Speech #970142738

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of House Joint Resolution 373. which I have been proud to cosponsor and which expresses the sense of Congress that the Soviets should respect the rights of its citizens to emigrate and to practice their religions. For several years. many of our colleagues in the Congress have worked for the release of Soviet prisoners of conscience. and for the freedom of Soviet citizens to exercise their basic human rights. There was hope that the signing of the Helsinki accords would mark the end of an era of harassment and religious persecution in the Soviet Union. But. unfortunately we have since watched as. time and time again. the Soviets have violated the agreements which they entered into freely. and which guarantee the rights of Eastern Europeans to practice their religions. and to emigrate. freely. We have gathered. time after time. to express our concern for the release of Soviet Jewish prisoners of conscience. But this is not a Jewish issueit is an issue which affects members of all faiths in the Soviet Union.