Speech #920064289

I wish to inform the Members of the House that I have recently received a petition supporting passage of H.R. 5606. the Soviet Jews Relief Act of 1971. This petition has bcen signed by some 560 individuals from the New York area. As a cosponsor and fervent advocate of this legslation. which would make 30.000 U.S. visas available to Soviet Jews who might be permitted to leave the Soviet Union and wic.h to come to this country. I am pleased to acknowledge this indcation of considerable public interest and to draw it to the attention of my colleagues in the House. Although Soviet leaders may prevent Jewish citizens of the Soviet Union from making use of these visas. passage of this legislation would challenge the Soviet Union to part the Iron Curtain and to abide by international standards of freedom of movement for all people. The text of the petition follows: PETITION We. the undersigned. vigorously register our support for passage of the Soviet Jews Relief Act of 1971. HR 5606. as amended. authorizing the issuance of 30.000 special refugee visas for the admission of Soviet Jews to the United States. This nation has always been and should always remain a haven for the oppressed of other lands. The adoption of this bill will prove to the Soviet leaders and Jews behind their guarded borders. that Americans of all faiths. acting through their elected Congress deplore Soviet treatment of the Jewish minority and open wide the doors of this land to those who wish the right of political and religious freedom.