Speaker. we passed House Resolution 263 which proclaimed June 14 as Baltic Freedom Day. On this anniversary we recognized that for 45 years the United States has refused to recognize the Soviet takover of Estonia. Latvia. and Lithuania. we remember that 44 years ago the Soviet began deporting several thousand people from their beloved Baltic homeland. and we honor the Baltic people for their struggle to survive and retain their culture under brutal Soviet domination. Fortyfour years ago the Soviet Union invaded Estonia. Latvia. and Lithuania to impose a puppet Communist government. The Soviets held rigged elections where only Soviet officials were elected to Baltic State governments. These two acts violated the Tartar Treaty signed by Soviet Union and Estonia in 1920. and similar treaties with Lithuania and Latvia which recognized the independence of these countries. Following the Soviet takeover of the Baltic governments. the Soviets began deporting several thousand natives of the Baltics on June 14. 1941. During these mass deportations. Soviet officials arrested 60.000 Estonians. 45.000 Lithuanians. and 30.000 Latvians from all walks of life. After World War II. the Soviets returned in 1944. forcing 63.000 Estonians. 115.000 Latvians. and 20.000 Lithuanians to flee their homelands to escape Soviet domination. Historians estimate that between 1941 and 1949. the Soviets deported approximately 500.000 people. On June 14. the United States honors these people who endured extreme hardship imposed by the Soviet Union. They continue to fight for their freedom and certain inalienable rights.
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