On July 14 I stood on the Capitol steps with many of my colleagues and joined in a prayer vigil for Soviet Jews. Presently. Jews in the Soviet Union are faced with cultural and religious repression. severe emigration restrictions. and increasing antiSemitic statements in Soviet publications. In recent years. the situation has worsened. We cannot ignore the gross violations of human rights that are becoming greater every year. Only 4 years ago. over 50.000 Soviet Jews were permitted to emigrate. but now fewer than 3.000 Jews are permitted to leave the Soviet Union each year. This trend is indicative of the recent attack on human rights by the Soviet Government and there are no signs that the trend will reverse itself. Congress has always recognized the severity of the Soviet Jews plight and it is absolutely necessary that we continue to be committed to their cause.
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emigrate emigration