Speech #1010044756

I rise in strong support of H.R. 2022. Madam Chairman. I rise in support of H.R. 2022. a bill that will guarantee refugee status to Soviet and Indochinese groups who have historically been oppressed and denied religious freedom. This status would clear the obstacles for many Soviet Jews. as well as for other religious believers. who are trying to emigrate to the United States. The legislation is unfortunately necessitated by a former Attorney Generals reversal of the Immigration and Naturalization Services longstanding humanitarian policy of granting presumptive refugee status to those fearing persecution in the Soviet Union and Southeast Asia. This means that the victims of the state are burdened with proving something which is painfully obvious to most reasonable peoplethat they have a wellfounded fear of persecutionif they want to gain refugee status. The lengthy interviews and large amount of paperwork currently required have brought the normal flow of refugees to the United States to a halt. leaving many feeling stateless. hopeless. and betrayed. I have received a large number of letters from the relatives and friends of people waiting in Rome. Vienna. and Moscow to gain refugee status. These thousands of people have given up their citizenship and all their privileges in the name of freedom. The situation is personified by the case of Rive and Felix Sokolsky. whom I have been trying to help. They are two Soviets who became the objects of persecution simply because they were Jews. They eventually were allowed to leave and they made their way to Italy to apply for refugee status from the United States. but were denied and remain in Italy indefinitely without jobs. family. or friends. This is only one of dozens of such cases which constituents have brought to my attention in hope of assistance. The Sokolskys situation is representative of the desperation felt by many in similar circumstances. This bill would insure the refugee status needed to emigrate to the United States and is the only humane alternative. We cannot let these people continue to suffer. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R.