Balc American Freedom League Baltic Bulletin P.O. Box 65056 Baltic Bulletin Los Angeles, California 90065 THE VOICE OF THE BALTIC AMERICAN FREEDOM LEAGUE, INC. http://www.bafl.com ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED Volume 32 Number 1 (95) May 2020 THE HOUSE BALTIC CAUCUS: A SHORT HISTORY By Angele Nelsas Since its founding in 1998, the Baltic Caucus has become a very important institution in all aspects of cooperation between the U.S. Con- gress and the Baltic nations. This rela- tionship was enshrined in the histori- cal U.S. Baltic Charter of Cooperation signed in January of 1998 by the President of the United States, and the Presidents of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. The Baltic Caucus plays a vital and key role in implementing this agreement. Without the Con- gressional interest and input, the Charter might have turned out to just Congressman John Shimkus, House Baltic Caucus C-chair, and BAFL President An- remain a piece of paper that the Ad- gele Nelsas, and Congr. Dennis Kucinich (Photo Courtesy of Angele Nelsas) ministration could ignore. Since its’ May 2020 / Baltic Bulletin founding, The Baltic Caucus has raised visibility for US support for the Advisory Board: Baltic countries and their integration ESTONIA, US ADVANCE CRU- U.S. LAWMAKERS INTRO- Baltic Bulletin into the free and democratic family CIAL THREE SEAS’ INITIATIVE DUCE BIPARTISAN RESOLU- of nations, and has established good Published by Baltic American Freedom Courtesy of JJ Green, WTOP working relationships with the Parlia- TION TO SUPPORT EASTERN League, Intent on stepping out of the ments of the Baltic States. Janis Birznieks, Castro Valley, CA dilapidated ruins left behind by the USSR, EUROPE ENERGY P.O. Box 65056, Los Angeles, California After 20 years of its’ suc- Lt. Col. USAR countries in Central and Eastern Europe INDEPENDENCE 90065 cessful existence, it may be of inter- have each circled the globe for nearly 30 Courtesy of Todd Prince, RFERL est to our readers to learn how the Edited by Ausra Tallat-Kelpsa Di Raimono Dr. Darius Furmonavicius Nottingham, years looking for foreign investors to Members of the U.S. House of US Congressional Baltic Caucus came Great Britain help them secure their futures. Now, Representatives on October 31 intro- into existence. As with all new ven- Algimantas Gureckas † Silver Spring, MD they’ve banded together and nailed duced a bipartisan resolution to support tures, it began with a new idea. The Executive Board: Mart Laar Tallinn, Estonia down a multibillion-dollar deal that energy independence in Central and inspiration to organize the Baltic Cau- Prof. Vytautas Landsbergis Vilnius, should do it. A White House meeting last Eastern Europe, a day after Russia moved President: Conrad Mazeika cus in the US Congress came to me week confirmed the U.S. is all in. a step closer to completing a new gas Executive Vice President: Valdis Pavlovskis Lithuania under most unusual circumstances. On the afternoon of March 3, pipeline to Germany. Representatives Vice President: Angela Nelsas Maris Mantenieks Medina, OH Ever since becoming active in U.S. Vice President: Dr. Hendrik Leesment traffic was stopped at an intersection not Marcy Kaptur (Democrat-Ohio) and Ad- Mart Niklus Tartu, Estonia politics and the Lithuanian-American Vice President: Ivars Miculs far from D.C.’s Dupont Circle. One of the am Kinzinger (Republican-Illinois) spon- Heino Nurmberg La Quinta, CA Community in 1972, I became a vol- Treasurer: Talivaldis Paegle many diplomatic motorcades that blow sored the resolution, which expresses Agris Pavlovskis Lansing, MI unteer advocate and lobbyist for the Secretary: Danute Mazeika through the city regularly just reached U.S. support for new energy projects -- Rudolfs Peksens, Arlington, VA cause of the re-establishment of Lith- the end of its trip, lights and sirens fully including transportation and renewable Conrad Mazeika was elected to B. Gen. USAF (Ret) uania’s and Baltic States Independ- Directors: engaged. The convoy stopped in front of energy generation -- that enhance con- the BAFL Board of Directors and ence from the illegal occupation by a four-story, cream-colored building at nectivity in the 12 countries located be- also to the position of President at the Aivars Jerumanis Glendale, CA the Soviet Union. Vilius Zalpys Camas, WA 2131 Massachusetts Ave. Northwest: tween the Adriatic, Black, and Baltic Seas Guna Reins S herman Oaks, CA I joined the Baltic American Annual Meeting. Conrad brings in his Aivars Zeltins Omaha, NE the Embassy of Estonia. and reduce their dependence on Russia. Ausra Tallat-Kelpsa Di Raimondo Freedom League (BAFL) in 1987. I past 10 years of experience working The president of Estonia exited The 12-nation partnership is known as Chicago, IL flew to Washington D.C. often, repre- in the Financial, Energy and Real the main vehicle as U.S. Secret Service the Three Seas Initiative. senting these organizations, meeting Estate Industries to the Board Janis Lacis Simi Valley, CA agents assumed their eagle-eyed posi- Eastern and Central Europe have with high U.S. government officials, Dainis Kalnins Long Beach, CA tions, visually sweeping the triangle- historically been heavily dependent on the sitting Presidents, their admin- Photo courtesy of Conrad Mazeika Tony Mazeika Mission Viejo, CA shaped block for signs of trouble. Russian oil and gas, with Hungary still istrations, with U.S. House and Sen- Aavo Reinfeldt San Diego, CA (continued on page 6) receiving all of its gas imports from ate Members and the media. Vija Turjanis Bakersfield, CA (continued on page 4) (continued on page 5) 8 1 May 2020 / Baltic Bulletin Baltic Bulletin / May 2020 PRESIDENT’S LETTER US HOUSE AND SENATE Dear Members, Supporters and Friends, CAUCUSES AND CURRENT LEGISLATION The Coronavirus Pandemic has By Ausra Tallat-Kelpsa Di Raimondo changed the world. As we sit down and The 116th Congress has been in ponder what the world is going to be session since January and several bills like, we as an organization are flexible and resolutions have already been pro- toward the change. We had our last posed and passed in the House and Sen- meeting as a video conference call. It ate that are important for US- Baltic rela- was a learning curve at first but a very tions, specifically with respect to com- productive meeting. Although we have mitment to defense. postponed our Annual Banquet for Sep- Although House Caucus co- tember, we’re already preparing for our chairs Representative John Shimkus (R- 40th anniversary of BAFL next year. IL) and Representative Adam Schiff (D- While you read this bulletin, re- CA), and Senate co-chairs Senator Chuck alize that the Baltic States are fighting Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Dick Durbin this Pandemic as well. We must remain (D-IL) remain supportive and have initiat- vigilant while the Baltic States are ed or supported several bills and resolu- fighting the Pandemic and be weary of Baltic American Freedom League Annual Meeting : Latvian Community Center , Los Angeles on Decem- tions, additional support through in- potential threats to the Freedom of Esto- ber 7, 2019. Among the attendees were: Aivars Jerumanis, Ivars Miculs, Valdis Pavlovskis, Heino Nurm- creased membership on both caucuses is nia, Latvia and Lithuania berg, Angela Nelsas, Aavo Reinfeldt, Conrad Mazeika, Talivaldis Paegle. Photo: Conrad Mazeika necessary. Please review the current membership list on our website and if Conrad Mazeika your Representative or Senator is not on H. Res. 672: THREE SEAS SENATOR JEANNE SHAHEEN President of the Capitol, is 10 times smaller than a quar Gallery in Washington {this week} it, consider making a call to ask that s/he human cell. The nanocopy of the U.S. January 15th. INITIATIVE: STATUS (D-NH) HAS JOINED THE BAL- join. Capitol was created by Femtika, a Lithua- Spann, a first-generation Estoni- H.Res. 672 – Expressing support of the EVENTS BAFL follows all new legislation TIC FREEDOM CAUCUS nian company that is a spin-off from the an-American, said that the subject start- Three Seas Initiative in its efforts to in- The Baltic Advocacy Days in Washington and its status as it is proposed, and New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Vilnius University Laser Research Center. ed interesting her a couple of years ago, crease energy independence and infra- Shaheen joined the Senate Baltic Free- DC have been postponed due to COVID- when her grandparents died. Following strongly advocate for all legislation rele- structure connectivity thereby strength- 19. We will inform you as to the new vant to the Baltic region and its neigh- dom Caucus on March 27 as its 14th their death, her mother and uncle were ening the United States and European member! date once we have that information. the only ones in the family who remem- bors, keeping our constituents informed national security. through the Baltic Bulletin, The Baltic Senator Shaheen was elected to bered anything about fleeing occupied the Senate in 2008. She serves on the The AABS Conference has been post- Estonia, but their stories differed from Caucus Update Newsletter, our website, Sponsor: Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) poned due to COVID-19. We will inform www.bafl.com, our new Facebook page Foreign Relations, Appropriations, and those of their parents. Armed Services, and committees, and is you as to the new date once we have "My mom and uncle, who are in https://www.facebook.com/BAFLorg/, Co-sponsors: Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Wil- that information. new Twitter: https://twitter.com/ the Ranking Member on the Subcommit- the exhibit — they escaped Estonia when liam Keating (D-MA), Albio Sires (D-NJ), tee on Europe and Regional Security Co- they were 5 and 7," Spann told ETV BalticFreedom, and our new Instagram Greg Pence (R-IN), Lance Gooden (R- https://www.instagram.com/ operation.