Mr. Speaker. Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union has fallen drastically in the last 5 years. from 51.320 In 1979 to only 896 In 1984. The denial of religious freedom for Jews by Soviet authorities within the Soviet Union has intensified. including the arrests of many Hebrew teachers last surmmer. At the same time. the Soviets have virtually closed their borders to those Soviet Jews who would emigrate in order to worship. It is for these reasons that the Honorable BENJAMIN GILMAN. my New York colleague. and I have joined to ask for this special order to address this issue and to express our support for the "Solidarity Sunday for Soviet Jewry" rally near the United Nations. The Helsinki Act of 1975. which the Soviet Union signed. binds the Soviet Union to various commitments. including respect for human rights. respect for fundamental freedoms. and cooperation in humanitarian fields.
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emigrate emigration