Speaker. today our House Post Office and Civil Service Committee conducted a hearing which was the culmination of our yearlong investigation into the Soviets nondelivery of American mail. We received countless documents and heard supporting testimony that the Soviet Union would like nothing better than for Americans to forget that the Soviet Union violates international law time and again. and that it blithely ignores the conventions accepted by all civilized nations. The ongoing issue of the restrictions on emigration of Soviet Jewry continues to be a priority for the Congress. the State Department. and for our negotiators at the United Nations. The longterm effect of the shooting down of flight 007 on AmericanSoviet relations is not yet clear. the shortterm effect is. It is important that we in this body continue to voice our indignation to the Soviet authorities at every opportunity. Let us not allow the issue of Soviet Jewry to be forgotten. In the wake of the flight 007 massacre. we must show the refuseniks and prisoners of conscience that we are still with them. The Soviet Union must know that it is up to them to improve relations with the United States by markedly increasing Jewish emigration from the U.S.S.R.. desisting from the harassment of those individuals desirous of practicing their religion openly. and honestly admitting their complicity in the downing of a passenger plane. If we forget to press them on these matters. the rest of the world will forget as well. Since Scripture reminds us that we are indeed our brothers keeper. it is incumbent upon this body to keep the plight of Soviet Jewry in the forefront of our actions.
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emigration