Speech #930162441

I have for many years been greatly concerned about the plight of the Jews in the Soviet Union. In 1967 I organized a joint statement of protest in the House against the Soviet treatment of their Jewish community which was eventually signed by 306 Members. At various times the House has overwhelmingly supported resolutions expressing the revulsion of the Congress at the Soviet policies. particularly the severe restrictions on emigration which are in conflict with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent conventions to which the Soviet Union is a signatory. During the past year. as a part of its policy of detente with the Soviet Union. the Nixon administration has proposed that existing law denying mostfavorednation status to the Soviet Union and other Communist countries be repealed and has publicly indicated its interest in extending large credits to the Soviet Union for the development of the latters industry. A particularly spectacular proposal under discussion has been the idea of extending ExportImport Bank credits running into the billions of dollars for the development of natural gas resources in Siberia in the thought that such natural gas could be liquefied and shipped to the United States to help overcome this Nations shortage of energy. and especially of natural gas.