议员现在允许带婴儿进入美国参议院

Babies Now Permitted on US Senate Floor

Lawmakers in the United States Senate may now bring their young babies with them to work.

The Senate voted Wednesday to permit children under the age of one in the chamber¹ while their parents cast votes.

The Senate chamber is where lawmakers discuss and vote on legislation. It has 100 wooden desks -- one for each senator.

The reason for the historic change of rules was the birth of Senator Tammy Duckworth’s baby. The Illinois Democrat² gave birth to her second child, another girl, on April 9.

Duckworth, a 50-year-old former Army colonel who lost her legs in the Iraq War, is one of only 10 lawmakers who have given birth while in Congress. And she is the first sitting Senator to do so.

Duckworth wants to be able to continue to vote on issues as she takes care of her infant daughter. But the Senate requires voting to be done in person. So, Duckworth proposed that babies be permitted in the chamber.

No lawmakers objected to the proposal. Duckworth said the ruling helps “bring the Senate into the 21st century.”

Although no one voted against it, senators in both political parties expressed concern about the new rule. They worry that babies might disrupt Senate customs.

Senator Pat Roberts, a Republican from Kansas, said, “I’m not going to object to anything like that, not in this day and age.”

However, he does not believe it is “necessary” for babies to be on the Senate floor during voting. He suggested that lawmakers with babies could instead cast their votes from a small room near the chamber. “I’ve done it,” he said.

Other senators offered the cloakroom suggestion as a compromise, as well.

In answer, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar noted³ that Duckworth mostly gets around in a wheelchair. The cloakroom is not wheelchair accessible.

Some senators then proposed making an exception just for Duckworth.

However, Klobuchar and other allies said the Senate should aim to make work life easier for parents. “We strongly believe...that it should be a permanent rules change.”

Klobuchar, a Democrat, said she spent several weeks privately⁴ promising⁵ both Republicans and Democrats⁶ that the new rule would not mean diaper-changing or nursing on the Senate floor.

Senator Orrin Hatch, a Republican from Utah, said he had “no problem” with the rule change.

“But what if there are ten babies on the floor of the Senate?” he asked.

Klobuchar answered that having ten babies on the floor “would be a delight.” She noted if that were the case, it would likely mean more young senators had been elected to office.

The average age of senators is over 60.

I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.

Words in This Story

cast - v. to make (a vote) formally

infant - n. a very young child

disrupt - v. to cause (something) to be unable to continue in the normal way

cloakroom - n. a room in a public building where coats and other belongings⁷ may be left temporarily

accessible - adj. able to be reached or approached

delight - n. a strong feeling of happiness : great pleasure or satisfaction

1 chamber   

n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所

参考例句：

• For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
• The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

2 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 privately   

adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地

参考例句：

• Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。
• The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

5 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

6 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 belongings   

n.私人物品，私人财物

参考例句：

• I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
• Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。