Speech #930120789

I have taken out this special order because I want to advise Members of the House of a very important bipartisan congressional action that was inaugerated today in support of the MillsVanik amendment. It is sponsored by a coalition group of 17 Democrats and 10 Republicans. The MillsVanik amendment would withhold most favored nation status from any country which denies its citizens the right to emigrate. As supporters of the MillsVanik amendment we feel very strongly that the purpose of that amendment should not be lost sight of: to relieve the plight faced by hundreds of thousands of Jews and political dissenters in the Soviet Union who have been forbidden to leave that country. Despite all of the propaganda to the contrary. the fact remains that the Soviet Union is still preventing its citizens from exercising their right to emigrate and persecuting those who even attempt to leave. To dramatize the need for the MillsVanik bill. 27 of my colleagues and I have decided to give specific examples of the suffering and oppression experienced by Soviet citizens seeking to exercise their basic right to emigrate. Today Congressman HUGH CAREY on the floor of the House outlined the tragic experiences of Silva Zalmanson. Tomorrow and each day thereafter that the House is in session. another Member of the House will recount the case history of a different persecuted Soviet citizen. I believe that the Soviet citizens fundamental right to emigrate and flee religious persecution must not be bartered away in our haste to "normalize" economic relations with the U.S.S.R. At this time the bills denying the Soviet Union mostfavorednation status and restricting credit extensions until the repressive emigration policies are eliminated enjoy overwhelming support in both Houses of Congress. The MillsVanik bill has 280 cosponsors in the House. while the Jackson amendment has 76 Senate cosponsors. Being realistic. we must recognize that any compromise at this time would be seen as a retreat from our history of support for Soviet Jews and dissidents. Our failure to enact this legislation would not only be a cruel blow to those people who hope to emigrate as the result of its passage. but would also be a green light to the Soviet Union to continue its brutal repression against those who seek to leave for a freer life. The United States has a long and proud history of interceding on behalf of peoples suffering from Governmentinspired religious repressionone that dates back over 100 years. We once before refused to continue trading with Russia because of extreme repression against Jews.