Mr. President. I am happy to join the distinguished Senator from Washington in support of the vital Issue of freedom of emigration which is an integral part of the Trade Reform Act of 1974. I have been a cosponsor and active supporter of the Jackson amendment since its inception and I am delighted that the Finance Committee has incorporated this provision in its version of H.R. 10710. In the spring of 1973 the members of the Senate Commerce Committee visited the Soviet Union so as to ascertain. with greater accuracy. the potential of improving trade relations between our two countries. During a lengthy discussion with General Secretary Brezhnev I raised the issue of the right of emigration from the Soviet Union. At that time the education tax was still a very live issue as were other barriers erected by the Soviet Government to prevent the free emigration of their citizens. especially Soviet Jews. The General Secretarys initial reaction was one of hostility to my question which he deemed to be an intrusion into domestic Soviet policy. After his initial protest. he however proceded to advise our group of the decision of his government to suspend indefinitely the education tax.
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emigration