IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 256 

Expressing support for the countries of Eastern Europe and the North 

Atlantic Treaty Organization. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 6, 2017 

Mr. COHEN (for himself, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. SIRES, Mr. HASTINGS, Mr. BARR, 

Mrs. WAGNER, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Ms. SHEA-PORTER, Mr. DONOVAN, 

Mr. ISSA, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. MCEACHIN, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. HUNTER, 

Mr. EVANS, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. MEEKS, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. BANKS of Indiana, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. KENNEDY, Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. 

CARTWRIGHT, Mr. TURNER, Mr. COOK, Mr. WITTMAN, Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. SUOZZI, Mr. COLE, Mr. KEATING, Mr. POE

of Texas, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, and Ms. STEFANIK) submitted 

the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 

Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the countries of Eastern Europe and 

the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. 

Whereas the United States has shown strong commitment to 

the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and 

democratic development of the countries that emerged 

from the ashes of the former Soviet Union and the communist bloc it once dominated; 

Whereas many of these countries have, during the past three 

decades, undertaken the considerable political and economic reforms necessary to achieve the aspirations for 


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•HRES 256 IH 

European and Euro-Atlantic integration, or are continuing to do so; 

Whereas the incorporation of Eastern European countries 

into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has 

contributed toward a vision of Europe that is aimed at 

promoting stability and cooperation, at building a Europe 

whole and free, united in peace, democracy and common 

values; 

Whereas the mission of NATO since its founding in 1949 is 

to promote democratic values, cooperation on defense and 

security issues, and the peaceful resolution of disputes; 

Whereas NATO remains the most important and critical security link between the United States and Europe; 

Whereas NATO allies and partners in Central and Eastern 

Europe, including countries of the Western Balkans, and 

the former Soviet Union have stood alongside the United 

States in joint peace operations in the Western Balkans, 

Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere around the globe; 

Whereas Russia’s aggressive actions against neighboring 

members of the NATO Alliance and nearby NATO partner countries, including its many violations of Baltic airspace, occupation of Georgian territory in 2008, annexation of Crimea in 2014, and continued threats to 

Moldovan territorial integrity and sovereignty, not only 

violate its commitments under the Helsinki Final Act and 

subsequent Organization for Security and Cooperation in 

Europe (OSCE) agreements but are also key contributors 

to Europe’s instability; 

Whereas NATO reaffirmed its military security commitment 

to the Baltic States in response to increased Russian 

military activities; 


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•HRES 256 IH 

Whereas NATO allies increased their assistance to NATO 

partner countries by endorsing the Substantial NATO– 

Georgia Package in support of Georgia at the Wales 

Summit, the Comprehensive Assistance Package in support of Ukraine at the Warsaw Summit, and developed 

a phased Defense and Related Security Capacity Building 

package in support of Moldova; 

Whereas the European Reassurance Initiative represents the 

United States commitment to enduring peace, stability, 

and territorial integrity in Europe as members and partners of the NATO Alliance; 

Whereas British Prime Minister Theresa May stated, ‘‘On 

defense and security cooperation, we’re united in our recognition of NATO as the bulwark of our collective defense and we reaffirmed our unshakeable commitment to 

this alliance. We’re 100% behind NATO.’’; 

Whereas Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid stated, ‘‘Our 

NATO allies can rely on us to act as agreed in recent 

summits in Chicago, Wales and Warsaw, our UN partners have appreciated and respected our role in peacekeeping operations and our European partners know that 

Estonia is a reliable partner when there is a crisis’’ and 

Estonian Prime Minister Ju ̈ri Ratas stated, ‘‘Our commitment to NATO is steadfast.’’; 

Whereas Latvian President Raimonds Ve ̄jonis stated, ‘‘We 

[Latvia] continue increasing our defense spending consistently on our own, and our allies appreciate that. A 

historic decision on deployment of four multinational battalions in the Baltic States and Poland was made at the 

NATO Summit in Warsaw this summer. This is by far 

the most serious proof of NATO’s readiness to defend 


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independence of the Eastern European countries, including Latvia.’’; 

Whereas Czech Republic Prime Minster Bohuslav Sobotka 

stated, ‘‘NATO is the basis for our security’’ and that he 

hopes ‘‘the United States will remain a solid NATO partner.’’; and 

Whereas the United States must remain committed to our 

NATO allies in the face of any aggression irrespective of 

their ability to meet the NATO benchmark of spending: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) condemns any threat to the sovereignty, ter3 ritorial integrity, freedom and democracy of the Bal4 tic States; 

5 (2) condemns the clear, gross, and uncorrected 

6 ongoing violation of the Helsinki principles by the 

7 Russian Federation with respect to the sovereignty 

8 and territorial integrity of Ukraine; 

9 (3) supports keeping United States sanctions 

10 imposed against Russia relating to Crimea in effect 

11 until Ukraine’s sovereignty over Crimea has been re12 stored, as well as sanctions relating to the Donbas 

13 until the Minsk agreements are fully implemented; 

14 (4) considers it essential for the United States 

15 to maintain and increase political, economic, and se16 curity support for the countries of Central and East17 ern Europe; 


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•HRES 256 IH 

1 (5) appreciates the spirit of friendship of the 

2 countries of Central and Eastern Europe, including 

3 those of the Western Balkans, their commitment to 

4 collective security, and their contributions, past and 

5 present, to peace operations around the globe; 

6 (6) supports keeping the door to NATO mem7 bership open to those countries that are eligible to 

8 join the Alliance and meet all the necessary require9 ments for membership; 

10 (7) supports and encourages the democratic as11 pirations of the people of all countries concerned, in12 cluding Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova; and 

13 (8) calls for continued support to the United 

14 States European Reassurance Initiative. 

Æ 


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