John Shimkus: “I thank Chairman Lantos and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen for your time and the speedy movement of this resolution, and…”

“I thank Chairman Lantos and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen for your time and the speedy movement of this resolution, and it's timely with the President's trip to Europe. A few things of note. I continue to follow, as the chairman knows, the occurrences in the former captive nations, the European Union countries, and mostly the Baltic countries, and it seems like we can never get to forgiveness. It seems like countries always go back to another point in time to address their grievances. I've been on the floor numerous times to talk about Molotov-Ribbentrop, and we've debated that and we've voted on that resolution. We forget about Roosevelt's land lease deal that was very helpful to the Soviet Union at that time, and as the chairman's correct, we also forget about the sacrifices made by the Soviet Union in winning World War II, especially on the Eastern front. So his concerns are well-founded and very much appreciated by this Member. There was great hope after the fall of the Wall, as I served on the German border during the Cold War era, that this would bring a new time for Europe, a time of prosperity and peace, the rule of law, democratic institutions. And that's why we continue to be frustrated by the current involvement, because when there is peace and stability and the rule of law, the people prosper, people on both sides of the boundary lines.”