Mr. Speaker. I am today introducing a bill known as the Soviet Jewish Refugee Assistance Act of 1972. Since April 1967 the House has been on record urging the Soviet Union to permit the migration of Soviet Jews to Israel. The Soviet Union has responded to this request by lifting its iron curtain and allowing some 40.000 to 60.000 Soviet Jews to migrate to Israel. As history has demonstrated freedom always has a price. In this instance these refugees represent an economic burden to the State of Israel. In order to relieve this burden and show the sincerity of our efforts I am introducing a bill which au-. thorizes the Secretary of State to provide the State of Israel with $85 million for the relief of these refugees. This money will be spent on food. clothes. education. and training for these most recent members of the free world. I urge the House Foreign Affairs Committee to act promptly on this measure as it assists a proud people who man our first lines of defense in the Middle East.
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Refugee refugees