The House adopted a resolution today by a vote of 400-2 condemning the Soviet Union for the harassment of Jews and others seeking to emigrate. The two who voted against the measure were W.R. Poage (D.Texas) and Gary Myers (R.Pa.). The resolution was similar to the one adopted by the Senate on March 2 by a vote of 91-0 which was sponsored by Sen. Frank Church (D.Idaho).
Today’s resolution, sponsored by Rep. Toby Moffett (D. Conn.). declared that “the obstruction and harassment of Soviet Jews and other minorities trying to obtain emigration visas to reunite with their families profoundly offends the conscience of a free people.” The resolution stressed “the sustained interest of the American people” in the adherence of the Helsinki agreement’s provisions on human rights. It noted that government sanctioned ethnic and religious discrimination in the USSR violates international agreements on human rights.
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.
