This briefing discussed how the Helsinki Accord’s provisions on the free flow of people apply to the United States. The briefing followed President Carter’s commitment to embody the principles outlined in the Helsinki Final Act. Representatives from U.S. government agencies, such as the Department of State and the Department of Justice, and interested civil society organizations testified about their experiences with the current visa regime. The witnesses were asked to make recommendations about the advisability of changing U.S. law to align with the freedom of movement provisions in the Helsinki Accords.
Members
Hon. Dante Fascell
Chairman
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hon. Claiborne Pell
Co-Chairman
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hon. George McGovern
Commisioner
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hon. Jacob Javits
Commissioner
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Hon. Jonathan Bingham
Commissioner
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Witnesses
Michael Egan
Associate Attorney General
Department of Justice
Arthur Goldberg
U.N. Ambassador and Chief U.S. Delegate to the Belgrade Review Meeting
Department of State
Barbara Watson
Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs
Department of State
Leonel Castillo
Commissioner
Immigration and Naturalization Service
Mario Noto
Immigration and Naturalization Service
David Carliner, Esq.
General Counsel
ACLU
Donald J. Mucha
Executive Vice President and Treasurer
Unitronex Corporation
John Tileston Edsall
Professor of Biochemistry, Chairman
Harvard, of Association for Advancement of Science
Kenneth Young
Director, Department of Legislation
AFL-CIO
Relevant Issues
Relevant Countries
Leadership

Silenced Dissent: The Plight of Political Prisoners ...
Jun 13, 2024WASHINGTON—Across the globe, individuals continue to be targeted, arrested, and imprisoned for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of speech, assembly, and association. Persecution on political grounds represents a fundamental […]

Helsinki Commission Advances Human Rights, Demands f...
Oct 19, 2023By Shannon Simrell, Senior Policy Advisor Between October 2-13, 11 Helsinki Commission staff joined approximately 1,400 representatives of OSCE participating States (pS) and civil society representatives in Warsaw, Poland in […]

Vladimir Kara-Murza: Putin’s Personal Prisoner
Sep 20, 2023Stream here: HEARING: Vladimir Kara-Murza: Putin’s Personal Prisoner – YouTube Vladimir Kara-Murza, a father, husband, and a freedom fighter, has been in detention for over five hundred days and is currently […]

United States Demonstrates Global Leadership on Ukra...
Jul 14, 2023The Helsinki Commission’s four senior leaders helmed the United States’ bicameral, bipartisan delegation to the 30th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly last week in Vancouver, Canada. Co-Chairman Senator […]

Supporting A Democratic and Secure Moldova
Jul 12, 2023In recent years, Moldova has made notable steps to improve its democratic institutions and combat corruption. President Maia Sandu and her Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) have spearheaded wide-ranging […]
Helsinki Commission Chair and Co-Chair Lead Delegati...
Jul 10, 2023WASHINGTON—Helsinki Commission Co-Chair Senator Ben Cardin (MD) and Helsinki Commission Chair Representative Joe Wilson (SC-02) led a bipartisan Congressional delegation to the 30th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE […]
Helsinki Commission Leadership Statement on Georgian...
Mar 06, 2023WASHINGTON—In response to news that the Georgian parliament is considering Russian-style foreign agent legislation, which would have a chilling effect on Georgia’s vibrant civil society, Helsinki Commission Chairman Representative Joe Wilson (SC-2), […]

North Macedonia’s Leadership of the OSCE in a ...
Feb 28, 2023North Macedonia has taken up leadership of the world’s largest regional security organization—the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)—a year into Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine. Much of […]
HEARING: NORTH MACEDONIA’S LEADERSHIP OF THE OSCE IN...
Feb 24, 2023Tuesday, February 28, 2023 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Streaming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNgAOyC9f5g North Macedonia has taken up leadership of the world’s largest regional security organization—the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe […]
U.S. Delegation to the OSCE PA presents Joint Statem...
Feb 24, 2023WASHINGTON— Today, the U.S. Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA) endorsed the “Joint Statement of Action on the One-Year Anniversary of […]
Steadfast Support for Ukraine: United States Delegat...
Feb 23, 2023WASHINGTON – Today, the United States Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE PA), led by Senator Ben Cardin (MD), met with […]
Helsinki Commission Chair and Co-Chair: Statement on...
Feb 20, 2023WASHINGTON—Following reports of the sharp deterioration of Azerbaijani dissident Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, Helsinki Commission Chairman Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-2) and Co-Chairman Sen. Ben Cardin (MD) issued the following joint statement: “We […]