VOA标准英语2009年-US Senators Praise Obama's Choice for Labor Sec

President-elect Barack Obama's choice to be labor¹ secretary, Congresswoman Hilda Solis says if confirmed she will work to promote fair wages and workplace safety. Her comments came at a Senate confirmation² hearing Friday.
　

Labor Secretary-designate, Rep. Hilda Solis before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee on Capitol Hill, 9 Jan. 2009

Appearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, Congresswoman Solis outlined her agenda if confirmed by the Senate.

"My priorities if I am confirmed will be first and foremost to make sure that we attend to the goals of the Department of Labor, to see that we have fair wages, that there is safety and protection, and that hopefully that people can aspire³ to have a good paying job in this country," she said.

The California Democrat⁴ testified on the same day that the Labor Department reported that 524,000 jobs were lost last month.

Solis vowed⁶ to work to promote job growth, including those that she said would be environmentally-friendly.

"These are jobs that will provide economic security for our middle class families while reducing our nation's dependency on foreign oil and resources," she said.

Solis, the daughter of a union shop steward⁷ from Mexico and an assembly line worker from Nicaragua, served in the California state legislature before she was elected to the U.S. Congress in 2000.
　

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee Chairman Sen. Edward Kennedypresides over a hearing on Capitol Hill, 9 Jan. 2009

She was introduced at the hearing by committee chairman, Senator Ted⁵ Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat.

"She has fought for working families all of her life," he said. "In the California Senate and now in Congress, she has been a voice for the voiceless with a true passion for fairness and justice."

Solis also won praise from Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for you and good opportunity for our country, as well," he said. "My only caution to you is not to be in anybody's pocket. Do what's right. I intend to support you."

Solis is expected to be easily confirmed by the Senate.

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

2 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

3 aspire   

vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于

参考例句：

• Living together with you is what I aspire toward in my life.和你一起生活是我一生最大的愿望。
• I aspire to be an innovator not a follower.我迫切希望能变成个开创者而不是跟随者。

4 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。

5 ted   

vt.翻晒，撒，撒开

参考例句：

• The invaders gut ted the village.侵略者把村中财物洗劫一空。
• She often teds the corn when it's sunny.天好的时候她就翻晒玉米。

6 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。

7 steward   

n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员

参考例句：

• He's the steward of the club.他是这家俱乐部的管理员。
• He went around the world as a ship's steward.他当客船服务员，到过世界各地。