I commend my colleagues. Representatives SiKORSKI and LARRY SMrTH. for their leadership in keeping this Issue at the forefront of the public eye. A great number of Soviet Jews are currently seeking to emigrate with the hope of finding better economic and living conditions than are presently available to them in the Soviet Union. Since 1989. when the U.S.S.R. relaxed Its emigration restrictions. over 1.5 million Soviet Jews have been granted permission to leave the Soviet Union. The chance to live In a region free of stateImposed restrictions on the practice of their faith provides another Incentive for these people to emigrate from the U.S.S.R. A 1988 State Department report asserted that there was a shortage of synagogues and Jewish cemeteries. only one Yeshiva school In the country. no Rabbinical seminaries. no Hebrew printing presses. and a ban on importing rellgious articles. The only Judaio Studies Center in the Soviet Union has also received numerous threats of eviction pending huge Increases In rent payment. Mr. Speaker. we are thankful for the progress that has been made so far for Jewish citizens seeking to emigrate from the Soviet Union. The U.S.S.R.s growing cooperation with the West. which appears to be largely responsible for the liberalization of Soviet emigration policies. does not go unrecognized or unappreciated. However. we must do more to help the plight of Soviet Jews. Take. for Instance. the case of Mr.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration