2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Reauthorizes US Voting Rights Act

By Scott Stearns
Washington
27 July 2006

President Bush has reauthorized key civil rights protections for African American voters in southern states.  

President Bush, center, surrounded by members of Congress signs legislation extending Voting Rights Act for 25 years, July 27, 2006   
  
In the more than 40 years since the Voting Rights Act was first passed by Congress, President Bush says there has been progress toward racial equality, but the work toward a more perfect union is never ending.

"We will continue to build on the legal equality won by the civil rights movement to help ensure that every person enjoys the opportunity that this great land of liberty offers," he said. "And that means a decent education and a good school for every child, a chance to own your own home or business and the hope that comes from knowing that you can rise in our society by hard work and God-given talents."

Before November Congressional elections, President Bush and his Republican Party are trying to boost their standing¹ among African-American voters who traditionally favor Democratic candidates. The president won about 11 percent of the black vote in his re-election.

It is an electoral reality Mr. Bush addressed last week in his first appearance as president before the nation's oldest civil rights group, The National Association for the Advancement² of Colored People.

"I consider it a tragedy that the party of Abraham Lincoln let go of its historic ties with the African American community. For too long, my party wrote-off the African American vote. And many African Americans wrote-off the Republican Party," noted³ President Bush.

The Republican-led House and Senate approved extending the Voting Rights Act in this election year even though most of its provisions did not expire until next year.

President Bush invited civil rights leaders and African-American members of Congress to join him for the signing ceremony on the White House South Lawn.

He reauthorized for another 25 years, bans on racist⁴ voting practices in the South that require some of those states to have voting changes approved by the U.S. Justice Department.

Some of those states opposed extending the act because they say it applies a different standard to their elections. Backers of the legislation agree, but say that standard is justified⁵.

The 1965 Voting Rights Act was passed one year after Barbara Lee graduated from high school. She is now a Democratic Congresswoman from California.

"I am going to tell you, coming from Texas, El Paso, Texas, I remember very vividly⁶ the barriers to voting. And when I listened to the debate and participated in it this time, those who wouldn't support pre-clearance or bi-lingual ballots⁷ I think were coming from a place that I don't want to actually go to," she said.

President Bush vowed⁸ that his administration will vigorously defend the Voting Rights Act in court, saying the right of ordinary men and women to determine their own political future lies at the heart of what he calls the American experiment.

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。

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 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

5 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

6 vividly   

adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地

参考例句：

• The speaker pictured the suffering of the poor vividly.演讲者很生动地描述了穷人的生活。
• The characters in the book are vividly presented.这本书里的人物写得栩栩如生。

7 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。