A Baltic-American advocacy group is encouraging its supporters to push U.S. lawmakers to adopt a resolution recognizing Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania before Congress adjourns for the fall elections.

The resolution, sponsored by Republican Rep. John Shimkus of Illinois, would congratulate the Baltics on the 20th anniversary of their renewed independence and the end of Soviet occupation. But the resolution needs more co-sponsors and needs to be passed soon, says Karl Altau, managing director of the Washington, D.C.-based Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC).

“The U.S. Congress is scheduled to soon adjourn for coming fall elections, so calls to urge its passage are essential,” according to an e-mailed “action alert” JBANC sent to supporters on Sept. 17.

Congress is scheduled to adjourn on Oct. 8.

Shimkus, a member of the Baltic Caucus in the House of Representatives, introduced the resolution (H.Con.Res.267) on April 26. The proposal was referred the same day to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and has seen no action since.

In addition to congratulating the Baltic states, the resolution would call on the U.S. president “to continue to build the close and mutually beneficial relations the United States has enjoyed with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania since the restoration of the full independence of those nations.”

Some observers have expressed concern that U.S. interest in the Baltics, as well as the rest of Eastern and Central Europe, has cooled in recent years especially as American diplomats have looked at a “reset” of relations with Russia.

Twelve other House members have signed on as co-sponsors of the proposed resolution: Rep. Shelley Berkley of Nevada, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly of Virginia, Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida, Rep. Alcee Hastings of Florida, Rep. Tim Holden of Pennsylvania, Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, Rep. Daniel Lipinski of Illinois, Rep. Thaddeus G. McCotter of Michigan, Rep. Erik Paulsen of Minnesota, Rep. Aaron Schock of Illinois, Rep. John S. Tanner of Tennessee, and Rep. C.W. Bill Young of Florida.

JBANC provides details for contacting legislators on its website, jbanc.org.

A nonprofit organization with roots in the European exile community wants Latvia’s ombudsman Romāns Apsītis to rule that a recent political newsletter discriminates against sexual minorities.

ELJA50, an organization founded in 2005 as a continuation of the European Latvian Youth Association, filed the complaint Sept. 13 over a campaign newsletter distributed in Rīga by the conservative political coalition Par Labu Latviju! (PLL).

PLL is one of 13 parties that have fielded candidates in the Oct. 2 parliamentary election. It is a coalition of the First Party of Latvia (Latvijas Pirmā partija) and the People’s Party (Tautas partija).

ELJA50’s complaint is focused on PLL’s August newsletter. The 16-page publication includes three references to gays and transsexuals that portray them as inferior, ELJA50 claims.

Two of the references link sexual minorities with the political coalition Vienotība (Unity), another of the parties competing in the election. On the cover of the newsletter, a headline under a photograph of Vienotība candidate Artis Pabriks states that gays will be voting for Vienotība. On the fifth page, a box with text and photographs of four Vienotība candidates is highlighted with the headline “Geji un transseksuāļi balsos par Vienotību” (Gays and transsexuals to vote for Vienotība). The text notes that the Rīga-based Mozaika alliance of sexual minorities is supporting Vienotība in the parliamentary election.

The last page of the newsletter includes a cartoon of two men holding hands while looking at a poster of PLL leader Ainārs Šlesers. One of the men points to the poster, expresses disgust at Šlesers and says that the politician will not be invited to their wedding.

The newsletter’s comments about sexual minorities violate Latvia’s advertising law and the country’s constitution, as well as several international agreements that forbid discrimination, according to ELJA50’s complaint. ELJA50 suggests PLL’s actions might also be a violation of Latvia’s criminal law against discrimination.

The ombudsman’s office is a state institution. Like similar offices in other countries, Latvia’s ombudsman exists to safeguard the rights of individuals.

The ombuds office has 30 days in which to either accept or decline to further review ELJA50’s complaint.

Under Latvia’s ombuds law, the ombudsman may pursue legal action in cases where discrimination is determined.

A spokesperson for PLL did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In an effort to reduce doubts about how ballots are counted and whether voting results can be trusted, the Central Election Commission in Rīga is looking for volunteer monitors for Latvia’s parliamentary election set Oct. 2.

Any resident of Latvia—as well as interested persons abroad—can observe the election process, commission spokeswoman Kristīne Bērziņa told Latvians Online.

Sign-up for potential monitors runs from Sept. 13-30 and will be available through the election commission’s website, www.cvk.lv.

To become a monitor, individuals will need to choose which polling station they wish to observe and will have to take an online course about rules governing the election for the 10th Saeima. Upon successful completion of the course, they will receive credentials via e-mail, which together with identification they must present on election day to the chairperson of the local election commission.

For the Oct. 2 election, a total of 64 polling stations will operate outside of Latvia. All polling stations will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time.

Volunteer monitors will be asked to observe the voting process and the counting of ballots. Monitors will watch to ensure that the process is done in accordance with Latvia’s constitution and election commission rules, and that no political agitation occurs at the polls. Monitors will have special forms that can be used to record their observations.

During the last parliamentary election four years ago, few problems were reported, according to a Central Election Commission report. At two polling stations in Latvia, the Interior Ministry investigated allegations of forged election documents.

Anyone who is at least 16 years old may become an election monitor, according to a press release from the election commission.

Further information about becoming an election monitor is available from the project coordinator, Anna Riekstiņa, noverotaji@cvk.lv.