A move to ban the use of federal funds in support of the U.S. team if it participates in the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980 was easily defeated in the House Judiciary Committee. But its proponents will seek to have their views incorporated in the measure when the full House acts on it. Rep. Robert Drinan (D. Mass.) sought to amend the legislation that would prohibit the use of the $30 million authorized by the Amateur Sports Act. The committee rejected his motion 24-4. Drinan was backed by Reps. Hamilton Fish (R. NY), John Conyers (D. Mich.) and Barbara Jordan (D. tex.).
Supporters of the funding sought yesterday to have the House vote on the measure ahead of schedule in these closing days of the Congressional session. But the chamber rejected a move for suspension of its rules. However, it is expected that the House will adopt it. The Senate passed the measure May 8.
Drinan, who is also the author of a resolution which seeks to shift the Olympics from Moscow because of the Soviet Union’s “persistent human rights violations,” told the committee he feared the Soviet Union would “sweep the streets” of all dissident activity before and during the Olympics just as the USSR did during the visit by former President Nixon in 1972.
“By participating in a Moscow Olympics we could wittingly further the repressive aims of the Soviet rulers,” Drinan said. He also pointed out there is no guarantee at present that Israeli athletes in the 1980 Olympics will receive “the protection they need.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
