Mr. Speaker. on March 20. 1985. the Members of the House gathered together on the steps of the Capitol to show our solidarity with the Soviet Jewish emigration movement and to mark the eighth anniversary of Anatoly Shcharanskys arrest. trial. and imprisonment. Today. we are gathered here In the House Chamber to proclaim our solidarity with countless Soviet Jews waiting to obtain exit visas and to rejoice that Anatoly Shcharansky has been finally set free. The Soviet political system has made Shcharansky into the international symbol of basic human rights. Anatoly Shcharansky and other Soviet citizens have become criminals by the mere act of applying for exit visas. These scientists. engineers. artists. dentists. poets. and others who make up Soviet society are denied citizenship. a place of residence. an occupation. and stripped of their dignity simply by applying for an exit visa. The denial of human rights is an issue dear to Americans and all freedom loving people. The policies we have pursued to encourage human rights have not been as effective as we would like or as they should be.
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emigration visas visa