Representatives GERALD SOLOMON and Gus YATRON. as well as Representatives SOLARZ and LAGOMARSINO. whose cooperation enabled the Committee on Foreign Affairs to act promptly on this matter. Passage of House Resolution 277 gives the House an opportunity to express its continued condemnation of the Soviet invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. renews the United States commitment to support the Afghan freedom fighters. urges the Secretary of State to develop and continue efforts to encourage a Soviet military withdrawal and a peaceful political settlement acceptable to the people of Afghanistan. This measure is a strong statement of our opposition to the illegal Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. which has resulted in the death of 1 million Afghans and created one of the largest refugee movements in history. as more than 4 million Afghans have fled to Pakistan. In acting today on this resolution. we pay tribute to the Afghan freedom fighters. whose continued strong resistance against the more than 120.000 Soviet troops in their country has given new meaning to the terms courage and tenacity. The costs they have inflicted on the Soviet troops have greatly exceeded initial expectations and convey to the Soviet Government that continued occupation of the country will continue to be expensive in terms of lives. equipment. and opposition of the world community.