2026 Priorities of the Lithuanian American Community (LAC)
The Lithuanian American Community (LAC) is the oldest and largest association representing people of Lithuanian heritage in the U.S.A. LAC has 54 chapters all across the country, with a year-round schedule of educational, cultural, athletic, professional and economic development programs within the U.S. and internationally. LAC fosters the growth of democratic institutions in Lithuania, as well as a dynamic and successful diaspora here in the U.S.A. LAC serves as a strategic nexus working in conjunction with Congress, local elected officials, and other Baltic, European, and global organizations.
Lithuania was the first republic to declare independence from the Soviet Union. With U.S. support, Lithuania has built a durable democracy and become a staunch U.S. ally and strong trading partner. As a NATO member since 2004, Lithuania has sent troops to support U.S. military campaigns, including Iraq and Afghanistan. Lithuania now contributes 5.38% of its GDP to defense spending, which is a record and one of the highest in Europe.
LAC requests that U.S. leadership:
1) Ensure Security Assistance for the Baltic States.
- We strongly support permanent U.S./NATO bases in the Baltic countries in coordination with Enhanced Forward Presence (EFP) deployments underway in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
- We are grateful that Congress approved the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI), enhancing the Baltics’ defensive capabilities and deterring Russian aggression in the region. We request additional BSI funding, and funding for the European Deterrence Initiative (EDI) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) for the Baltic countries within the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Appropriations bills.
2) Support Sanctions Against Russia.
- We support seizing Russian assets as a penalty for Russia’s crimes against Ukraine.
- Sanctions on the federal and state-level are to be implemented at the fullest extent of the law, to cripple Russia’s economic ability to wage war, and target individuals involved in human rights abuses and corruption under Magnitsky laws.
- We ask Congress to investigate and to encourage corporate compliance with sanctions against Russia.
3) Support Ukrainian Freedom and Sovereignty.
- Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and ongoing aggression threaten European security and global stability.
- LAC strongly supports the U.S. Government providing any and all military equipment necessary for Ukraine to protect its independence, defeat Russia, and regain all occupied territory. We stand in unity with the Ukrainian people as they battle for freedom and sovereignty.
- We support every step to ensure that Ukraine not only wins the war but assures its future security, including NATO membership.
- We demand the immediate return of the 35,000 Ukrainian children that Russia has forcibly abducted and illegally deported during this war.
4) Support Energy Security for the Baltic States.
- Safeguarding the energy security of our European allies is a major priority, and we ask Congress to increase the export of U.S. energy supplies to Europe, especially Liquified Natural Gas (LNG).
5) Join the Baltic Caucuses. We thank those who have already joined!
- House Baltic Caucus Co-Chairs: Rep. Don Bacon and Rep. Salud Carbajal
- Senate Baltic Freedom Caucus Co-Chairs: Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Dick Durbin.
Corrected typo