Speech #990005080

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker. the religious and cultural oppression of Soviet Jews. including officially sanctioned antiSemitism. and the denial of virtually all immigration visas is a cruel violation of any standard of human rights and is and should be a major impediment to improved relations between the United States and the Soviet Union. The increase of antiZionist propaganda and the growing violence against Jews in the Soviet Union should be a matter of grave concern to all of us in this House and to all Americans who treasure the religious liberty we enjoy in this country. I feel very deeply that it is vitally important for us. as Members of Congress. to speak out en bloc on this issue. as we are doing this afternoon. so that this House can underscore for the Soviet Government the importance we attach to the treatment of the Soviet Unions Jewish citizens. Concern for the physical. psychological. and cultural wellbeing of Soviet Jews goes beyond religious and ethnic differences. I think it is tremendously important for the Soviet Union to realize how deep that concern is in this country and that it is not only Jewish Americans who are disturbed by the increase of antiSemitism In the Soviet Union and the virtual cessation of emigration. The barriers within the Soviet Union that prevent Jews from practicing their religion and celebrating their heritage are an outrage and an affront to humanity. It is degrading to the point of being inhumane for the Soviet Union to make the teaching of Hebrew a crime.