Below is an example of one aspect of being an active member of the Lithuanian American Community. When Lithuanians were concerned with the security of the country of their heritage, they turned to members of the US Congress with their message that Lithuania should be included in NATO.

Below is a sample of the work that was done by LAC. The information was prepared by the Public Affairs Council.  Our work paid off: Lithuania will become a member of NATO in 2004.

Lithuanian American Community’s Public Affairs Council’s Announcement with sample letters to Congressmen and Senators and U.S. Senate NATO Voting

Freedom Consolidation Act of 2001 H.R. 3167, S. 1572

Introduction
On October 24, 2001 Congressman Doug Bereuter (R-Nebraska) introduced into the House International Relations Committee the Freedom Consolidation Act of 2001 (H.R.3167). The draft legislation was cosponsored by Congressmen Lantos, Hastert, Bonior, Armey, Hyde, Gilman, Goss, Cox, Gellegly, Mica, ir Tanner.

On the same date, Senator Jesse Helms (R-North Carolina) introduced the same bill into the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as S. 1572. The cosponsors included Senators Lieberman, Lugar, Durbin, Smith (Oregon), Mikulski, Kyl, Allen, Hagel, McCain, Brownback, McConnell, Frist, Dewine, Voinovich, Grassley, Hatch, Lott ir Enzi.

The Freedom Consolidation Act of 2001 affirms the vision that President Bush expressed this June at Warsaw when he called for a Europe whole and undivided, and urging a further round of NATO enlargement at the 2002 NATO Summit. The Act is bipartisan as it is consistent with the policies of former President Clinton who launched the first round of NATO enlargement.

The bill describes how the NATO enlargement would aid in the global campaign against terrorism and that the proposed legislation would further peace and stability in Europe. Modest levels of financial assistance are included to assist the aspirant countries to better prepare for their membership in NATO. The full text of the Act may be found on the internet at http://thomas.loc.gov/home/thomas2.html

The interests of the United States and Lithuania would be best served by a quick enactment of this legislation. Enactment would strengthen the resolve of the Bush Administration in supporting NATO enlargement in 2002 and inviting Lithuania,its fellow Baltic neighbors and other adequately prepared aspirants into NATO.

We were very pleased that on November 7 the House of Representatives adopted with a 372 vote majority the now renamed Gerald B.H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act. For a listing of the roll call vote, please refer to the following internet address: http://clerkweb.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.exe?year=2001&rollnumber=431 Senate approval is now required.

Additional support for S. 1572, the Freedom Consolidation Act 2001, is urgently needed from Senators of both parties. Accordingly, the Lithuanian American Community’s Public Affairs Council seeks your assistance in seek that not only Lithuanian Americans but all voters in your localities urge their Senators to support S. 1572. It would also be advisable to send your Congressperson a thank you note for a vote cast in favor of H.R. 3167 for the now renamed Gerald B.H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act or a note of concern in the event of a negative vote.

Listed below are some talking points, samples of letters that may be written to Senators and Congressmen and chart including U.S. Senate voting on NATO issues. The writers may wish to include some thoughts on their personal experiences and the values of individual freedom and opportunity in the United States. Many may wish to share the thought that we wish to share the values of freedom that we cherish in the United States with all the people of Europe, including the Lithuania. It is advisable to mail hand written letters to Congressional offices in the respective states and electoral districts, not Washington, or to have them sent via fax. Please look up the address of your representative’s office in your local telephone directory or enquire at your area public library. Sending e-mail is nor recommended as the large volume of such messages arriving at Congressional offices precludes their being given adequate attention .

Talking points to use in discussing NATO enlargement and the Freedom Consolidation Act

1. I am your constituent and I have a strong interest in the passage of the Freedom Consolidation Act 2001 ( S. 1572).

2. I urge you to support this bill because it affirms the bipartisan policy of both former President Clinton and President Bush to make Europe whole, free, undivided and secure by enlarging NATO.

3. NATO is our most important alliance and its enlargement would make the U.S. stronger and more secure, Europe more stable and the NATO organization more effective.

4. NATO should be enlarged in 2002. Lithuania, together with the other Baltic states of Latvia and Estonia, and other aspirant countries that meet NATO standards should be admitted.

5. NATO enlargement would add resolve and resources to our most important alliance thereby contributing to our a vital national objective: victory in the global campaign against terrorism.

Sample letters

To your U.S. Senator -

The Honorable___________

(address of local office)

 

Dear Senator______:

 

I am writing to urge you to support the Freedom Consolidation Act 2001 (S. 1572). This bill is important to me because it endorses the vision of a Europe whole, undivided, free and secure and reaffirms the strong and bipartisan Congressional commitment to NATO enlargement in 2002.

In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States NATO enlargement is especially important because it would affirm our recognition that collective self defense remains vital to our national interests. A stronger NATO alliance would assist us in the global campaign against the scourge of terrorism.

NATO should be enlarged at the 2002 NATO Summit meeting to include Lithuania, the other Baltic countries of Latvia and Estonia and other aspirant countries that meet NATO standards for membership.

Sincerely,

____/s/_______

Your full name

 

 

To your U.S. Congressman/woman:

The Honorable___________

(local address)

 

Dear Congressman/Congresswoman ______________:

 

Thank you for your vote in favor of H.R. 3167 , the Gerald B.H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act. I am in favor of NATO enlargement in 2002 to include Lithuania, the other Baltic countries of Estonia and Latvia and other aspirant countries that meet NATO standards for membership. A strong and enlarged NATO is important to the United States and it would contribute in our campaign against terrorism.

Or:

I write to express my disagreement with your negative vote on H.R. 3167, the Gerald B.H. Solomon Freedom Consolidation Act. I am in favor of NATO enlargement in 2002 to include Lithuania, the other Baltic countries of Estonia and Latvia and other aspirant countries that meet NATO standards for membership. A strong and enlarged NATO is important to the United States and it would contribute in our campaign against terrorism.

 

Composed by:
Algirdas Rimas
LAC PAC Chairman

Appendix:

U.S. Senate NATO Voting

No

Senator

Seat up

94*

96**

98***

FCA****

1

Akaka, Daniel K. (D-HI)

06

N

Y

Y

  

2

Allard, Wayne (R-CO)

02

    

Y

  

3

Allen, George F.(R-VA)

06

      

Y

4

Baucus, Max (D-MT)

02

Y

Y

Y

  

5

Bayh, Evan (D-IN)

04

  

Y

    

6

Bennett, Robert F. (R-UT)

04

Y

Y

Y

  

7

Biden, Joseph R.Jr. (D-DE)

02

N

Y

Y

  

8

Bingaman, Jeff (D-NM)

06

Y

N

Y

  

9

Bond, Christopher "Kit" (R-MO)

04

Y

Y

Y

  

10

Boxer, Barbara (D-CA)

04

N

Y

Y

  

11

Breaux, John B. (D-LA)

04

Y

N

Y

  

12

Brownback, Sam (R-KS)

04

    

Y

Y

13

Bunning, Jim (R-KY)

04

        

14

Burns, Conrad (R-MT)

06

Y

Y

Y

  

15

Byrd, Robert C. (D-WV)

06

Y

Y

Y

  

16

Campbell, Ben Nighthorse (R-CO)

04

Y

Y

Y

  

17

Cantwell, Maria (D-WA)

06

        

18

Carnahan, Jean (D-MO)

02

        

19

Carper, Thomas R.(D-DE)

06

        

20

Chafee, Lincoln D. (R-RI)

06

        

21

Cleland, Max (D-GA)

02

    

Y

  

22

Clinton, Hillary R. (D-NY)

06

        

23

Cochran, Thad (R-MS)

02

Y

Y

Y

  

24

Collins, Susan (R-ME)

02

    

Y

  

25

Conrad, Kent (D-ND)

06

N

Y

N

  

26

Corzine, Jon (D-NJ)

06

        

27

Craig, Larry E. (R-ID)

02

Y

Y

N

  

28

Crapo, Michael D. (R-ID)

04

        

29

Daschle, Tom (D-SD)

04

N

Y

Y

  

30

Dayton, Mark (DFL-MN)

06

        

31

DeWine, Mike (R-OH)

06

  

Y

Y

Y

32

Dodd, Christopher J. (D-CT)

04

Y

Y

Y

  

33

Domenici, Pete V. (R-NM)

02

Y

Y

Y

  

34

Dorgan, Byron L. (D-ND)

04

N

N

N

  

35

Durbin, Richard J.(D-IL)

02

    

Y

Y

36

Edwards, John (D-NC)

04

        

37

Ensign, John (R-NV)

06

  

Y

Y

  

38

Enzi, Michael B. (R-WY)

02

    

Y

Y

39

Feingold, Russell D. (D-WI)

04

Y

Y

Y

  

40

Feinstein, Dianne (D-CA)

06

Y

Y

Y

  

41

Fitzgerald, Peter G. (R-IL)

04

        

42

Frist, Bill (R-TN)

06

  

Y

Y

Y

43

Graham, Bob (D-FL)

04

Y

Y

Y

  

44

Gramm, Phil (R-TX)

Retiring

Y

Y

Y

  

45

Grassley, Charles E.(R-IA)

04

Y

Y

Y

Y

46

Gregg, Judd (R-NH)

04

Y

Y

Y

  

47

Hagel, Chuck (R-NE)

02

    

Y

Y

48

Harkin, Tom (D-IA)

02

N

N

N

  

49

Hatch, Orrin (R-UT)

06

Y

Y

Y

Y

50

Hollings, Ernest F. (D-SC)

04

N

Y

Y

  

51

Hutchinson, Tim (R-AR)

02

    

Y

  

52

Hutchinson, Kay Bailey (R-TX)

06

Y

N

Y

  

53

Inhofe, James M. (R-OK)

02

  

Y

N

  

54

Inouye, Daniel K. (D-HI)

04

N

Y

Y

  

55

Jeffords, James M. (I-VT)

06

Y

N

N

  

56

Johnson, Tim (D-SD)

02

    

Y

  

57

Kennedy, Edward M. (D-MA)

06

N

Y

Y

  

58

Kerry, John F. (D-MA)

02

Y

Y

Y

  

59

Kohl, Herb (D-WI)

06

Y

Y

    

60

Kyl, Jon (R-AZ)

06

  

Y

Y

Y

61

Landrieu, Mary L. (D-LA)

02

    

Y

  

62

Leahy, Patrick J. (D-VT)

04

N

N

N

  

63

Levin, Carl (D-MI)

02

Y

Y

Y

  

64

Lieberman, Joseph I. (D-CT)

06

Y

Y

Y

Y

65

Lincoln, Blanche Lambert (D-AR)

04

        

66

Lott, Trent (R-MS)

06

Y

Y

Y

Y

67

Lugar, Richard G. (R-IN)

06

Y

Y

Y

Y

68

McCain, John (R-AZ)

04

Y

Y

Y

Y

69

McConnell, Mitch (R-KY)

02

Y

Y

Y

Y

70

Mikulski, Barbara A. (D-MD)

04

Y

Y

Y

Y

71

Miller, Zell (D-GA)

04

        

72

Murkowski, Frank (R-AK)

04

Y

Y

Y

  

73

Murray, Patty (D-WA)

04

N

Y

Y

  

74

Nelson, Ben (D-NE)

06

        

75

Nelson, Bill (D-FL)

06

        

76

Nickles, Don (R-OK)

04

Y

Y

Y

  

77

Reed, Jack (D-RI)

02

    

Y

  

78

Reid, Harry (D-KS)

04

Y

Y

N

  

79

Roberts, Pat (D-NV)

02

    

Y

  

80

Roskefeller, John D. IV (D-WV)

02

N

Y

Y

  

81

Sanatorum, Rick (R-PA)

06

  

Y

Y

  

82

Sarbanes, Paul S. (D-MD)

06

Y

Y

Y

  

83

Schmur, Charles E. (D-NY)

04

        

84

Sessions, Jeff (R-AL)

02

    

Y

  

85

Shelby, Richard C. (R-AL)

04

N

Y

Y

  

86

Smith, Gordon H. (R-OR)

02

    

Y

Y

87

Smith, Robert C. (R-NH)

02

Y

  

N

  

88

Snowe, Olympia J. (R-ME)

06

  

Y

    

89

Specter, Arlen (R-PA)

04

Y

Y

N

  

90

Stabenow, Debbie (D-MI)

06

        

91

Stevens, Ted (R-AK)

02

Y

Y

Y

  

92

Thomas, Craig (R-WY)

06

  

N

Y

  

93

Thompson, Fred (R-TN)

02

  

Y

Y

  

94

Thurmond, Strom (R-SC)

Retiring

Y

Y

Y

  

95

Torricelli, Robert G. (D-NJ)

02

    

Y

  

96

Voinovich, George V. (R-OH)

04

      

Y

97

Warner, John (R-VA)

02

Y

Y

N

  

98

Wellstone, Paul David (DFL-MN)

02

Y

Y

N

  

99

Wyden, Ron (D-OR)

04

  

N

N

  

* NATO Participation Act of 1994 (07/14/94) P.L. 103-447
** NATO Enlargement Facilitation Act of 1996 (07/25/96) P.L. 104-208
*** NATO Expansion Ratification of 1998 (04/30/98)
**** Freedom Consolidation Act cosponsors (10/24/01) S. 1572

 

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