President. almost 18 years ago a young Jewish scientist. Dr. Vladimir Raiz. and his wife Carmella applied for a visa to emigrate from the Soviet Union to Israel. They were among the very first Soviet Jews to apply for the right to emigrate and they were among the first to have their application denied on the grounds of "access to state secrets." They and their two young children suffered through long years of harassment and persecution. but never gave up hope. even after almost every other longterm refusenik received permission to emigrate. I know that my colleagues in the Senate are familiar with the heroism of Vladimir and Carmella Raiz. For many years their case was raised regularly in meetings and correspondence with Soviet officials. In the 214 months since the Raiz family first applied to leave the Soviet Union in May 1972 over 357.000 Soviet Jews have received permission to emigrate. The plight of the Raiz family became increasingly anomalous with each new improvement in Soviet emigration policy. I rise today with a welcome report from the ancient city of Vilnius. Vladimir Raiz has been informed that his familys travail is nearing an end and that they will be issued the longawaited visas to emigrate on Tuesday of next week. I know that this exciting news will delight all Americans who cherish human rights. It provides one more dramatic example of how the Soviet Union of Mikhail Gorbachev is undergoing a profound transformation.
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