Don Bacon
11/06/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/07/2025 16:05
Bacon Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Urging Armed Services Conferees to Include Provisions to Support Baltic Allies in Final NDAA
Bacon Joins Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Urging Armed Services Conferees to Include Provisions to Support Baltic Allies in Final NDAA
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, led 28 members of Congress in sending a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the four Senate and House leaders of the Armed Services Committees urging them to preserve provisions that support Baltic allies in the final Fiscal Year (FY26) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The four leaders of the Armed Services Committees are currently engaged in conference negotiations to finalize the text of legislation.
"As you continue conference negotiations for the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, we strongly urge you to retain provisions in the final text that are critical to maintaining the security, cooperation, and deterrence capabilities of our Baltic allies," the lawmakers wrote.
"In recent years, Congress has reaffirmed through the annual National Defense Authorization Act and Defense Appropriations Act that the United States should strengthen security cooperation with interoperability among Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The Baltic states are among America's most capable allies, firmly committed to investing in their own defense and meeting NATO spending commitments. U.S. security assistance to the Baltics bolsters regional and European stability while protecting U.S. and allied security interests. Any proposed cuts to U.S. security assistance will undermine deterrence efforts and embolden adversaries," the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers continued their letter, advocating for the inclusion of robust funding for BSI.
"The initiative provides targeted security assistance to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, three vital NATO allies facing direct Russian aggression. This funding has helped enhance key defense capabilities in the Baltics, including long-range precision fire systems, integrated air and missile defense, maritime awareness, and improved cyber defenses and resilience to hybrid threats. Authorizing this program-without creating any new authorities or bureaucracies-is critical to ensuring its continuation amid concerns that the Pentagon may terminate certain security assistance programs, including for the Baltics," the lawmakers wrote.
The members also called for the inclusion of a provision that would streamline defense cooperation between the U.S. and the Baltics as Russia has continued to enter Baltic airspace.
"Russia continues to test NATO through provocative incursions into Baltic airspace and views the region as a single operational area, as reflected in NATO's regional defense plans. Improving the effectiveness of HIMARS [High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems] deployments and enhancing collective defense capabilities will further strengthen deterrence and complicate Russia's strategic planning," the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers concluded their letter by underscoring the history of Congress' bipartisan support for the Baltic region, which is even more critical amid Russia's war on Ukraine.
"These provisions reflect Congress' bipartisan commitment to regional stability and the collective defense of NATO in the face of escalating Russian aggression," the lawmakers concluded their letter.
Receiving a copy of today's letter were U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL-03), Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services; and U.S. Representative Adam Smith (D-WA-09), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Armed Services. U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services; U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services.
Joining Bacon in sending today's letter were U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Angus King (I-ME), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Peter Welch (D-VT), as well as U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Wesley Bell (D-MO-01), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03), Bill Keating (D-MA-09), Michael Turner (R-OH-10), Marc Veasey (D-TX-33), Dina Titus (D-NV-03), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Timothy Kennedy (D-NY-26), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Brendan Boyle (D-PA-02), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Ted Lieu (D-CA-33), Gil Cisneros (D-CA-36), Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), and James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11).
A copy of the letter is available below:
November 6, 2025
Dear Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, Chairman Rogers, and Ranking Member Smith,
As you continue conference negotiations for the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, we strongly urge you to retain provisions in the final text that are critical to maintaining the security, cooperation, and deterrence capabilities of our Baltic allies.
In recent years, Congress has reaffirmed through the annual National Defense Authorization Act and Defense Appropriations Act that the United States should strengthen security cooperation with interoperability among Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The Baltic states are among America's most capable allies, firmly committed to investing in their own defense and meeting NATO spending commitments. U.S. security assistance to the Baltics bolsters regional and European stability while protecting U.S. and allied security interests. Any proposed cuts to U.S. security assistance will undermine deterrence efforts and embolden adversaries.
Baltic Security Initiative. Section 1230C of S. 2296 and Section 1306 of H.R. 3838 would authorize the Baltic Security Initiative, an effort created by Congress in 2021 with bipartisan support. The initiative provides targeted security assistance to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, three vital NATO allies facing direct Russian aggression. This funding has helped enhance key defense capabilities in the Baltics, including long-range precision fire systems, integrated air and missile defense, maritime awareness, and improved cyber defenses and resilience to hybrid threats. Authorizing this program-without creating any new authorities or bureaucracies-is critical to ensuring its continuation amid concerns that the Pentagon may terminate certain security assistance programs, including for the Baltics.
Transfers of HIMARS between Baltic states. Section 1230B of S. 2296 allows the Baltic states to share High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and related ammunition for training and operational needs without requiring additional U.S. approval, streamlining defense cooperation and enhancing the collective defense capabilities in the region. All three Baltic states are procuring HIMARS, and consistent with U.S. recommendations, pursuing joint maintenance of their systems to allow the fleet to operate freely within the Baltics. Russia continues to test NATO through provocative incursions into Baltic airspace and views the region as a single operational area, as reflected in NATO's regional defense plans. Improving the effectiveness of HIMARS deployments and enhancing collective defense capabilities will further strengthen deterrence and complicate Russia's strategic planning.
These provisions reflect Congress' bipartisan commitment to regional stability and the collective defense of NATO in the face of escalating Russian aggression. Thank you for your attention to our request.
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02) a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense and Co-Chair of the Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus, led 28 members of Congress in sending a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the four Senate and House leaders of the Armed Services Committees urging them to preserve provisions that support Baltic allies in the final Fiscal Year (FY26) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The four leaders of the Armed Services Committees are currently engaged in conference negotiations to finalize the text of legislation.
"As you continue conference negotiations for the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, we strongly urge you to retain provisions in the final text that are critical to maintaining the security, cooperation, and deterrence capabilities of our Baltic allies," the lawmakers wrote.
"In recent years, Congress has reaffirmed through the annual National Defense Authorization Act and Defense Appropriations Act that the United States should strengthen security cooperation with interoperability among Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The Baltic states are among America's most capable allies, firmly committed to investing in their own defense and meeting NATO spending commitments. U.S. security assistance to the Baltics bolsters regional and European stability while protecting U.S. and allied security interests. Any proposed cuts to U.S. security assistance will undermine deterrence efforts and embolden adversaries," the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers continued their letter, advocating for the inclusion of robust funding for BSI.
"The initiative provides targeted security assistance to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, three vital NATO allies facing direct Russian aggression. This funding has helped enhance key defense capabilities in the Baltics, including long-range precision fire systems, integrated air and missile defense, maritime awareness, and improved cyber defenses and resilience to hybrid threats. Authorizing this program-without creating any new authorities or bureaucracies-is critical to ensuring its continuation amid concerns that the Pentagon may terminate certain security assistance programs, including for the Baltics," the lawmakers wrote.
The members also called for the inclusion of a provision that would streamline defense cooperation between the U.S. and the Baltics as Russia has continued to enter Baltic airspace.
"Russia continues to test NATO through provocative incursions into Baltic airspace and views the region as a single operational area, as reflected in NATO's regional defense plans. Improving the effectiveness of HIMARS [High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems] deployments and enhancing collective defense capabilities will further strengthen deterrence and complicate Russia's strategic planning," the lawmakers wrote.
The lawmakers concluded their letter by underscoring the history of Congress' bipartisan support for the Baltic region, which is even more critical amid Russia's war on Ukraine.
"These provisions reflect Congress' bipartisan commitment to regional stability and the collective defense of NATO in the face of escalating Russian aggression," the lawmakers concluded their letter.
Receiving a copy of today's letter were U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL-03), Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Services; and U.S. Representative Adam Smith (D-WA-09), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Armed Services. U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services; U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services.
Joining Bacon in sending today's letter were U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Angus King (I-ME), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Peter Welch (D-VT), as well as U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24), Wesley Bell (D-MO-01), Derrick Van Orden (R-WI-03), Bill Keating (D-MA-09), Michael Turner (R-OH-10), Marc Veasey (D-TX-33), Dina Titus (D-NV-03), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), Timothy Kennedy (D-NY-26), Dan Goldman (D-NY-10), Brendan Boyle (D-PA-02), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL-13), Ted Lieu (D-CA-33), Gil Cisneros (D-CA-36), Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), and James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11).
A copy of the letter is available below:
November 6, 2025
Dear Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Reed, Chairman Rogers, and Ranking Member Smith,
As you continue conference negotiations for the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, we strongly urge you to retain provisions in the final text that are critical to maintaining the security, cooperation, and deterrence capabilities of our Baltic allies.
In recent years, Congress has reaffirmed through the annual National Defense Authorization Act and Defense Appropriations Act that the United States should strengthen security cooperation with interoperability among Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The Baltic states are among America's most capable allies, firmly committed to investing in their own defense and meeting NATO spending commitments. U.S. security assistance to the Baltics bolsters regional and European stability while protecting U.S. and allied security interests. Any proposed cuts to U.S. security assistance will undermine deterrence efforts and embolden adversaries.
Baltic Security Initiative. Section 1230C of S. 2296 and Section 1306 of H.R. 3838 would authorize the Baltic Security Initiative, an effort created by Congress in 2021 with bipartisan support. The initiative provides targeted security assistance to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, three vital NATO allies facing direct Russian aggression. This funding has helped enhance key defense capabilities in the Baltics, including long-range precision fire systems, integrated air and missile defense, maritime awareness, and improved cyber defenses and resilience to hybrid threats. Authorizing this program-without creating any new authorities or bureaucracies-is critical to ensuring its continuation amid concerns that the Pentagon may terminate certain security assistance programs, including for the Baltics.
Transfers of HIMARS between Baltic states. Section 1230B of S. 2296 allows the Baltic states to share High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and related ammunition for training and operational needs without requiring additional U.S. approval, streamlining defense cooperation and enhancing the collective defense capabilities in the region. All three Baltic states are procuring HIMARS, and consistent with U.S. recommendations, pursuing joint maintenance of their systems to allow the fleet to operate freely within the Baltics. Russia continues to test NATO through provocative incursions into Baltic airspace and views the region as a single operational area, as reflected in NATO's regional defense plans. Improving the effectiveness of HIMARS deployments and enhancing collective defense capabilities will further strengthen deterrence and complicate Russia's strategic planning.
These provisions reflect Congress' bipartisan commitment to regional stability and the collective defense of NATO in the face of escalating Russian aggression. Thank you for your attention to our request.
Don Bacon published this content on November 06, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on November 07, 2025 at 22:06 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]