Speaker. I can only rise in strongest protest over recent developments in the Soviet Unions continued harassment of Soviet Jews. It is incumbent upon this Congress. the administration and the American public to convey their sense of outrage to the Soviet Union at what can only be described as holding to ransom each Jewish person with a higher education desiring to emigrate to Israel. At a time when we are being asked to effect trade relations with the Soviet Union in the form of most favored nations status. it is time to convey our feelings over this latest restrictive policy loudly and clearly. On September 19. the Supreme Soviet will meet to ratify this "head tax" on Soviet Jews. It is vital. therefore. that we join in a unanimous denunciation of this policy before that time. that we go on record as notifying the Soviet Union that their repression of Soviet Jews will indeed have an effect on any consideration of trade relations and change in foreign policy. We cannot afford to sit idly by while human beingb are being put up for sale. and all accounts verify this is what is happening. The Soviets own constitution states in article 21 that each citizen shall have the right to a free education in all of the schools. The Soviets latest position is clearly contradictory to remarks made in the influential journal of the Young Communist League which just 1 year ago stated that the official position of the Soviet Union was that the repayment of expenses involved in education was being satisfied in full in the form of 3 years required service in some branch of the Government. If one examines the actual sums that are demanded by the Soviet Union by Jews who wish to emigrate. it is beyond a doubt that they are far beyond their capabilities. The "head tax" ranges from $5.000 to $37.000 depending upon the level of education completed. It is self evident that no one earns a salary anywhere near that sum. no matter how highly professional. As a matter of fact it would take from 5 to 8 years of saving all of ones earnings in order to be able to make the staggering payment.
Keywords matched
emigrate head tax