Speech #970142740

Mr. Speaker. I have returned home with a deeper commitment to human rights and a deeper commitment to securing the rights of others to emigrate from the Soviet Union. I have also come home with a greater appreciation of our own fundamental freedoms and liberties. As a nation of immigrants. I am proud that the United States is the leader in promoting global emigration rights. Mr. Speaker. today emigration is nonexistent for practically all citizens of the Soviet Union. Soviet authorities usually speak of the "reunification of families." usually meaning families torn apart by World War II and the postwar period. thus effectively avoiding the term "emigration." Over the last few months. however. even emigration of Jews from the Soviet Union has virtually ceased. Since the Soviets began an effective form of emigration over a decade ago. more than a quarter of a million Jews have left the Soviet Union with Israel visas. This emigration reached its peak in 1979. when 51.000 Soviet Jews were granted exit visas. In 1981 only 9.447 Jews were permitted to leaveonly 290 emigrated in January of this year. Mr. Speaker. the crackdown on emigration includes tight eligibility requirements like the rule that requires that a Jew wishing to leave must receive a letter of invitation from a very close relative living in Israel. The Soviets insist that such a relative be of the first degree like a husband or wife. parent or child. Others need not apply. While in the Soviet Union we heard of many instances where the letters. even of the first degree did not get through the Soviet postal censors. Mr. Speaker. it is troubling and disheartening that the Soviet authorities have retreated from their prior modest reforms and again have adopted a restrictive policy on emigration. Moreover. there is ample evidence to indicate a marked increase in harassments. job loss. arrests. and trials of Jews. AntiSemitism is on the rise.