VOA标准英语2013--Washington Week: Focus on Immigration

 

Washington Week: Focus on Immigration

There is widespread agreement within the United States that the U.S. immigration system is flawed.

Senators this week will debate a bill that seeks to comprehensively overhaul¹ that system.

The bipartisan bill would provide a path to citizenship² for undocumented immigrants, streamline³ the country's legal immigration process and strengthen border security.

Senate Majority Leader Harry⁴ Reid of Nevada said, "It is gratifying to see the momentum⁵ behind this package of common sense reforms, which will make our country safer and help 11 million undocumented immigrants get right with the law."

Some critics of the bill say it provides de-facto amnesty for law breakers.

Republican Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama said, "You are not allowed to pay a guide and come across the border illegally and 18 months later demand a pathway to citizenship in the United States. It is just not law."

President Barack Obama has urged the Senate to quickly pass this bill, and he is slated⁶ to speak about it at the White House Tuesday.

The immigration bill is not perfect, but it is sensible, the president said in his weekly address.

"This bill would provide a pathway to earned citizenship for the 11 million individuals who are already in this country illegally - a pathway that includes passing a background check, learning English, paying taxes and a penalty, and then going to the back of the line behind everyone who's playing by the rules and trying to come here legally," he said.

Even if the immigration bill passes in the Senate, lawmakers in the House of Representatives are considering their own reforms.

Agriculture also is a focus this week, as the Senate prepares to vote on the Farm Bill. The House is expected to take up the package of conservation, nutrition and subsidy⁷ programs later this month.

Looking abroad, House members are considering the terrorist attacks in 2008 on India's financial capital, Mumbai. The Pakistani-based terror group responsible for the attacks, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and the group's intent or ability to strike the U.S. will be the focus of the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday.

And June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride month, a fact that Secretary of State John Kerry highlighted last week.

"This month is about the assertion of equality and dignity. It is about the affirmation of fundamental freedoms and human rights. It is about people taking pride in who they are, no matter their sexual orientation⁹ or gender⁸ identity," he said.

As of August 1, same-sex marriage will be legal in 12 U.S. states, plus the District of Columbia. President Obama is expected to speak at a pride celebration on Thursday. 

1 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。

2 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

3 streamline   

vt.使成流线型；使简化；使现代化

参考例句：

• We must streamline our methods.我们必须简化方法。
• Any liquid or gas passing it will have streamline flow.任何通过它的液体或气体将呈流线型的流动。

4 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

5 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

6 slated   

用石板瓦盖( slate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Yuki is working up an in-home phonics program slated for Thursdays, and I'm drilling her on English conversation at dinnertime. Yuki每周四还有一次家庭语音课。我在晚餐时训练她的英语口语。
• Bromfield was slated to become U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. 布罗姆菲尔德被提名为美国农业部长。

7 subsidy   

n.补助金，津贴

参考例句：

• The university will receive a subsidy for research in artificial intelligence.那个大学将得到一笔人工智能研究的补助费。
• The living subsidy for senior expert's family is included in the remuneration.报酬已包含高级专家家人的生活补贴。

8 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。

9 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。