BOB MRAZEK. and JACK KEMP. for coordinating this years Congressional Vigil for Soviet Jewry. The bipartisan. overwhelming expression of congressional concern for the oppressed Jewish population in the Soviet Union. as shown today. is testament to the abiding concern of the American people for victims of persecution around the world. The Soviet Government could make no more effective signal to our Nation that they wish a more peaceful world for the future than by responding in a humanitarian manner to the plea of the Jewish population In the U.S.S.R. for the right to emigrate. Time will tell if this plea is heard. Hopefully. the Soviets will grasp this opportunity at this time of renewed hope for better international relations. I would like to call my colleagues attention to the plight of a refusenik family I have adopted. The Maryasins. of Riga. have been subjected to statesponsored persecution since their daughter. Rita. was allowed to emigrate to Israel in 1972. Alexander Maryasin. his wife. Leah. and daughter. Faina. have attempted to emigrate from the Soviet Union since 1974. Their first attempt to gain exit visas came after Alexander had been without a job for 2 years. His forced unemployment was a direct result of Ritas emigration to Israel in 1972. Since that time. the Maryasin family has been harassed frequently. their home has been ransacked on numerous occasions. and many books and papers have been confiscated. Leah is very ill. and the familys hope to be reunited in Israel has taken on even more urgency because of her failing health. It is cases like the tragic plight of the Maryasin family that demonstrates the incredible cruelty of the Soviets treatment of Jews wishing to emigrate. What can possibly be gained by causing further grief and suffering to these people? To the Soviet leadership. let our voices be heard loud and clear and constant. "Let These People Goi"*
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emigrate emigration visas