Speech #930113263

Andrei Sakharov. in his open letter to us. has courageously and eloquently urged that the Congress agree to my amendment to the trade bill and to its companion measure. the MillsVanik provision in the House. It is ironic that Sakharovs forceful argument should come to us at a moment when the trade bill is before the House Committee on Ways and Means and when there is a move underwaywhich I am certain will not succeedto kill the MillsVanik measure by a hastily drafted administrationbacked CormanPettis alternative that would disappoint the hopes of thousands of people to whom we are trying to help bring just a little bit of freedom. I am confident that the House of Representatives. and the 18 cosponsors of the MillsVanik amendment on the Ways and Means Committee. will reject this or any such maneuver and keep their promise to those innocent men and women who desire only to emigrate to the free world. Withholding mostfavorednation treatment and subsidized credits from nonmarket countries until they implement the right to emigrate is the most effective action the Congress can take in the area of human rights. The MillsVanik amendment in the House and the Jackson amendment in the Senate do just that. As a nation of immigrants. we can do no less. Mr. President. Andrei Sakharov. by speaking out at this moment when both he himself and the movement for human rights in the Soviet Union are gravely threatened by the full power of the Soviet state. has challenged each of us to higher levels of conscience and responsibility. Let me conclude with his wordsand with my affirmation that we shall meet our responsibilities before history: The abandonment of a policy of principle would be a betrayal of the thousands of Jews and non.Jews who want to emigrate. of the hundreds in camps and mental hospitals. of the victims of the Berlin Wall. Such a denial would lead to stronger repressions on ideological grounds. It would be tantamount to total capitulation of democratic principles in face of blackmail. deceit and violence.