,,iii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #ecf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #i1 #bjbj,mr4 ,durbin 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,grassley1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 ,mr4 ,boozman1 ,mrs4 ,feinstein1 ,mr4 ,braun1 ,mr4 ,peters1 ,mr4 ,rounds1 ,mrs4 ,shaheen1 ,ms4 ,collins1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 ,mr4 ,cotton1 ,ms4 ,duckworth1 ,mr4 ,tillis1 ,mr4 ,van ,hollen1 ,mr4 ,cruz1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,inhofe1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 ,mr4 ,johnson1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,perdue1 ,mr4 ,reed1 and ,ms4 ,stabenow7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,recognizing the ,baltic ,states of ,estonia1 ,latvia1 and ,lithuania on the #cjth anniversary of the restoration of their independence4 ,whereas1 #c decades ago1 the peoples of ,estonia1 ,latvia1 and ,lithuania inspired the world through their victory over the forces of ,soviet totalitarianism after decades of resistance2 ,whereas the ,baltic ,states of ,estonia1 ,latvia1 and ,lithuania originally declared their independence in #aiah and established diplomatic relations with the ,united ,states as independent countries on ,july #bh1 #aibb2 ,whereas1 #ajj years ago this year1 ,soviet ,russia signed treaties with ,estonia1 ,latvia1 and ,lithuania recognizing their sovereignty and renouncing all territorial claims over each ,baltic ,state in perpetuity2 ,whereas1 on ,august #bc1 #aici1 the ,soviet ,union and ,nazi ,germany signed the ,molotov-,ribbentrop ,pact1 which contained a secret protocol dividing ,eastern ,europe into spheres of influence1 with the ,baltic ,states ultimately being assigned to the ,soviet ,union1 leading soon after to the forcible incorporation of the ,baltic ,states into the ,soviet ,union2 ,whereas1 following ,world ,war ,,ii1 the ,soviet ,union occupied the ,baltic ,states1 imposing for more than #e decades its model of ,soviet totalitarianism1 which the ,united ,states never recognized1 instead maintaining #ih years of continuous diplomatic relations with the ,baltic ,states2 ,whereas1 in ,august #aihi1 approximately #b1jjj1jjj people joined hands in ,estonia1 ,latvia1 and ,lithuania to form a #cgc-mile human chain across the #c states known as the ,baltic ,chain of ,freedom2 ,whereas1 in ,february #aiij1 the people of ,lithuania participated in the first free election to select a new parliament1 which promptly voted for restoration of independence1 making ,lithuania the first occupied ,soviet republic to declare the restoration of independence on ,march #aa1 #aiij1 a move subsequently followed by ,latvia on ,may #d1 #aiij1 and ,estonia on ,august #bj1 #aiia2 ,whereas1 in ,january #aiia1 ,soviet military forces tried to quash the growing independence restoration movement1 leading to approximately #ad ,lithuanian deaths1 as well as #f ,latvian deaths and many injuries2 ,whereas1 in ,february and ,march #aiia1 the ,lithuanian1 ,estonian1 and ,latvian people voted overwhelmingly in support of their respective independence restoration referendums1 which the ,united ,states recognized later that year2 ,whereas the ,baltic ,states helped pave the path for democracy and freedom across ,eastern ,europe1 leading to the fall of the ,soviet ,union2 ,whereas1 after restoration of independence1 the economies of ,estonia1 ,latvia1 and ,lithuania emerged as modern market economies leading in technology and financial services sectors2 ,whereas ,estonia1 ,latvia1 and ,lithuania continue to demonstrate their commitment to advancing democratic values1 peace1 and security through their membership and active participation in the ,north ,atlantic ,treaty ,organization 7,,nato71 the ,european ,union 7,,eu71 and the ,organisation for ,economic ,co-operation and ,development 7,,oecd72 ,whereas the ,baltic ,states have been loyal ,,nato allies1 contributing to regional security and global security through operations in ,afghanistan and leadership in the ,,nato ,cooperative ,cyber ,defence ,centre of ,excellence in ,estonia1 the ,,nato ,strategic ,communications ,centre of ,excellence in ,latvia1 and the ,,nato ,energy ,security ,centre of ,excellence in ,lithuania2 ,whereas the ,baltic ,states further their contributions to the security of the ,euro-,atlantic area by spending at least #b percent of ,gross ,domestic ,product 7,,gdp7 for defense1 and contribute to global security through determined participation in international allied operations and missions2 ,whereas1 since their restoration of independence in #aiij and #aiia1 ,estonia1 ,latvia1 and ,lithuania have faced considerable ,russian aggressive behavior1 intimidation1 and cyber attacks1 and as a result have worked to shape total defense strategies to counter ,russian intervention2 ,whereas the ,government of the ,russian ,federation has pursued an aggressive disinformation campaign in the ,baltic ,states1 including intimidation of ,western civilians and troops stationed in ,europe and abroad via hacking1 pushing propaganda1 and other cyber attacks1 and has increased air provocations in ,eastern ,europe2 ,whereas the presence of the ,united ,states in the ,baltic ,states remains a crucial factor for ensuring security in the region and complements the efforts of ,,nato to strengthen its deterrence and defense posture1 including an ,enhanced ,forward ,presence posture in the eastern part of the ,alliance with multinational battlegroups2 ,whereas1 in #bjai1 the ,united ,states and the ,baltic ,states signed the ,security ,cooperation ,roadmaps outlining joint security cooperation priorities for #bjai to #bjbd2 ,whereas the ,baltic ,states have been models for democratic governance with strong institutions and respect for civil liberties and the rule of law1 cherished shared values between the ,baltic ,states and the ,united ,states2 and ,whereas the democratic development and progress of ,estonia1 ,latvia1 and ,lithuania since those countries regained independence has established the ,baltic ,states as #c shining beacons for freedom3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 congratulates the ,baltic ,states of ,estonia1 ,latvia1 and ,lithuania on the #cjth anniversary of the restoration of their independence2 7#b7 commits continued support for the ,baltic allies of the ,united ,states through economic and security cooperation1 further strengthening transatlantic ties and regional presence2 7#c7 reaffirms the commitment of the ,united ,states to the ,north ,atlantic ,treaty ,organization and the enduring transatlantic alliance2 7#d7 recognizes the courage and resilience of the ,estonian1 ,latvian1 and ,lithuanian people in their fight for freedom and democracy in the face of ,russian aggressive behavior2 and 7#e7 expresses the wish that the next #cj years of friendship between the ,baltic ,states and the ,united ,states are just as full of positive achievements and progress as the last #cj years have been4