VOA标准英语2009-Obama Signs Anti-Smoking Law

U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law Monday sweeping¹ new legislation regulating the nation's tobacco industry. The bill gives the federal government the ability to regulate the production and sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
　
President Barack Obama signs the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act at the White House, 22 June 2009; At right is Sarah Louise Wiggins, 9, with the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids

Decades after the dangers of tobacco first became known, the strongest anti-smoking legislation in U.S. history has been signed into law by the president.

The measure does not criminalize tobacco or limit the availability of tobacco products to adults. But it will have a big impact on the way cigarettes are produced and sold - particularly to young people.

President Obama says protecting children is what the bill is all about.

"Each day, 1,000 young people under the age of 18 become new, regular, daily smokers²," he said. "And almost 90 percent of smokers began at or before their 18th birthday."

The president says he knows the problem too well.

"I was one of these teenagers, and so I know how difficult it can be to break this habit when it's been with you for a long time," he said. "And I also know that kids today don't just start smoking for no reason. They're aggressively targeted as customers by the tobacco industry."

For the first time, a government agency - the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA - will have the authority to regulate tobacco products.

Mr. Obama noted³ that under the new law, the FDA can ban certain additives⁴ in cigarettes and restrict the marketing⁵ techniques used by tobacco companies.

"It will curb⁶ the ability of tobacco companies to market products to our children by using appealing flavors," he said. "It will force these companies to more clearly and publicly acknowledge the harmful and deadly effects of the products they sell."

The president signed the legislation at a ceremony in the White House Rose Garden surrounded by members of Congress and representatives of health advocacy groups - including three children from an organization called "The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids."

1 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

2 smokers   

吸烟者( smoker的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily. 许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
• Chain smokers don't care about the dangers of smoking. 烟鬼似乎不在乎吸烟带来的种种危害。

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 additives   

n.添加剂( additive的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• chemical additives in petrol 汽油中的化学添加剂
• It'says on the packet that these crisps contain no additives. 包装上说这些炸薯片不含添加剂。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

6 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。