To direct the Secretary of Labor to revise regulations concerning the recording and reporting of occupational injuries and illnesses under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 30th Anniversary of the founding of the Baltic American Freedom League, an important national Baltic American organization. The Baltic American Freedom League (BAFL) was founded in February 1981 by Baltic American political activists in southern California to raise American consciousness about Baltic issues and to carry out specific and concrete goals and projects toward helping achieve freedom for the Soviet occupied Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

In 1982, BAFL initiated a Congressional resolution asking President W. Reagan to designate June 14, 1982 as Baltic Freedom Day--reiterating U.S. non-recognition of the forcible and illegal incorporation of the Baltic Republics into the U.S.S.R. This Proclamation continued each year until the Baltic countries regained their independence in 1991.

Due to the combined efforts of BAFL, other Baltic organizations, and the Senate and House Baltic Caucuses, the Senate passed SCR 35 on May 19, 2005, and the House of Representatives unanimously adopted H.R. 128 on July 22, 2005; historic resolutions stating that ``. . . it is the sense of Congress that the Government of the Russian Federation should issue a clear and unambiguous statement of admission and condemnation of the illegal occupation and annexation by the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1991 of the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the consequences of which will be significant increase in good will among the affected people''.

In February 1997, at the request of BAFL, a Baltic Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives was organized by me and my colleague, Congressman Kucinich of Ohio. The Caucus currently has 55 House Members and has played and continues to play an important role in supporting Baltic issues.

Since November 17, 2008, the citizens of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have been able to travel to the U.S. without obtaining visas, thanks to BAFL and other Baltic organizations, and all those in Congress whose dedication and persistent work overcame strong opposition, and persuaded the U.S. to expand its Visa Waiver Program to include the Baltic countries.

I want to congratulate the Baltic American Freedom League and all its members, past and present, on this 30th anniversary celebration, and to join with other Members of this House in wishing them continued success for another 30 years and beyond.