Speech #920263633

Mr. Chairman. the Banking and Currency Committee considered an amendment I introduced to the export control title of the bill which would declare it to be the policy of the United States to use export controls to oppose the denial by any country of the rights of its Jewish and other citizens to free emigration and the free exercise of religion." While the amendment was aimed at preventing the persecution of Soviet Jews. it appears that the feeling of the committee was that the amendments latitude was broader than this specific case and could complicate and adversely affect our trading relations with many other nations. Although the committee was sympathetic to the plight of the Soviet Jews. it felt that the amendment in question might not be the best approach to the resolution of the problem at this time. While I still support the spirit of the Rees amendment I would like to point out that in recent action Congress has expressed its concern over the situation in the Soviet Union in regard to its Jewish minority. On April 17. 1972. the House passed by a vote of 360 to 2. House Concurrent Resoltuion 471. declaring it to be the sense of Congress "that the President of the United States of America shall take immediate and determined steps to: First. call upon the Soviet Government to permit the free expression of ideas and exercise of religion by all its citizens in accordance with the Soviet Constitution. and second. utilize formal and informal contacts with Soviet officials in an effort to secure an end todiscrimination against religious minorities. and third. request of the Soviet Government that it permit its citizens the right to emigrate from the Soviet Union to the countries of their choice as affirmed by the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. and fourth. raise in the General Assembly of the United Nations the issue of the Soviet Unions transgression of the Declaration of Human Rights. particularly against Soviet Jews and other minorities." In the Export Administration Act. section 3(2) (B). it is declared that the "policy of the United States is to use export controls to the extent necessary to further significantly the foreign policy of the Unlted States and to fulfill its international responsibilities." House Concurrent Resolution 471 is a clear congressional declaration of purpose and. in light of the policy declaration In the Export Administration Act that export controls be used to further U.S. foreign policy. I urge that the administration. in enforcing the Export Administration Act. will heed the strong congressional declaration in regard to discrimination against Soviet Jews. It is my hope that the U.S. trade negotiators now dealing with the Soviet Union will keep in mind our Governments expressed concern for Soviet Jews.