Mr. Speaker. I rise in full support of the pending resolution expressing the concern of the House of Representatives about the imprisonment of Benedict Scott and urging his safe release and safe emigration. It is regrettable that there is even a need for these types of resolutions for all they seek are rights which should and are granted by most civilized governments. The Benedict Scott case is a classic illustration of how the Soviet Union operates. Benedict Scott is a U.S. citizen who emigrated from the United States to Lithuania in 1930. In recent years he had become an outspoken supporter of human rights in Lithuania which is under Soviet control. Soviet policy in simplest fashion is he who disagrees is imprisoned and so it has been for Benedict Scott since The Soviet Union has regressed in its commitment to basic human rights which only began to surface with their signature of the Helsinki accords in 1975. Today life in the Soviet Union is as harsh as ever. Emigration among Soviet Jews is at a record low. Internal debate and dissent on almost any topic has been silenced. The uncertainties within the Soviet Government caused by the precarious health of President Brezhnev has created great apprehension within and outside of the U.S.S.R.
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emigration emigrated Emigration