VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Signs Expanded Hate Crimes Law

By Paula Wolfson
White House
28 October 2009

 
President Barack Obama speaks after enactment² of the Matthew Sheppard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crime Prevention Act in the East Room of the White House, 29 Oct 2009
U.S. President Barack Obama has signed an expansion of federal hate crimes law. Under this measure, the government has greater ability to investigate and prosecute³ acts of violence driven by prejudice. And for the first time, the statute⁴ covers people targeted because of their sexual orientation⁵ or disabilities. 

Eleven years ago, two separate crimes touched the conscience of the nation.

A college student in Wyoming was beaten and left for dead because he was gay.

A man in Texas was tied and dragged from a car till his body broke into pieces by racists because he was black.

The stories of Mathew Sheppard and James Byrd, Jr. led to calls for a strengthened federal hate crimes law - a measure designed to deter⁶ violent acts based on prejudice.

The debate was long and impassioned, with opponents saying a separate hate crimes statute is nothing more than an unnecessary layer of rules and regulations for law enforcement. 

President Obama disagrees.

"Through this law, we will strengthen the protections against crimes based on the color of your skin, the faith in your heart, or the place of your birth," said President Obama. "We will finally add federal protections against crimes based on gender⁷, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation."

In the end, language strengthening the hate crimes law was attached to a bill authorizing⁸ funding for the Defense⁹ Department - a move that angered many congressional conservatives.

President Obama signed that measure into law Wednesday before an audience of defense officials and members of Congress involved in national security policy.

Later in the day, he hosted a reception for those who worked on the expanded hate crimes legislation - including the families of Matthew Sheppard and James Byrd.

Mr. Obama spoke¹⁰ of their commitment to their cause during the ten year battle to enact¹ the law.

"You understand that we must stand against crimes that are meant not only to break bones but break spirits, not only to inflict¹¹ harm but to instill fear," said Mr. Obama.

Attorney General Eric Holder¹² called the expanded hate crimes legislation - in his words - the next great civil rights bill. He said the new law will enable the Justice Department to assist local and state prosecutors¹³, who handle most hate crimes. Holder said it also gives federal government the ability to press cases when local authorities do not.

1 enact   

vt.制定(法律)；上演，扮演

参考例句：

• The U.S. Congress has exclusive authority to enact federal legislation.美国国会是唯一有权颁布联邦法律的。
• For example,a country can enact laws and economic policies to attract foreign investment fairly quickly.例如一个国家可以很快颁布吸引外资的法令和经济政策。

2 enactment   

n.演出，担任…角色；制订，通过

参考例句：

• Enactment refers to action.演出指行为的表演。
• We support the call for the enactment of a Bill of Rights.我们支持要求通过《权利法案》的呼声。

3 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？

4 statute   

n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例

参考例句：

• Protection for the consumer is laid down by statute.保障消费者利益已在法令里作了规定。
• The next section will consider this environmental statute in detail.下一部分将详细论述环境法令的问题。

5 orientation   

n.方向，目标；熟悉，适应，情况介绍

参考例句：

• Children need some orientation when they go to school.小孩子上学时需要适应。
• The traveller found his orientation with the aid of a good map.旅行者借助一幅好地图得知自己的方向。

6 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

7 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

8 authorizing   

授权，批准，委托( authorize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Letters of Marque: Take letters from a warning friendly power authorizing privateering. 私掠许可证：从某一个国家获得合法抢劫的证书。
• Formal phavee completion does not include authorizing the subsequent phavee. 阶段的正式完成不包括核准随后的阶段。

9 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

10 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

11 inflict   

vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担

参考例句：

• Don't inflict your ideas on me.不要把你的想法强加于我。
• Don't inflict damage on any person.不要伤害任何人。

12 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

13 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。