Title: Expressing support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
Condemns: (1) any threat to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, freedom, and democracy of the Baltic States; and (2) the ongoing violation of the Helsinki principles by the Russian Federation with respect to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Supports: (1) keeping in effect U.S. sanctions imposed against Russia relating to Crimea until Ukraine's sovereignty over Crimea has been restored and sanctions relating to the Donbas until the Minsk agreements are fully implemented; (2) keeping the door to North Atlantic Treaty Organization membership open to those countries that are eligible to join the alliance and that meet all the necessary requirements for membership; and (3) the democratic aspirations of the people of all countries concerned, including Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova.
Declares that the House of Representatives: (1) considers it to be essential for the United States to maintain and increase political, economic, and security support for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe; and (2) appreciates the spirit of friendship of such countries, their commitment to collective security, and their contributions to peace operations around the globe.
Calls for continued support to the United States European Reassurance Initiative.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 256 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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 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;
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 Juri Ratas 
        stated, ``Our commitment to NATO is steadfast.'';
Whereas Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis 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 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
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) condemns any threat to the sovereignty, territorial 
        integrity, freedom and democracy of the Baltic States;
            (2) condemns the clear, gross, and uncorrected ongoing 
        violation of the Helsinki principles by the Russian Federation 
        with respect to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of 
        Ukraine;
            (3) supports keeping United States sanctions imposed 
        against Russia relating to Crimea in effect until Ukraine's 
        sovereignty over Crimea has been restored, as well as sanctions 
        relating to the Donbas until the Minsk agreements are fully 
        implemented;
            (4) considers it essential for the United States to 
        maintain and increase political, economic, and security support 
        for the countries of Central and Eastern Europe;
            (5) appreciates the spirit of friendship of the countries 
        of Central and Eastern Europe, including those of the Western 
        Balkans, their commitment to collective security, and their 
        contributions, past and present, to peace operations around the 
        globe;
            (6) supports keeping the door to NATO membership open to 
        those countries that are eligible to join the Alliance and meet 
        all the necessary requirements for membership;
            (7) supports and encourages the democratic aspirations of 
        the people of all countries concerned, including Ukraine, 
        Georgia, and Moldova; and
            (8) calls for continued support to the United States 
        European Reassurance Initiative.
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