Speech #980249606

Mr. President. in keeping with my recent practice of reporting to the Senate the monthly emigration of Soviet Jews. I today note that 83 Jews left the Soviet Union in the month of August. In the previous month. 85 left the Soviet Union. bringing the total number of Jewish citizens who have left the Soviet Union this year to 652. At this rate. Soviet Jewish emigration for 1984 would fall well below the already dismally low level of 1983. when 1.315 Jews left the Soviet Union. This rate of emigration is terribly low and it violates international commitments of the Soviet Union. We must not remain silent in the face of these grim numbers. We must continue to take every opportunity to press the Soviet Government to allow its Jewish citizens to join their families outside the Soviet Union.