2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Pushes Competitiveness Initiative

By Scott Stearns
White House
04 February 2006

President Bush wants Congress to boost funding for U.S. research and development to keep America competitive in the world economy. 

President Bush   
  
President Bush says his American Competitiveness Initiative will help keep the nation the world's economic leader, while raising the standard of living and creating new U.S. jobs.

"By investing in research and development, unleashing¹ the innovative² spirit of America's entrepreneurs and making sure that our economy has workers highly skilled in math and science, we will lay the foundation for lasting³ economic prosperity," said President Bush.

In his weekly radio address, the president said America must continue to lead the world in human talent and creativity by encouraging innovation throughout the economy, and teaching more math and science.

First launched in Tuesday's State of the Union address, the initiative would double federal funding for basic research in the physical sciences over the next decade, and make permanent tax credits for private sector⁴ investments in new technology.

It would also train 70,000 high school teachers for advanced courses in math and science, and fund early help for students struggling in math, which the president says will boost their chances for a better-paying job.
 

Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm  
  
In the Democratic radio address, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm says President Bush is abandoning manufacturing jobs. She says his State of the Union address offered little to those workers, especially automakers central to her state's economy.

"So, on behalf of citizens in Michigan and around the country - citizens who may or may not share your views of the state of our union - I ask you, with due respect, to fight for them," Governor Granholm said. "Fight for fair trade. Fight for our manufacturers. Fight for our automakers. Fight for our American workers."

Granholm says American businesses need the Bush administration to help cut health care costs, protect worker pensions and enforce international trade agreements.

President Bush says he is helping⁵ business by staying aggressive in the face of international competition, at a time when, he says, some Americans are anxious about the future.

"We're seeing the rise of new competitors, like China and India, who are making great strides in technology," he said. "In response, some people want to wall off our economy from the world. That is called protectionism. The American people should not fear our economic future, because we intend to shape our economic future."

President Bush spends the weekend on his Texas ranch⁶ before returning to Washington for Monday's release of his 2007 budget proposals to Congress.

1 unleashing   

v.把（感情、力量等）释放出来，发泄( unleash的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Company logos: making people's life better by unleashing Cummins power. 公司理念：以康明斯动力建设更美好的生活！ 来自互联网
• Sooner or later the dam will burst, unleashing catastrophic destruction. 否则堤坝将崩溃，酿成灾难。 来自互联网

2 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

3 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

4 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 ranch   

n.大牧场，大农场

参考例句：

• He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
• The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。