Speaker. it is right that our colleague has taken this time to remind the House of this important event--Captive Nations Week. The recent NixonBrezhnev summit meeting was marked by a renewed effort on the part of the Soviets to press their demand to be accorded "mostfavorednation" treatment by the United States. As one of 285 Members of the House who have cosponsored the Freedom of Emigration Act of 1973. I have endorsed the concept that mostfavorednation treatment. and all other favorable trade concessions. should be denied to the Soviet Union as long as it continues to impose restrictions upon the right of its citizens to emigrate. My concern extends to all Soviet citizens who may desire to exercise the fundamental right to "vote with their feet." Tens of thousands of Soviet Jews who have applied for exit visas have suffered the loss of their jobs and the imposition of prohibitive "education taxes." Their applications have been denied more often than not. either for reasons of national security or for no reason at all. There are also many German and Ukrainian Soviet citizens who seek to join relatives in West Germany and Canada. respectively. as well as untold others who would quickly leave the Soviet Union if they were permitted to do so. In addition to freedom of emigration. I believe there are several other problems which must be addressed if we are to develop a constructive and realistic approach to EastWest trade. For example. as I understand it. the concept of mostfavorednation treatment. by its very nature. requires that there be convertibility of currencies. a condition which does not exist at the present time with respect to the Soviet Union.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration visas Emigration