Speech #1010044733

Madam Chairman. I rise today in support of H.R. 2022. a bill to establish certain categories of nationals of the Soviet Union and nationals of Indochina presumed to be subject to persecution and to provide for their adjustment to refugee status. H.R. 2022 has two basic purposes. First. it is designed to facilitate the manner in which Soviet Jews. Soviet Evangelical Christians. and certain categories of individuals from Indochina are processed for admission to the United States as refugees. It does this. in effect. by temporarily reestablishing a presumption that such individuals are. as a group. subject to persecution in their homelands. Second. this bill would allow some 5.000 to 10.000 Soviet and Indochinese individuals who have been. or will be. allowed to come to the United States and remain here permanently. pursuant to the Attorney Generals parole authority. to adjust their immigration status from that of a parollee to that of a refugee. thereby giving them an opportunity to apply eventually for lawful permanent residency and U.S. citizenship. Through my membership of the House Judiciary Committee. the congressional coalition for Soviet Jews. and steadfast communication with my constituents. I have been involved with. and supportive of. this legislation. particularly with respect to the plight of recently released Soviet Jews. I have received from my district requests for assistance on behalf of particular families who have gained longfought permission to emigrate. The Taubkin family. in particular. is currently living in limbo in Italy. having been denied refugee status by the United States. Although their fate is unclear at this time. the Jewish Federation of Jacksonville and the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties are working deligently to help them begin a new life in this country by securing housing and other forms of assistance for them. For years the United States has upheld a presumption that Jews and Christians from the Soviet Union are fleeing religious persecution and therefore merit refugee status. Recently. however. the Immigration and Naturalization Service has backed away from this presumption and rejected a high proportion of Soviet applicants for refugee status. As the Soviet Union has persecuted its Jewish citizens and other religious minorities. denying them freedom of worship and discriminating against them in housing. employment. and education. the U.S. Government has been most vocal in condemning the Soviets while pleading for their approval of "refuseniks desire to emigrate. Now we are at an historic moment to help Soviet Jews. and it makes no sense to me to not uphold our Governments longtime pledge to come to the aid of these persecuted people. Now is time to match our words with deeds and pass this crucial legislation.