PRINTER'S NO. 2780
No. 146 Session of 1982
INTRODUCED BY JOHNSON, PITTS AND HAYES, JANUARY 25, 1982
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON FEDERAL-STATE RELATIONS,
JANUARY 25, 1982
In the House of Representatives, January 25, 1982
1 WHEREAS, On June 27, 1978 five members of the Vaschenko
2 family and two members of the Chmykhalov family arrived at the
3 American Embassy in Moscow seeking assistance in emigrating from
4 the Soviet Union on grounds of religious persecution; and
5 WHEREAS, The Soviet militia stationed in front of the embassy
6 refused to honor a letter from United States officials
7 authorizing the entry of these families into the embassy to
8 discuss emigration; and
9 WHEREAS, The brutality of Soviet militia transformed what was
10 to have been a brief visit into a desperate plea for asylum; and
11 WHEREAS, The de facto asylum that was granted recently
12 entered its fourth year; and
13 WHEREAS, These families, known as the "Siberian Seven" have
14 been refused exit visas by Soviet officials, and face certain
15 persecution if they leave the embassy; therefore be it
16 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
1 Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby memorializes the Congress of
2 the United States to enact legislation granting these people
3 permanent residency status in the United States; and be it
4 further
5 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately
6 transmitted to the President pro tempore of the Senate, the
7 Speaker of the House and to each Senator and Congressman from
8 Pennsylvania.
A7L82DGS/19820H0146R2780 - 2 -