Speech #980275038

Speaker. today I am pleased to join my colleagues in the House in the 1984 congressional call to conscience vigil for Soviet Jews. I would also like to express my thanks to this years chairman. the Honorable LAWRENCE COUGHLIN. and to the National Conference on Soviet Jewry and the Union of Councils for Soviet Jews. Recognition is due for their continuing efforts to focus world attention on Soviet Jews who have been denied the right to emigrate from the Soviet Union or who have suffered religious or cultural persecution at the hands of the Soviet Government. The situation for Jews in the Soviet Union has deteriorated to its worst level in over 10 years. Despite the Helsinki accords and other international human rights agreements. the number of Jews allowed to leave the Soviet Union has steadily declined. In 1983. only 1.315 Soviet Jews were granted permission to emigrate. 50 percent fewer than in 1982. and 97 percent fewer than in 1979 when 51.000 were permitted to leave. Only 652 Jews have received exit visas to date in 1984. as compared with 1.066 for the corresponding period in 1983. the year noted as having the worst emigration record in 15 years. For those Jews who must remain in the Soviet Union. religious persecution is a way of life. We must continue to challenge the Soviet Union in their assaults on human rights of these people.