Speaker. all of the nations which signed the Helsinki Final Act. including the Soviet Union. pledged to do everything possible to reunite families separated by political boundaries. Because the Soviet Union is not living up to that promise. Members of Congress are conducting a vigil on the House floor entitled "Spirit of Helsinki" on behalf of Soviet Jewish families and individuals who are being forcibly detained in the U.S.S.R. as a result of the Soviet Governments repressive immigration policy. Today. I would like to bring the plight of Zina and Arkady Abranzon to my colleagues attention. The Abranzons are Jewish citizens who were planning to apply for exit visas. Since the Soviet Government generally revokes work permission when an exit visa application is made. the couple had been accumulating money and supplies in preparation for applying. Mr. Abranzon was the director of several electronics stores. and his wife was in charge of a jewelry and gift store which employed 25 people.
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