Mr. Speaker. at this crucial time in relations between the United States and the Soviet Union. I join my colleagues in paying special tribute to Soviet Jews seeking justice in their country and the right to emigrate abroad. I believe it is particularly fitting for us to pay this tribute in recognition of their indomitable spirit and unwavering defiance in the face of tremendous persecution. So many of these individuals show their spirit every day in ways we must admire and respect. As you know. the Soviets have intensified their antiSemitic and antiZionist propaganda campaigns in their attempt to break the spirit of Soviet Jews. They have continuously violated the right to free emigration as guaranteed under the Helsinki accords. the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other international agreements to which they are signators. The number of Soviet Jews allowed to emigrate has continuously decreased since its peak in 1979. The combined total of Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union over the last 4 years was less than the year 1979 alone. In 1979. 51.320 Soviet Jews were allowed to emigrate. while the total of Jewish emigrates from 1980 to 1984 was merely 35.817. In 1984 alone. only 896 Soviet Jews were permitted to leave. This is the lowest amount for 1 year since the sixties.
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emigrate emigration emigrates