Speech #980003381

In 1981. Mr. Speaker. 9.447 Jews left the Soviet Union. In 1982. that number sunk to 2.688. and Januarys figures portend a year of even more declines. Mr. Speaker. we. in the U.S. Congress. are obligated to speak out either publicly or privately against the official harassment of Jews in the Soviet Union as reflected in this emigration record. There is little doubt that Soviet Secretary Andropov has seized upon this issue to further his aims in other policy areas. but this body must let him know that political persecution of minorities will gain him no leverage with the U.S. Congress.