That certification must be made by late April. I hope certification. as well as the International Religious Freedom Act. passed last year. will be strong incentives for Russian leaders to reverse a troubling antidemocratic trend. As you know. in 1989 I authored legislation making it easier for Jews and members of other persecuted religious groups in the former Soviet Union to obtain refugee status in the United States. I introduced this law because I felt deeply that religious freedom was a basic human right. which was anathema under the Soviet system of government. Recent events in Russia convince me my legislation remains very necessary and I will be asking my colleagues to support an extension again this year.