Speaker. It is with a deep sense of concern and personal outrage that I join my colleagues today in strong protest of the Soviet Governments recently announced policy demanding a ransom from each Jewish person with a higher education wishing to leave the country for Israel. This ransom. ranging from $5.000 to $37.000 depending on level of education attained. will. if approved by the Supreme Soviet. be in addition to the now "usual" fee of $1.000 for emigration permitsnot to mention the loss of jobs. forced enlistment in the Army. and even imprisonment of Jews wishing to emigrate. which have become common practices of harrassment in recent months. Mr. Speaker. I strongly feel that the persecution of Russian Jewry by the Soviet Governmentculminating in their restrictive emigration policy with outrageous ransom demandscannot * help but have an adverse effect on important policy decisions facing the U.S. Congress visavis the Soviet Union. While all of us desire improved relations with our Soviet neighbors. we in the Congress. as representatives of the American people. will hardly give our favorable consideration to such proposals as the granting of most favored nation status.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration