Speaker. I want to focus on one aspect of the bill now before us. This legislation provides Israelat no cost to the United States Governmentwith $400 million in loan guarantees for housing for newly arrived immigrants. In light of the flood of emigres peuring into Israel from the Soviet Union. this aid is absolutely essentialand long overdue. Israel is presently experiencing its largest influx of immigration since the years immediately after its founding in 1948. Tens of thousands of Soviet Jews have arrived in Israel In the last 18 months. and many thousands more will likely follow in the forseeable future. Indeed. legitimate fear of persecution in an increasingly unstable U.S.S.R. has prompted Jews who previously never thought to leave to apply for exit visas. The number could ultimately reach 500.000. The United States bears a large measure of responsibility for this reality. both because we have made the free emigration of Soviet Jews a principal part of our foreign policy for 20 years. and because our Government is limiting the number of Soviet Jews who can enter this country. It is for these reasons. Mr.
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immigration immigrants visas emigration