Speaker. the President has proposed to meet once again with the leader of the Soviet Union. When they meet. these two leaders will address a number of issues vital to the security of all the people of our planet. The question of Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union must assume its proper place on their agenda. Thousands of Soviet Jews have sought to leave the U.S.S.R. rather than endure the arbitrary hardships their government imposes upon them. Their friends and relatives in the United States continue to press the Congress to help persuade Soviet leaders to change their policy on Jewish emigration. In 1979. over 51.000 Jews were permitted to emigrate from the U.S.S.R.. by 1984. that number had sunk to less than 1.000. The refusal by Soviet leaders to respect the freedom to emigrate offends the American sense of democracy. We must do all we can. through peaceful discussion. to persuade these leaders to change their policies. The proposed summit offers us an opportunity. In the past. the Soviet Union has openly linked the right of emigration to the improvement of relations between the two superpowers. We are now striving to improve these relations. As the leading advocate of liberty. democracy. and human rights. the United States has an obligation to seek freedom for the victims of oppression everywhere.
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emigrate emigration