Speech #960171244

House Concurrent Resolution 222. gives the names of several persons of many different ethnic heritages who have been persecuted by the Soviet Government or its satellite Communist governments. in the hopes that focusing attention on these persons will emphasize the strong need for the reestablishment of standards of human rights outlined in the Helsinki accords and subsequently ignored by the Soviet Union. The second bill. House Concurrent Resolution 223. initiated by Senator JEPSEN. expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should reaffirm the commitment of the United States to the provisions of the Helsinki accords. communicate to the Government of the Soviet Union in the strongest terms the disapproval of the United States of religious harassment of Christians and of the restrictions on the freedom of such Christians to emigrate. and advise the Soviet Government that the United States expects the Soviet Union to honor its commitments under the Helsinki accords. We can no longer ignore the magnitude of the problem that exists for Christians who live in constant fear behind the Iron Curtain. I urge my colleagues to support this effort. and to make known to the Soviet Union their concern for the welfare of these innocent people.O