Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska’s 2nd District has joined a bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers urging the leaders of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees to keep provisions supporting Baltic allies in the final version of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The letter, sent to committee leaders currently negotiating the legislation, emphasizes maintaining security cooperation with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
“As you continue conference negotiations for the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, we strongly urge you to retain provisions in the final text that are critical to maintaining the security, cooperation, and deterrence capabilities of our Baltic allies,” wrote Bacon and his colleagues.
The letter points out Congress’s recent reaffirmations through defense legislation that support for Baltic allies should be strengthened. “In recent years, Congress has reaffirmed through the annual National Defense Authorization Act and Defense Appropriations Act that the United States should strengthen security cooperation with interoperability among Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The Baltic states are among America’s most capable allies, firmly committed to investing in their own defense and meeting NATO spending commitments. U.S. security assistance to the Baltics bolsters regional and European stability while protecting U.S. and allied security interests. Any proposed cuts to U.S. security assistance will undermine deterrence efforts and embolden adversaries,” according to the letter.
The lawmakers also advocated for continued funding for the Baltic Security Initiative (BSI), which provides targeted support to these NATO allies amid ongoing Russian aggression. “The initiative provides targeted security assistance to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, three vital NATO allies facing direct Russian aggression. This funding has helped enhance key defense capabilities in the Baltics, including long-range precision fire systems, integrated air and missile defense, maritime awareness, and improved cyber defenses and resilience to hybrid threats. Authorizing this program—without creating any new authorities or bureaucracies—is critical to ensuring its continuation amid concerns that the Pentagon may terminate certain security assistance programs, including for the Baltics,” they wrote.
Another provision discussed would allow easier transfer of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) between Baltic states without further U.S. approval. “Russia continues to test NATO through provocative incursions into Baltic airspace and views the region as a single operational area, as reflected in NATO’s regional defense plans. Improving the effectiveness of HIMARS [High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems] deployments and enhancing collective defense capabilities will further strengthen deterrence and complicate Russia’s strategic planning,” said Bacon along with other members.
The letter concludes by highlighting bipartisan Congressional support for stability in Eastern Europe as Russia’s war on Ukraine continues: “These provisions reflect Congress’ bipartisan commitment to regional stability and the collective defense of NATO in the face of escalating Russian aggression.”
Those who received a copy include Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL-03), Chairman of House Armed Services; Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA-09), Ranking Member; Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Senate Armed Services Chairman; Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member.
Bacon was joined by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Angus King (I-ME), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT); Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) among others.
Don Bacon has served Nebraska’s 2nd District since 2017 after succeeding Brad Ashford (source). He was born in Momence, Illinois in 1963 and lives in Papillion. Bacon is an alumnus of Northern Illinois University with a BA earned in 1984 as well as holding a degree from University of Phoenix.
