Mr. Chairman. first I would like to compliment the distinguished gentleman from New York. our able colleague for his persevering and determined role in developing this issue into legislative action. I am privileged to have been the original cosponsor. with the gentleman. of this provision to provide this economic assistance to Israel in order to assist the resettlement of Soviet Jewish refugees. I might add. Mr. Chairman. that 61 of our colleagues have joined in the sponsorship of this provision in the bill before us today. I also had the privilege of being with the gentleman from New York on an onthescene. factfinding study of the Soviet Jewish refugee situation and had the rare opportunity of having met at least 200 of these refugees personallyrefugees representing every walk of Soviet life. doctors. lawyers. teachers. shoemakers. tailors and so forth. We learned firsthand of their experiences. of their trials and tribulations in the Soviet Union. their way of life and their oppressions merely because they were Jewshow they had been downgraded in their work and in their community life. how so many had been fired outright and penalized in one form or another merely because they were Jews and because they were determined to adhere to their heritage and traditions. The gentleman from New York presented so ably a case for this provision that it would be redundant for me to go into further detail. But I do want to emphasize that this legislation is in keeping with our countrys humanitarian policy. It is in keeping with our refugee assistance policy. It is in keeping with our aims to make a breakthrough in oppression behind the Iron Curtain. It certainly is consistent with our support of Israel.
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refugee refugees