Politique volontariste sounds better in French.

             It means proactive policy, according to Google Translate and SNCF.

             In this instance, when used by SNCF, the French national railroad, it means refusing to acknowledge the real reason why the company is making public its records detailing its transport of Jews and others to the German border during World War II, where thousands were subsequently sent to their deaths. 

             A press release from SNCF heralded its delivery of these digitized documents to the Shoah Memorial in Paris, Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, and the Holocaust Museum in Washington. 

             One can assume they’re also being prepared for delivery to the State of Maryland, as required under House Bill 520, the legislation we passed last session. 

            SNCF has expressed interest in bidding on a major commuter rail contract in Maryland.  To qualify, it must make these records available. 

            I didn’t expect to be praised by SNCF, but our efforts shouldn’t be ignored.