Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 99 Part 1.djvu/210

 99 STAT. 188

PUBLIC LAW 99-81—AUG. 6, 1985 Public Law 99-81 99th Congress Joint Resolution

Aug. 6, 1985 [S.J. Res. 161]

Human rights.

To appeal for the release of Soviet Jewry.

Whereas President Reagan recently stated that "Soviet Jewry suffers from persecution, intimidation, and imprisonment within Soviet borders"; Whereas President Reagan stated further that "We will never relinquish our hope for their freedom and we will never cease to work for it," and that "If the Soviet Union truly wants peace, truly wants friendship, then let them release Anatoly Scharansky and free Soviet Jewry.": Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That, in support of the President's position, the Congress calls on the Soviet Union, as an initial gesture— (1) to release immediately Anatoly Scharansky, Yosef Begun, and all other Prisoners of Conscience, and allow them to leave the Soviet Union; (2) to issue immediately exit permits to the many known long term "Refuseniks" such as Ida Nudel and Vladimir Slepak; and (3) to allow those thousands of Jews who wish to emigrate to join their relatives abroad, or to be repatriated to their historic homeland, to leave this year and pledge that such CEises shall be dealt with expeditiously and in a humanitarian way during the next three years, thus enabling those who have requested exit permits to leave. Approved August 6, 1985.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S.J. Res. 161: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 131 (1985): July 18, considered and passed Senate. July 25, considered and passed House.

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