the Middle East. Senator Dianne Feinstein recently made the statement that “U.S. foreign assistance programs are not only critical to national security interests, they also help promote the humanitarian values we cherish and generate economic prosperity at home and abroad”.

Unfortunately, in the Fiscal Year 2007 International Affairs Budget Request, funding for FMF and IMET is being decreased for all three Baltic countries. Funding for these programs was also decreased in FY 2006.

The Baltic American Freedom League believes Foreign Military Financing (FMF) and International Military Education & Training (IMET) funding should be increased rather than decreased to the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It is not appropriate that FMF and IMET funding for the Baltics be decreased in FY 2007, especially when funding is being increased for other new NATO countries. We urge that FMF funding should be increased to $6,000,000 for each Baltic country in FY 2007. We believe that IMET funding should be increased to $1.5 million for each Baltic country in the FY 2007 budget.

FMF is a critical factor in the Baltic countries efforts to make their militaries more interoperable for participation in NATO, Partnership for Peace (PfP), and NATO-associated operations, including peacekeeping, peace enforcement, and humanitarian assistance. Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have been steadfast in their support of US and NATO policies in the Middle East. It is important that the U.S. continues to support the training and equipping of these troops so they can continue to be effective in their operations alongside other Coalition forces. These increases can also be justified in light of the Baltic countries contribution to the spread of democracy in the Eastern European region. They are on the front lines of the battle to bring freedom and political transparency to other Eastern European nations. All three countries have spoken out and taken action to help their neighbor, Belarus, shrug off the yoke of Soviet-style oppression. They have taken action to help countries like Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova reform their societies and helped build administrative capacity to carry out those reforms.

The current administration’s rethought foreign policy objectives give greater weight to spreading of democracy and ending tyranny in the world. Russia is curtailing democratic reforms and is resuming a more aggressive policy globally and particularly toward former Soviet republics. All three Baltic countries are on NATO’s border with Russia and feel the insecurity that goes with that geography. Petro politics plays a big role in their day-to-day lifestyles. Russia is ever more aware of Russia’s power to control politics with its pipelines. This rethinking of U.S. policy toward Russia should be followed up with additional support to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

In summary, FMF and IMET are important sources of support for the Baltic countries as they continue to carry out reforms to bring their militaries up to NATO standards. At a minimum, this funding should be increased to 2005 levels. This type of funding helps support improvement in communications, transport, and other technologies, so that the Baltic systems are compatible with those of the United States and its NATO allies. This increase in assistance is appropriate. It demonstrates our support for these countries as they take on the burdens and responsibilities in Europe, increase their own defense spending and update their military capabilities.

THEREFORE, WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO ASK YOUR SENATORS AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION TO INCREASE FUNDING OF THE FMF AND IMET PROGRAMS FOR THE BALTIC COUNTRIES.

Senators on the appropriations subcommittees to contact are: Stevens, Cochran, Specter, Domenici, Bond, McConnell, Shelby, Gregg, Hutchison, Burns, Inouye, Byrd, Leahy, Harkin, Dorgan, Durbin, Reid, Feinstein, Mikulski, Bennett, DeWine, Brownback, Johnson, and Landrieu.

Representatives on House appropriations subcommittees to contact are: Young , Murtha, Hobson, Dicks, Bonilla, Sabo, Frelinghuysen, Visclosky, Tiahrt, Moran, Wicker, Kaptur, Kingston, Granger, LaHood, Kolbe, Lowey, Knollenberg, Jackson Jr., Kirk, Kilpatrick, Crenshaw, Rothman, Sherwood, Fattah, Sweeney, Rehberg, and Carter.

TIPS FOR WRITING CONGRESS

Heightened security measures have dramatically increased the time it takes for a letter sent by post to reach a congressional office. More and more, citizens are using e-mails and faxes to communicate their concerns and increasingly elected officials’ offices prefer electronic communications for constituent contact. As a general rule, Members of Congress are far more likely to heed your message if you are one of their constituents.

Purpose of Your Message:

State your purpose for writing in the first sentence of your letter.

If your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it. And make sure that you are referencing the correct legislation to the correct body of Congress. House bills are H.R._____; Senate bills are designated a S.______.

Be courteous.
If appropriate, include personal information about why the issue matters to you.

Address only one issue in each letter or e-mail.

Addressing your correspondence:

To a Senator
The Honorable (Full Name)
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator (Last Name)

To a Representative

The Honorable (Full Name)
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms. (Last Name)

TIPS FOR PHONING CONGRESS

Telephone calls are usually taken by a staff member. Ask to speak with the aide who handles the issue about which you wish to comment.

After identifying yourself as a constituent, tell the aide you would like to leave a brief message, such as: “Please tell Senator/Representative (Name) that I support/oppose ______.

State your reasons for your support or opposition to the bill. Ask for your senators’ or representatives position on the bill. You may also request a written response to your telephone call.

PLEASE DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. IF YOU FEEL THIS IS AN ISSUE YOU SUPPORT; TAKE ACTION RIGHT AWAY. YOUR BOARD HAS BEEN WORKING HARD ON THIS, BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP TO CONVINCE CONGRESS TO INCREASE FMF AND IMET AID TO THE BALTIC COUNTRIES.