Speech #970131698

Jewish education programs are banned. and books and religious articles are confiscated. More arrests of Soviet Jews have taken place in the past 4 months than in the last 4 years. In the face of these sweeping violations of human rights. it is vital that our Government recognize its moral responsibility to pressure the U.S.S.R. to respect the fundamental rights of Soviet Jews and allow for their free emigration. I have recently cosponsored two House resolutions which I am including in todays RECORD. expressing the sense of Congress on this important matter. House Concurrent Resolution 219 introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey. Mr. SMITH. calls upon the U.S.S.R. to end the current policies restricting Jewish emigration. The measure also expresses the sense of Congress that official Soviet antiSemitism is morally reprehensible. House Joint Resolution 373. introduced by my good friend from Colorado. Mrs. SCHROEDER. expresses the sense of Congress that the Soviet Union should respect the rights of its citizens to practice their religion and to emigrate. and that these matters should be among the issues raised at the 38th meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights at Geneva in February 1982. Congress must provide a strong signal to the Soviet Union that we simply will not silently accept their terrible human rights abuses. We must maintain an unwaivering commitment to improving the plight of Soviet Jews by pressuring the Soviets at every possible level of contact to improve the