Mr. Speaker. for many months. the distinguished Members of both this body and the Congress other Chamber have spoken most eloquently of problems confronting Soviet Jews. particularly those seeking emigration to a new homelandIsrael. For many months. we have heard testimony and reports concerning Soviet persecutions and arrests of Jewish citizens. and the need for American diplomatic action to help make a new Exodus for them reality. Finally. we see in newspaper accounts that Soviet restrictions on emigration to Israel have. to a degree. been eased. This does not. however. assure these people a bright new day. Israel is a nation already bearing the strains of heavy burdens. For survival. its budget must be developed tilting precariously in favor of defense expenditures. Surely. a sudden influx of immigrants would cause Israels military or domestic problemsor bothto suffer. Clearly. our time for talk of Israel immigrant aid should now be superseded by action. Therefore. I am today introducing legislation which would provide $85 million in Federal funds to the State of Israel. for use in assisting resettlement of Soviet Jews.
Keywords matched
immigrant emigration immigrants