Speech #960149810

Mr. Speaker. the House will soon consider House Concurrent Resolution 202. expressing the sense of Congress that the Soviet Union should permit Ida Nudel to emigrate to Israel. Ida Nudel has been sentenced to 4 years of internal exile in Siberia for providing aid to dissidents inside the Soviet Union. As a cosponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 202. I think House action on the bill is important because it reminds the Soviets that they are not complying with either the spirit or the letter of the Helsinki accords. It may. perhaps. be pointless to pick out one individual from the hundreds who deserve global attention. but congressional action on House Congressional Resolution 202 puts the Soviets on notice that they have a long way to go to live up to their obligation to observe basic human rights. including the freedom to emigrate. Permitting Ida Nudel to emigrate would be an important step by the Soviets in the direction of recognizing their responsibilities under the terms of the Helsinki accords.O