I am proud to hear so many Members of Congress keeping the hope alive for the hundreds of thousands of refuseniks in the Soviet Union. This year has seen much success. So far. over 3.000 Soviet Jews have emigrated. The new era of glasnost in the Soviet Union offers the prospect of new opportunities for Soviet Jews. But despite these new opportunities. old problems remain. No one can teach us the course for the future better than the recent emigrants. They have had to overcome accusations of holding state secrets when they have never had access to state secrets. They have been forced to leave children. parents. and spouses behind. The Soviet Union has much progress to make before our vigil ends. I remain personally committed to Vladimir and Karmella Raiz. Their family has been continually denied exit visas since Vladimir. a molecular biologist. and Karmella. a concert violinist. have been subject to many injustices. They have been the targets of slander in the Soviet press. have had personal property confiscated. and have lived under virtual house arrest. I hope that the Soviet Union will recognize the plight of the Raizes and the other refuseniks that remain.
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emigrated visas emigrants