Speech #980166466

The state suppresses studies of Hebrew language and Jewish culture. confiscates Hebrew books. breaks up classes. and has arrested Hebrew teachers. No Soviet Jew is immune to this statesanctioned discrimination. Yet the estimated 300.000 Soviet Jews who wish to emigrate are the most acutely vulnerable to Soviet repression. Officials have severely restricted telephone service to the West. and intercepted countless letters containing invitations vital to obtaining an exit visa. Since 1979. authorities have further narrowed the eligibility for family reunification to require positive proof of invitations from firstdegree relatives. And once Jews apply for emigration. they are rountinely harassed. dismissed from their jobs. and labeled as "parasites." Even the children of applicants are subjected to political pressures. School age children are commonly made objects of teacherencouraged ridicule and young men are promptly drafted. thereby delaying the chances for a familys emigration by as much as 8 years. Yet. in spite of all these coercive measures. today we witness Soviet Jews dogged pursuit of the right to emigrate and to assert their religious and cultural identity. Mr. Speaker. we have organized this special order today to honor Anatoly Shcharansky and the many courageous men and women who daily struggle for what we too often take for granted. On this International Day of Concern for Soviet Jews. we appeal to the new Soviet leader. Konstantin Chernenko. to pursue a more tolerant policy than that of his predecessors toward Jews and other religious and ethnic minorities. And. in the face of intensified Soviet antiSemitism and a precipitous drop in the issuance of exit visas. we pledge to continue to speak out against human rights abuses. Today we lend our voices to the rising chorus of international concern. It is my fervent hope that we shall be heard.