Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to join my colleagues in strong support of House Joint Resolution 373. calling on the Soviet Union to cease its discriminatory policies against Jews and its low emigration rates. The gentlewoman from Colorado . who authored the bill. and the gentleman from Washington . who chairs the Subcommittee on Human Rights and International Organizations. have worked hard to produce a resolution that expresses the deep concern of the House. and sends a strong message to the Soviet authorities on this issue. The problems facing Jews in the Soviet Union who wish to practice their religion or who wish to emigrate have been well documented by Members of this body who have recently returned from the Soviet Union. and from organizations that monitor Soviet activities on a regular basis. The facts are that the number of arrests of Jewish activists. the frequency of the harassment of Jewish religious and cultural leaders. and the dramatic decline in the emigration rate are clear signs of the intentional deterioration of the Soviet Unions practices toward Soviet Jews. House Joint Resolution 373 is a clear statement of congressional concern for the treatment of Soviet Jews. It serves as a reminder to the Soviet Union that not only will the Congress not turn its back on such blatant violations of agreedupon international accords. but that we consider this issue to be a priority in our bilateral relations.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration