Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 6166, the Military Commissions Act of 2006.

Rather than allow a full and open debate on this important issue, the Majority has decided that 2 hours is sufficient and prohibited any amendments from being offered during consideration on the Floor.

We all are committed to bringing the masterminds of the 9/11 attack and other terrorist plots to justice. However, I have strong concerns about several provisions of the bill before us today. First, by allowing the President to interpret Geneva Conventions requirements, H.R. 6166 would endanger American soldiers who for 60 years have been protected by those very provisions. Under this bill, the President could determine what methods constitute torture rather than banning torture outright. This loophole could leave our soldiers vulnerable to the same reinterpretations should they be taken as prisoners.

Second, the bill prevents detainees from filing habeas corpus suits challenging their detentions in court. The indefinite detention of individuals who have been designated as enemy combatants without judicial recourse is very likely unconstitutional and rejects the long American commitment to the rule of law.

Finally, rather than use the existing appellate military system, H.R. 6166 creates a new and untested Court of Military Commission Review that would handle appeals of military commission determinations.

Amendments offered by Democratic members to address these three concerns were denied by the Republicans, and so the House today will debate a bill that raises serious constitutional issues. This is a shame.

I urge my colleagues to oppose H.R. 6166.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Bishop-Elect Mitchell G. Taylor. The Senior Pastor of the Center of Hope International and the Founder and President of the East River Development Alliance, Reverend Taylor has dedicated his life to serving his community, which includes Queensbridge Houses, the largest public housing complex on the North American continent, as well as the Ravenswood, Astoria and Woodside public housing developments. Reverend Taylor will be consecrated a Bishop in an Episcopal ceremony to be conducted next month in East Elmhurst, New York.

Reverend Taylor has rightly earned national renown for his work to improve the quality of life for residents of public housing. He is also the author of Unbroken Promises, a work offering an inspirational and optimistic message of trust, faith, and hope for a better future. As the Senior Pastor at the Center of Hope International, a non- denominational church founded by his father more than four decades ago, he has overseen the Center's Victory After-School program serving hundreds of school children and the Bread of Life Food Pantry, which has fed thousands of hungry families.

Reverend Taylor has been invited to deliver his inspirational message in lectures and speeches around the United States. Because of his leadership on issues involving public housing, he has been profiled in our nation's paper of record, The New York Times, and dubbed the ``Preacher in the Hood'' by the CBS television network.

In order to more effectively serve his community, Reverend Taylor helped found the East River Development Alliance, or ``ERDA''. Working in close collaboration with government officials, tenant groups, parent-teacher associations, houses of worship, nonprofits, and other community organizations, ERDA has scored remarkable successes in expanding economic opportunities for the 30,000 residents in the surrounding community. ERDA also offers financial literacy and home ownership programs, enhanced extracurricular activities for local youth, college preparatory classes, free GED and computer courses, and job training and placement initiatives. With Reverend Mitchell's leadership, a neighborhood coalition was formed that undertook a successful campaign to attract a bank to the community.

In addition to his extraordinary and selfless service to his community, Reverend Taylor is a loving family man dedicated to his wife Barbara and their two children Telisha and Mitchell, Jr. They live in the Long Island City neighborhood to which he has devoted himself, and which he has called home for forty years.

Mr. Speaker, in recognition of his meritorious and selfless service to his community, I ask that my distinguished colleagues join me in congratulating Reverend Mitchell G. Taylor on his elevation to Bishop and in paying tribute to his enormous contributions to civic life.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 46th anniversary of the Republic of Cyprus. It was on October 1, 1960, that Cyprus became an independent republic after decades of British colonial rule.

I am very fortunate and privileged to represent Astoria, Queens--one of the largest and most vibrant communities of Greek and Cypriot Americans in this country. Among my greatest pleasures as a Member of Congress are participating in the life of this community and the wonderful and vital Cypriot friends that I have come to know.

As a full-fledged member of the European Union, Cyprus is playing a vital role in European affairs while also strengthening relations with the United States. Last year, the United States and the Republic of Cyprus signed a reciprocal Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) Ship Boarding Agreement, which is aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Cyprus was the first EU member to sign this agreement.

Unfortunately, the commemoration of Cyprus' Independence Day this year, as in the past, is clouded by the fact that Cyprus continues to be illegally occupied by the Turkish military forces, in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. On July 20, 1974, Turkey invaded Cyprus, and to this day continues to maintain an estimated 35,000 heavily armed troops. The peaceful and cooperative spirit in the person-to-person, family-to-family interactions between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots is an encouraging sign for the successful reunification of Cyprus. However, it is time for Turkey to remove its troops from the island so that Cyprus can move forward as one nation. I remain hopeful that an end to this division will be achieved.

I believe that the United States must play an active role in the resolution of the serious issues facing Cyprus. Cyprus and the United States share a deep and abiding commitment to democracy, human rights, free markets, and the ideal and practice of equal justice under the law. Despite the hardships and trauma caused by the ongoing Turkish occupation, Cyprus has registered remarkable economic growth, and the people living in the Government-controlled areas enjoy one of the world's highest standards of living.

I also want to commend Cyprus for its critical support in helping citizens from many nations including the United States as they evacuated from Lebanon earlier this year.

The relationship between Cyprus and the United States is strong and enduring, and we stand together celebrating democracy and freedom.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a constituent of mine, forensic scientist Elaine Mar. Ms. Mar is the retiring Supervisor of the World Trade Center DNA Identification Unit of the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner [OCME].

For 4\1/2\ years, she has shown extraordinary leadership and made a commitment to public service far above and beyond the call of duty. She has remained fully dedicated to putting names to the innocent victims of 9/11 and allowing their return to their families so that they may be laid to rest with dignity and love. She has been the quintessential ``behind the scenes'' hero.

On the morning of September 11, Elaine was flying from New York's Laguardia airport to San Francisco, which was grounded in St. Louis as a result of the attacks that day. When she returned to New York she was detailed by the Medical Examiner to the lab, helping clear the decks of the rape and homicide case work that is the normal business of the OCME. But by late November, she was part of the team working to identify over 20,600 human remains of 2,749 people who died in Manhattan. By December, she was the lead supervisor of that team, and has continued in that role well into 2006.

Although I am told that she never sought managerial advancement, Elaine was a gifted leader under the most incredible of pressures. Many professional forensic scientists have left this project. Some have found the work so heartbreaking that they have left the profession altogether. Despite the staggering weight of her task, Elaine has always been wholly dedicated to the identification effort; for the first three full years she could almost always be found still at her desk at 11, midnight or 1 a.m. On more than one occasion, she worked straight through the night on a complicated DNA identification, surprising colleagues when they arrived in the morning. Elaine Mar has been the only person who has worked on identifying--quite literally-- truckloads of fragmented human life for nearly the entire time since we were attacked.

Partly because of her humble approach to her responsibilities, only a few people appreciate how many of those killed have been identified solely because of Elaine Mar's faithful and steadfast commitment to the victims and their families. She has led her team by example, showing a professionalism and selfless citizenship that inspires those around her. On the few occasions where recognition for the work of her team has been given, she has put forward one of her subordinates to accept the thanks of a grateful city. However, I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Ms. Mar for all the work she has done for a grateful city and nation. I wish her well as she makes a new life for herself in Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to join the Hellenic-Americans and Philhellenes in my district and throughout the country in celebrating ``OXI Day (No Day),'' which falls on the 28th of October. This year marks the 66th anniversary of a very important day in Hellenic history, the day on which brave Greek patriots said ``No'' to fascism, ``No'' to injustice, and ``No'' to slavery.

For those individuals who lived through that momentous period and their descendants, many of whom live in the 14th Congressional District of New York, ``OXI Day'' is more than a memory: it is the embodiment of Hellenism and its highest ideals.

On October 28, 1940, a terrifying sound went up throughout all Greek cities and towns, the sound of sirens and klaxons announcing the invasion of Greece by the Nazis. Walls that before had echoed only with the tolling of church bells now reverberated with the din of alarms.

At a time when Europe was descending into the inferno of another world war, the people of

Greece did not panic. Men went calmly to their closets and retrieved their military uniforms and weapons. Women went about their necessary tasks, and the children assisted as they were able. With level-headed determination and steadfast resolve, the citizenry of Greece mobilized against the coming invaders and delivered their resounding ``No!'' to the Axis aggressors.

On OXI Day, the people of Greece chose the harder path, the path of resistance. If they had opened their gates to the invaders, much bloodshed and many deprivations might have been avoided. That brave generation of Hellenes, refused to submit to oppression, even at the cost of their homes, their land, and their lives. They chose to fight and even to die so that their children and the children of other nations might live in liberty. Theirs was an act of self-sacrifice that clearly proclaimed the humanitarian ideals of their Orthodox Christian faith and their ethnic heritage.

Demonstrating poise under pressure, the heroes of that period fought against tyranny and delayed the Axis onslaught in the Balkan Peninsula. The Greek nation which said ``OXI'' contributed to the eventual downfall of the Fascist powers in Europe.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting the heroes of OXI Day. In their brave words and deeds we see all of the highest virtues of Hellenic heritage: passion for justice, courage at a time of trial, unity in the midst of conflict, and willingness to sacrifice one's life for the good of others. On this day, we thank Greece for saying ``OXI.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Senator George Onorato, an outstanding New Yorker and a great American. For more than half a century, George Onorato has distinguished himself as a dedicated public servant devoted to his family, his State, and his country.

Senator Onorato is an accomplished and hardworking legislator who is well respected by his colleagues. After his election to the New York State Senate in 1983, he successfully sponsored legislation benefitting seniors, consumers, tenants, Medicare patients, the environment, and current and former members of the U.S. armed forces. George Onorato has held positions in Senate leadership since 1992, and currently serves as Vice Chair of the Minority Conference, as a member of the Policy Committee of the Senate Democratic Conference, and as the Ranking Member of the Committee on Insurance. Because of his leadership on issues affecting the environment and air quality, he was appointed Co- Chairman of the State Senate's Democratic Task Force on Energy & Conservation. Senator Onorato also serves on the Minority Task Force on Waterfront Development, a platform he has used to promote one of his most cherished goals, creating more affordable housing for the elderly and for moderate and low income New Yorkers. He is a past President of the Conference of Italian American Legislators.

In addition to his tenure in the State Legislature, Senator Onorato has distinguished himself in service to his country. He served in the United States Army, 118th Medical Battalion from 1950 to 1952, and was awarded a Presidential Citation. To this day, he remains a champion for veterans and their families as well as current members of the armed forces. As a member of the Senate Minority Task Force on Vietnam Veterans and the Acting Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs, Senator Onorato was a sponsor of legislation providing student aid to Vietnam veterans, and in 1997 introduced legislation to increase the level of such funding. He sponsored and supported legislation to help develop a data base for research on dioxin-related birth defects of children born to Vietnam veterans. In 2003, Sentor Onorato was one of the founders of the bipartisan New York State Armed Forces Legislative Caucus, which he currently co-chairs.

Just as noteworthy as his dedication to public service, George Onorato is a devoted and loving family man. He is married to the former Athena Georgakakos. They have three adult children, Joanne, George and Janice, and six grandchildren. His wife regularly accompanies him to legislative sessions in Albany, where the two of them are a universally admired and inseparable couple.

Senator Onorato and his wife are equally devoted to their community. A lifelong resident of Astoria, Senator Onorato, is active in numerous civic organizations. Since 1972, he has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Taminent Regular Democratic Club, one of the largest and most prominent Democratic Clubs in our nation's greatest city. Senator Onorato has also served as a Democratic Leader of the 36th Assembly District since 1977.

Mr. Speaker, in recognition of his courageous wartime service to our country in the United States Army, to the people of the State of New York, and to his beloved family, I ask that my distinguished colleagues join me to pay tribute to the enormous contributions to civic life made by the Honorable George Onorato.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 5825, the ``Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act.''

Yet again, the Republican Majority has brought legislation to the Floor that disregards the rights of American citizens. H.R. 5825 would give the executive branch broad discretion to eavesdrop on Americans without judicial review or sufficient oversight from Congress.

Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, we have learned more and more about the secret programs run by this Administration that violated long-standing U.S. laws and policies. I know that we all agree that obtaining intelligence to prevent terrorist attacks is a high priority. However, innocent Americans should not have to worry that their phones have been tapped or their emails are being read.

It is a shame that the bill before us today leaves out the sensible provisions of the bipartisan Schiff-Flake-Harman-Inglis substitute which would require congressional oversight of surveillance programs, extends from 72 hours to seven days the amount of time allowed to initiate surveillance in an urgent situation before going to the FISA court for a warrant, and increase the speed of the FISA process.

We should be standing up for the Constitution today and not passing legislation that tramples all over it.

I urge my colleagues to vote no.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 6143, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006. While I fully support this program and believe we must do everything we can to assist those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, H.R. 6143 will destabilize established systems of care and will be devastating for New York. While the HIV/AIDS epidemic has expanded, more than \1/2\ of all people living with AIDS in the United States reside in just 5 States: New York, California, Florida, Texas, and New Jersey. Under this bill's flawed formula, 3 of the highest prevalence States, including New York, will lose significant funding. New York City predicts a possible $17.8 million loss in the first year of implementation of this bill and potential increasing losses in each of the remaining 4 years of the reauthorization. In total, New York State expects losses of up to $78 million in the first 4 years of reauthorization. Of course, New York is not opposed to other regions of the country receiving more funding, but it should not be at the expense of New York. Instead, we should increase the authorization of appropriations for the program so that we do not pit states against each other.

I urge my colleagues to vote against this bill so that the Committee can find a compromise that will not result in reduced funds far anyone State.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the Reece School of New York City, which has been dedicated for 58 years to serving children who are intellectually capable but emotionally fragile and vulnerable. The oldest such special-education school in Manhattan, the Reece School has grown in size and stature from its founder's home to a new facility on the Upper East Side. On October 26, it will recognize a significant donation by officially naming its state-of-the-art building.

The Reece School was established in 1948, in the home of Ellen Reece, as a response to the needs of children who were incapable of functioning in a traditional school setting. Today, it serves 90 students, from Manhattan and all 5 boroughs, who reflect the diverse communities of the City of New York. They represent middle- and lower- income families who care deeply about their children's future but lack the ability to pay privately for services beyond those offered by the school community. These families depend on Reece for the intellectual and emotional support that allows their children to progress and function as independently as possible, They rely on Reece for services that many other special-education schools are unable to provide.

Over the years, the Reece School has grown out of Ellen Reece's home, out of its longtime Carnegie Hill location, and into a new home at 25 East 104th Street. For years, it has worked hard to be an integral part of its community. It has made its space available to several community groups, and has partnered with several community agencies and public schools to help improve the quality of life of Reece students and, in fact, of all children in the community.

Thanks to a $12 million loan through Industrial Development Agency Bonds, Reece was able to emerge from its somewhat-cramped Carnegie Hill quarters and into a facility of unprecedented size and technology in July 2006. On October 26, the Reece School will officially name its new building the Elise M. Besthoff Building of the Reece School.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that my distinguished colleagues join me in recognizing the outstanding contributions to the children and families of New York City made by the Reece School.

Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the International Women's Freedom Act of 2006. This legislation establishes an Office of International Women's Rights within the State Department headed by the appointed Ambassador at Large, and additionally, would create a United States Commission on International Women's Rights. The positive links between the empowerment of women and effective and sustainable development are very clear and this legislation would seek to protect women's rights by channeling U.S. security and development assistance to countries that are not found in gross violations of women's rights. According to the World Bank, when men and women are equal within a society, not only do the poor move more quickly out of poverty, but economies flourish and familial well-being is enhanced. I believe that all people, regardless of gender, should have the power to shape their lives and participate in their communities without the fear of oppression. When given the tools they need, such as education, access to employment, land, and economic assets, and the opportunity to contribute to civic life, women and girls improve their situation in society and have a positive impact on society as a whole. By annually reviewing the status of women's rights in each country and designating countries of particular concern, more succinct policy recommendations can be made to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress.

In 1998, Congress created a Commission on International Religious Freedom, and the bill I am proposing today is modeled after it. According to news reports, the Commission on International Religious Freedom has made substantial progress towards expanding religious freedom in Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan. We require the State Department to issue reports on battling international bribery, religious freedom, and narcotics control, among many others. Creating a report on the status of women's rights is vitally important to assuring the rights of women worldwide.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4772, the ``Private Property Rights Implementation Act.''

This bill strips local governments of their authority to enforce zoning regulations by allowing real estate developers to bypass the State courts and go directly to Federal courts to challenge local zoning decisions. While I strongly believe in the rights of property owners, zoning is an important tool of local governments to maintain livable communities where residents and businesses can coexist.

The city of New York opposes this legislation because it would intrude upon its authority over local land decisions. Additionally, this bill is opposed by a coalition of groups including the League of Conservation Voters, the National League of Cities, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

I am puzzled about why the Republican Majority feels that this bill should be voted on before we adjourn when there are so many other issues like increasing the minimum wage and implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission that have yet to be considered by this body.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this bill.

True to form, in the pre-election rush, the majority is pushing through legislation that does nothing to protect the health and safety of our children but instead harms them. We already voted on this legislation in April. Why are we voting on the bill today? It's simple, the Child Interstate Notification Act is a sweet treat for the anti- choice right, the exact group the Majority is courting these next 6 weeks.

This bill harms families by encouraging relatives to seek civil action against each other. It tells young women that if they cannot confide in their parents, they are simply out of luck and must face this difficult situation alone. And, it prevents minors from counting on the adults they trust: their counselors, their older siblings, their friends and their clergy.

Mr. Speaker, in a perfect world, children would openly communicate with their parents. In a perfect world, we would not be faced with unintended pregnancies. But these are tumultuous times, and the world is far from perfect. That does give us license to pass imperfect laws.

The bill before us provides no exception for the health of the mother, as required by the Supreme Court. And, it violates States rights by forcing the laws of one State onto another.

Mr. Speaker, this is a bad bill. I urge you to oppose this bill and put the safety and well-being of America's young women before the political agenda of the anti-choice majority.

I urge a ``no'' vote.

Mr. Speaker; 2006 marks the 100th anniversary of Jewelers of America (JA), the oldest national association for retail jewelers. Founded in 1906 in Rochester, N.Y. and now headquartered in New York City, Jewelers of America is both a center of knowledge for the retail jeweler and an advocate for professionalism and high social, ethical and environmental standards in the jewelry trade.

In the past century, Jewelers of America has established itself as a leader in the educational, social and political support of retail jewelers. Today, the association represents 11,000 member stores and has 42 state and regional affiliates.

Throughout its existence, the association has provided meaningful and relevant educational programs that reflect the changing technologies available to jewelers. Jewelers of America believes that recognizing members' knowledge and skills benefits consumers and the entire jewelry industry. To that end, JA has established certifications that evaluate jewelry sales associates, store managers and bench jewelers by a set of national skills standards. JA also provides educational scholarships for its members.

As a leader in the jewelry industry, Jewelers of America has worked with non-governmental organizations, fellow industry trade organizations and political leaders to establish responsible business practices for the national jewelry industry. JA was centrally involved in the 2002 adoption of the international Kimberley Process Certification Scheme, the landmark initiative aimed at stopping the trade of conflict diamonds.

Realizing that trust is a key component to the jewelry industry's growth, Jewelers of America created a standardized code of ethics in 1997 to reinforce consumer confidence in the professional jeweler. According to the code, JA members must maintain the highest possible ethical standards in their business dealings.

As Jewelers of America enters its second century, it remains committed to independent jewelers and the tradition of honest and fair business practices they uphold. Conscious that it represents retailers who help their customers celebrate love and commitment, Jewelers of America rededicates itself to these noble aims.

I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 100th anniversary of Jewelers of America.

Mr. Speaker, today I introduce legislation that will fortify the current Federal debarment system. The United States is the largest consumer in the world and invests over $215 billion in goods and services annually.

Yet the Federal government's watchdogs, the Federal suspension and debarment officials, currently lack the information they need to protect our business interests. We have no central way of accounting for the performance of our purchases. Beyond a listing of currently debarred or suspended persons, officials are limited to their individual agency's knowledge of an entity's track record, press reports and personal contacts with other agencies. The American public's knowledge is limited even further. Often times this allows Federal contractors and assistance recipients to repeatedly violate Federal law yet still receive millions of dollars from the Federal government. In a time when corporate accounting scandals are being revealed at an unprecedented pace, isn't it wise to have a full accounting of the Federal government's investments?

The Contractors Accountability Act of 2006 establishes a centralized database on actions taken against federal contractors and assistance participants, requiring a description of each of these actions. This will provide debarring officials with the information they need to protect the business interests of the United States. It places the burden of proving responsibility and subsequent eligibility for contracts or assistance on the person seeking contracts or assistance should they have been previously convicted of two exact or similar violations that constitutes a charge for debarment. Additionally, it improves/clarifies the role of the Interagency Committee on Debarments and Suspension and provides for retention by the prosecuting Federal agency of fines paid by offender for reimbursement of costs associated with suspension and debarment activities.

Mr. Speaker, our Nation desperately needs comprehensive immigration reform, but the Republican majority is more interested in playing politics with this issue than working towards a true solution.

We need to make sure that we have control of our borders. That is why I support H.R. 4830, the Border Tunnel Prevention Act, and why I have previously supported other efforts to secure our border including the expansion of physical barriers and fencing in key areas.

H.R. 4830 supports the sound policy of amending the federal criminal code to prohibit the construction or financing of an unauthorized tunnel under our border and we are right to ensure strict penalties for anyone who does this.

However, if the Republican leadership was truly serious about securing our borders and preventing the entry of undocumented immigrants, they would fully fund the additional 10,000 border agents that we authorized when we passed the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, Public Law 108-458, last year. The addition of these agents, which had broad bipartisan support, was a provision that would have a direct impact on securing both our Southern and Northern borders and had broad bipartisan support. However, when it comes time to fund these additional agents, Congress consistently comes up short.

There are two other provisions that we are considering that I do not support--H.R. 6094, the so-called Community Protection Act and H.R. 6095, the so-called Immigration Law Enforcement Act.

I oppose H.R. 6094, the so-called Community Protection Act, because it would overturn two Supreme Court decisions that currently prevent unlawful indefinite detention of non-citizens. If passed, it would permit the indefinite and perhaps permanent detention of non-citizens who cannot be deported due to no fault of their own.

The severe curtailment of Due Process in this provision will lead to erroneous removal of people who should not have been deported, such as U.S. citizens who could not quickly provide proof of their U.S. citizenship, or an abused spouse or child who could not quickly show their eligibility for relief under VAWA or someone who was not in fact inadmissible due to a criminal ground of inadmissibility but could not timely hire a lawyer who knew the complex case law that governed his or her admissibility.

I oppose H.R. 6095, the so-called Immigration Law Enforcement Act, which would harm the relationship between the police and immigrants and citizens. It will obstruct police in their mission of keeping our streets safe. Essentially the bill is asking the State and local police to pick up the slack for the Federal Government.

That is why it is opposed by scores of professional law enforcement associations including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Major Cities Chiefs Association. They know this is a bad idea and I urge my colleagues to join them in opposition to this bill.

Finally, I want to reiterate my support for comprehensive immigration reform. Not only do these bills fail to adequately address that need, but they could actually make our system more dysfunctional. These bills do not significantly enhance border security or address undocumented immigration; rather, they would limit the basic rights and protections this nation were founded upon.

Mr. Speaker, unfortunately the Republican majority is more interested in looking like they are doing something, than actually solving the problem. The American people know better and they know political maneuvering and inaction when they see it.