Mr. Speaker. for the past several years. I have participated in the Congressional Call to Conscience Vigil in an attempt to draw attention to the plight of Soviet Jews and other prisoners of conscience who are seeking freedom and emigration from the Soviet Union. This is a specially worthy effort and a timely moment for the call in view of Anatoly (Natan) Shcharanskys visit to the Capitol last week and his heroic efforts to call the countrys and the worlds attention to the plight of those. not so fortunate as he. who are still in the Gulags and behind the Iron Curtain yearning to be free. Despite the best efforts of Members of Congress and concerned American citizens in recent years. there has been little noticeable improvement in Soviet emigration policy toward its Jewish citizens. In fact. sadly to note. Soviet Jewish emigration has been in decline since 1979when Soviet officials placed more stringent restrictions on emigration. Emigration reached its highest level in nearly 2 years in April 1985. when 166 Jewish citizens were permitted to leave. And that number is appallingly low. In particular.
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emigration Emigration