Final funding decisions for the international affairs budget FY99 will be made within the next few days. This includes $15.3 million in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grant assistance for the Baltic countries, along with other funding programs such as International Military Education and Training (IMET), Support for East European Democracy (SEED) and International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL).

On September 3, the Senate passed its FY99 Foreign Operations bill, which funds the majority of international affairs programs. The Senate bill contains $12.6 billion in budget authority, which is approximately $1 billion less than the Administration request and more than $200 million less than the current FY98 funding level. The bill that came out of the House subcommittee contains an even lower funding level.

Therefore, action is needed NOW to urge members of Congress to fund the highest levels for Baltic programs in the FY99 international affairs budget.

ACTION:
Call and urge your Representative to support the highest funding levels for the FY99 international affairs budget, including funding to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania,

or contact these Key Players in the House of Representatives:

Newt Gingrich (R-GA), Speaker of the House 202-225-0600;
Bob Livingston (R-LA), Appropriations Chair 202-225-3015;
Sonny Callahan (R-AL), Foreign Operations Chair 202-225-4631;
Richard Gephardt (D-MO), House Minority Leader 202-225-0100;
David Obey (D-WI), Appropriations Ranking Member 202-225-3365;
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Foreign Operations Ranking Member 202-225-4965;

TALKING POINTS:
*Due to the unpredictability of Russia’s economic and political systems, the Baltic region needs more support than ever. The amount allocated to the Baltic countries by the Foreign Ops bill will contribute to the democratic free-market development of the whole region.
*The Baltic countries have already made tremendous progress in implementing democratic and economic reforms and are working to upgrade their military capabilities to NATO standards.
*The international affairs budget totals just one percent of the federal budget and significantly advances U.S. national interests while promoting national security.