Speech #930292354

The inevitable processes of transition and adjustment drain emotional and material reserves. They place a severe strain as well on the resources of the receiving country. We have before us today a bill which would authorize funds for easing the problems caused by emigration. The Department of State Appropriations Authorization Act of 1974. H.R. 16168. would provide such relief in two sections. First. it would grant almost $10 million for migration and refugee assistance around the world. This general fund is made available to the Special Assistant to the Secretary for Refugee and Migration Affairs. It would allow the assistance to be used both on a multilateral and unilateral basis. A second provision would authorize up to $40 million designated to relieve the special emigration problems caused by the exit of Soviet Jews. Since most of these emigres are relocating to Israel. the bulk of the money would go to that beleaguered nation. Although my own bill. H.R. 14158. introduced on April 10. would have authorized an amount not to exceed $50 million for these purposes. I believe the figure set by our committee is adequate for fiscal year 1975. We should recall that Jewish emigration from Russia to Israel dropped off dramatically in the first half of 1974. In 1973 the average monthly arrivals of Jews in Israel was 2.800. In the first months of 1974. the arrival rate fell 33 percent to 1.800. The backlog of applications by Jews to leave the Soviet Union is over 135.000. I should note parenthetically that hopefully the Trade Reform Act will soon become law. with its JacksonVanik amendment denying mostfavorednation treatment and export credits to any nation which restricts emigration. Passage of this bill authorizing funds to alleviate refugee problems is another milestone on the road to final passage for JacksonVanik. and ultimately freedom for Soviet Jewry. If. in the course of the year. the Soviet Union liberalizes its emigration policies. and if additional moneys are needed in light of changed circumstances. Congress can always increase the authorization ceiling. The funding level in this bill will go a long way to smooth the disruptions of resettlement. It should never be forgotten that we are. after all. a Nation of immigrants. We know at close hand the difficulties which attend the absorption of "the homeless tempest tossed." To turn away from them now would be to deny our own heritage. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this bill.