Speech #1010044801

Madam Chairman. I rise in strong support of H.R. 2022. legislation to restore the presumption of refugee status to Soviet Jews and other persecuted minorities. There are few issues that have so united Democrats and Republicans. and successve Congresses and Presidents. over the pas. two decades as freedom for Soviet Jewry. From the moment of the modern awakening of the consciousness. identity. and surge for freedom among Soviet Jewsin the wake of Israels miraculous victory in the 1967 6day warthe American people and the United States Government have stood with them. and spoken with one voice. to echo their demands for freedom from persecution and the right. if they so chose. to emigrate wherever destiny might lead them. Our solidarity with Soviet Jewryand. by extension. with all ethnic and religious minorities who have been systematically persecuted by the Soviet Governmenthas served as a beacon of hope and solace for them. from the streets of Moscow to the furthest reaches of the gulag. For two decades. Soviet Jews have known that if they could get out. they would find refuge in Israel or the United States. This has been the bedrock of American policyin both the worst of times. such as the past decade when only pitiful handfuls were permitted to leave. and in better times. such as 1979 when 50.000 emigrated. In 1988. the number of Soviet Jews permitted to leave climbed back up to 10.000 and this year over 40.000 are expected to leave. Our Government consistently kept faith with Its commitment to Soviet Jewry. But in October 1988. thenAttorney General Edwin Meese changed the rules. Rather than uphold the blanket presumption that Soviet Jews automatically enjoyed the refugee status under our Immigration laws. the Attorney General decided that sanctuary would only be extended to them on a casebycase basis. The emigres would have to prove. individually. that they would be persecuted if they returned to Russia. The Attorney Generals action was Shocking and insensitive.