I just spent ten days in Israel. 

     Even though I’ve been there many times, there were several firsts.  A tour of Hebron, a new path to the Old City of Jerusalem, and a new place to pray on my next trip.  My trip blog starts at http://www.delsandy.com/2012/06/08/i-have-never-walked-down-this-street-before/

     My first three workdays back home were devoted to another first – testifying before a committee of Congress. 

     The Holocaust Rail Justice Act would give a day in court to the survivors and descendants of the thousands of people transported by the French national railroad (SNCF) to the German borders and then to the Nazi concentration camps. 

      The law I successfully sponsored last year requires SNCF to  submit relevant records from this period if it wants to bid for the MARC commuter rail contract. 

      (In Annapolis, all bills get a public hearing if introduced by a certain date.  Not so on Capitol Hill.  That a hearing was scheduled is a significant step forward for the legislation.)

      We prepared as if I was going to argue before the Supreme Court.

      I answered countless questions that we expected Senators to ask.  Most were from the perspective of a member who didn’t want to open the courts to yet another lawsuit from individuals seeking damages from corporations.

      We edited my prepared statement down to five minutes.  (My first run-through took 8 ½ minutes.)  My written testimony was not time-limited.

       I’ve testified on hundreds of my bills over the years, but the questioners have been my colleagues. 

      This time, it would be U.S. Senators.  It could be on CSpan. 

       Until the farm bill intervened – with seventy-three amendments to be acted on by the full Senate. 

       Since there would be continuous floor votes, the hearing was moved to a small room in the Capitol itself. 

       I was asked one question: “Do you think SNCF will comply with the Maryland law?”

       “We should know within a month,” I replied.