VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Calls for US Energy Efficiency

U.S. President Barack Obama is mandating¹ higher energy efficiency standards for common household appliances as part of a broader effort to overhaul² the nation's use of fuel and electricity. Mr. Obama says the economic recovery package before Congress makes a critical down payment on his energy initiative.
　
President Barack Obama speaks at the Energy Department in Washington, DC, 05 Feb 2009

In the quest to make America energy independent and reduce carbon emissions³, fossil fuel-consuming cars and trucks get the most attention. President Obama says everyday appliances like refrigerators and washing machines are an important part of the equation, as well.

In a trip to the Department of Energy, the president said he has signed an executive memorandum⁴ to strengthen efficiency standards for home appliances.

"This will save consumers money," he said. "This will spur innovation, and this will conserve⁵ tremendous amounts of energy. We will save through these simple steps, over the next 30 years, the amount of energy produced over a two-year period by all the coal-fired power plants in America."

In addition, Mr. Obama noted⁶ that the economic recovery package under Senate consideration would fund energy conservation efforts for government buildings as well as American homes. He said the bill will foster the development of alternative fuels to end what he called "the tyranny of oil in our time."

"After decades of dragging our feet, this plan will finally spark the creation of a clean energy industry that will create hundreds of thousands of jobs over the next few years, manufacturing wind turbines and solar cells, for example," President Obama said.

But the president said the entire effort is at risk due to growing congressional resistance to the economic recovery package, which passed in the House of Representatives last week on a party-line vote.

In an impassioned plea for congressional action, Mr. Obama said that the time for talk is over. He said the ideas of yesterday have failed, and that the American people have endorsed⁷ a new plan - his plan - for tackling the nation's problems.

"The American people have rendered their judgment," he said. "And now is the time to move forward, not back. Now is the time for action."

Senate Republicans, and even some Democrats⁸, are criticizing some spending proposals in the recovery package as wasteful⁹ and of questionable¹⁰ economic impact.

Mr. Obama says not all elements of the $800-plus billion bill will please everyone, but that core elements of the proposal are needed to save jobs, jump-start the economy, and lay a foundation for sustained growth.

1 mandating   

托管（mandate的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• Current requirements mandating that committees keep minutes are too general. 目前对委员会要保持详细记录的指令性要求，还是太过一般化了。
• Mandating that workers who quit without permission forfeit a month's wages. 规定工人私自离岗将受到罚没一个月工资的处罚。

2 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

3 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

4 memorandum   

n.备忘录，便笺

参考例句：

• The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
• The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。

5 conserve   

vt.保存，保护，节约，节省，守恒，不灭

参考例句：

• He writes on both sides of the sheet to conserve paper.他在纸张的两面都写字以节省用纸。
• Conserve your energy,you'll need it!保存你的精力，你会用得着的！

6 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。

7 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 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》

9 wasteful   

adj.（造成）浪费的，挥霍的

参考例句：

• It is a shame to be so wasteful.这样浪费太可惜了。
• Duties have been reassigned to avoid wasteful duplication of work.为避免重复劳动浪费资源，任务已经重新分派。

10 questionable   

adj.可疑的，有问题的

参考例句：

• There are still a few questionable points in the case.这个案件还有几个疑点。
• Your argument is based on a set of questionable assumptions.你的论证建立在一套有问题的假设上。