During final Senate debate on Wednesday, June 30, Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) offered an amendment to the Foreign Operations bill (S. 1234), which asks the Senate to not portray military funding to the Baltics as a indication of the United States’ desire to speed up those countries membership into NATO.

Senator Bingaman’s Sense of Senate measure (amendment No. 1165) intends to note that "nothing" in the Senate Report concerning Foreign Military Financing (FMF) money to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, "should be interpreted as expressing the will of the Senate to accelerate membership of those nations into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization." Senator Bingaman was supported in this measure by Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS), Sen. Robert C. Smith (R-NH) , Sen. Max Cleland (D-GA) and Sen. John Warner (R-VA).

Before debate on the bill moves on to the House, please contact your Senator and let them know that you are opposed to amendment No. 1165 (the Bingaman amendment). This amendment in effect conditions the terms by which the Baltic countries may enter NATO. Both Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) and Sen. Slade Gorton (R-WA) made strong floor statements in opposition to this amendment.

Meanwhile, the tremendous support by Sen. Mitch McConnell, chairman of the Senate Foreign Operations Appropriations committee, on raising the level of FMF funding should also be recognized. The $20 million allocated for the program is a $4.7 million increase from last year’s funding. This comes at a time when overall spending on the international affairs budget is drastically down from previous years. At the same time, please let the Senator know that you are supportive of the $20 million for FMF programs in the Baltics.

PLEASE CALL YOUR SENATORS TODAY

1) Ask your Senator to oppose amendments such as No. 1165 (the Bingaman amendment), which would create hurdles for potential Baltic membership into NATO
2) Thank them for Senate support on the increased $20 million FMF programs to the Baltic countries in the Foreign Operations Appropriation Bill S. 1234 and also ask them to be supportive of increased funding on the overall international affairs budget 3) Express your wish for continued support on assistance programs to the Baltics, including: A) International Military Education and Training (IMET) B) International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL)

Talking points:
1) The Baltic countries continue to make great progress in implementing democratic and economic reforms, while working to upgrade their military capabilities to NATO standards.
2) Stability in the Baltic region enhances stability in Central and Eastern Europe which is in the national security and economic interests of the U.S.
3) Continued Russian muscle-flexing towards Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, including the recent unannounced military exercise in the Baltic region are a potential threat to the security of the region and for NATO.