Latvia and other new European Union countries with troops in Iraq or Afghanistan should all be included in the U.S. visa waiver program, the American Latvian Association says in an “action alert” urging its members to contact U.S. senators before they take a crucial vote on immigration reform.

An amendment to the proposed immigration reform bill would allow citizens of Poland to enter the United States without a visa for up to 90 days, but would shut out other new EU nations from the waiver program, Valdis V. Pavlovskis, director of the ALA’s Public Affairs Bureau, said in an e-mail circulated May 23.

Sen. Rick Santorum, a Republican from Pennsylvania, on May 16 introduced the amendment to S. 2611, the proposed Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act. Under the amendment (S.A. 4000) members of the European Union that provide at least a battalion’s worth of military support to Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom would qualify for the visa waiver program. The amendment describes a battalion as 300 to 1,000 troops.

Under the amendment, according to the ALA, only Poland would qualify for the visa waiver program. The visa waiver would be probationary for two years. Latvia, which according to the Ministry of Defense has about 120 troops stationed in Iraq and 29 in Afghanistan, would not qualify.

“This blatantly disparages the commitment and sacrifice of the Baltic countries to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan,” Pavlovskis said in the e-mail.

The Senate agreed to the amendment on May 17.

Latvia since 2004 has been negotiating to allow its citizens to enter the United States without a visa. Latvian citizens seeking to travel to the United States must pay a nonrefundable fee of USD 100 as part of the visa application process. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pleaded with Latvian citizens who do travel to the United States to observe their visa restrictions. To not do so could hobble efforts toward approval of visa-free travel.

Meanwhile, U.S. citizens are able to enter Latvia with only their passports.

The House of Representatives passed its version of bill, known as the Border Protection, Antiterrorism and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005, in December. That legislation includes no expansion of the visa waiver program.

The Senate is likely to vote on the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act before its recess on May 27, according to media reports. If passed, the legislation would move to a conference committee and then to President George W. Bush for his signature.

Teo Leyasmeyer, a Boston-area blues keyboardist and music promoter who was born in Germany of Latvian parents, died May 16. He was 59.

Leyasmeyer was known for a decade of work in bringing many nationally known blues artists to the House of Blues in Cambridge, Mass. In 2003, he was fired as the club underwent a change in its programming, according to media reports.

In 1997, the Memphis, Tenn.-based Blues Foundation named him Promoter of the Year.

Leyasmeyer also was known for his keyboard playing and performed with several different artists through the years, including John Lee Hooker and Chuck Berry, according to the Boston Phoenix.

In 2004, he backed Leslie “Lazy Lester” Johnson when the singer and harmonica player appeared in the Bites Blues Club in Rīga, Latvia.

Leyasmeyer appeared as one of two keyboardists on Lazy Lester’s 1991 release, Harp & Soul.

A funeral service for Leyasmeyer is scheduled at 2 p.m. May 27 in the Hancock United Church of Christ, 1912 Massachusettes Ave., Lexington, Mass., according to the Boston Phoenix. Donations and cards may be sent to the Teo Leyasmeyer Family Fund, c/o Hege Leyasmeyer, 11 Hamblen St., Lexington, MA 02421.

Finland is saying hallelujah to the Eurovision Song Contest after Lordi, its hard rock-playing entry, won the May 20 competition against 23 other countries.

“Hard Rock Hallelujah,” performed by band members dressed in monster costumes, earned a total 292 points from telephone voting across Europe, Turkey and Israel.

Latvia’s entry, the song “I Hear Your Heart” performed by the a capella group Cosmos, finished 16th overall with 30 points. Russia came in second with 248 points and Bosnia & Herzegovina was third with 229 points.

The 51st Eurovision Song Contest took place in Athens, Greece, thanks to Helena Paparizou’s victory in last year’s competition.

Last year, Latvia’s Valters un Kaža (Valters Frīdenbergs and Kārlis Būmeisters) took fifth place. Latvia’s Marija Naumova won the contest in 2002, which led to Rīga hosting the competition in 2003.