Speech #930039331

Mr. Speaker. there are now efforts underway to undermine the JacksonVanik bill which would prohibit mostfavorednation treatment to any country which denies its citizens the right to emigrate or which imposes more than nominal exit fees on emigrating citizens. These efforts should be repulsed. Those of us who have announced support for JacksonVanik should stand fast. While many believe that JacksonVanik is a bill solely to aid Jewish emigration from the U.S.S.R.. the truth is that it would help many other groups similarly affected and afflicted by Soviet discrimination. In todays Washington Post there is a report that the U.S.S.R. has imprisoned four Evangelical Baptists "in the latest of a series of moves against small religious groups in the Soviet Union." That same news item goes on to report the persecution of Jehovahs Witnesses in Lithuania. Latvia. and northwestern Russia as well as Buddhists sects in Leningrad and Vilnius. Similarly. yesterdays New York Times described the continued harassment to which Jewish activists who wish to emigrate are subjected. The JacksonVanik bill is ecumenical in scope. however. and does not simply relate to the ransom tax for Jews but specifically calls for open emigration policies by a country desiring mostfavorednation status from our country. There have been attempts by the leaders of the U.S.S.R. to deceive those of us who support JacksonVanik by reporting that the ransom tax. while on the books. has. in fact. been rescinded. Even if no tax is applied. the situation effectively remains the same because the Soviet Union continues to bar emigration through other means. Many have been refused exit visas without any reason at all. In some instances. Soviet officials raised the issue of national security. but clearly many have been rejected who have never participated in any kind of activity that the U.S.S.R. could by any definition describe as secret. It is not easy to be religious in the Soviet Union no matter what ones religion. but the state has made some accommodation for some major religious groups. Attention has been paid by world opinion to the persecution directed against the Jews because they are the 12th largest minority in the Soviet Union. approximately 3 million in number. and the actions taken against that group have been widespread and especially brutal. While we cannot compel the Soviet Union to do justice to its own citizens. and to comply with the United Nations agreement to which it is a party. which guarantees the right to emigrate. we can refuse to accept these policies by acceding to its request for trade agreements. We must stand firm in our support of the JacksonVanik bill. May I add at this time that our distinguished colleague in the Senate in particular. should be commended for his unstinting efforts and steadfastness in this issue.