VOA标准英语2013--US Immigration Reform Faces Uncertain Future

 

US Immigration Reform Faces Uncertain Future

WASHINGTON — Supporters of immigration reform in the United States gained a victory last week when the Senate approved a bipartisan bill which tightens¹ border security and sets out a lengthy² path for citizenship³ for millions of undocumented immigrants.  But getting a bill through the Republican-controlled House will be a different story, says House Speaker John Boehner.

“We are going to do our own bill through regular order, and it will be legislation that reflects the will of our majority and the will of the American people,” he said.

Boehner insists any reform bill in the House must be supported by a majority of Republicans, and many of them have already rejected the Senate version because it offers a path to citizenship. 

On the other hand, a bill that veers⁴ too far to the right would alienate⁵ Democrats⁶, says Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi.

“We know it has to be a compromise.  We know who is in the majority.  But if you want our votes it has to be something that our members can vote for,” she said.

Fourteen Republicans supported the Senate immigration bill, well aware of the party’s dismal⁷ showing among Hispanic voters in last year’s election, says analyst⁸ Allan Lichtman.

“Republicans cannot go forward and expect to win national elections picking up 20 to 25 percent of the rapidly growing vote of Hispanics in the United States,” he said.

In the House, many Republicans are reluctant to anger their conservative supporters back in their home states, explains expert Norm Ornstein.

“If you are sitting there in the House, you may be mildly fearful that there could be a huge backlash.  But the bigger risk for most of those members is the backlash from their own right wing, not from a broader public uneasiness with the direction they are going,” he said.

If the reform bill is blocked in the House, immigration will be a key issue in upcoming elections, says Lichtman.

“It could be diffused⁹ for both parties if something major gets through the Congress.  If it does not, then you are going to see the blame game being played,” he said.

In the meantime, millions of undocumented immigrants are waiting for Congress to act. 

1 tightens   

收紧( tighten的第三人称单数 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧

参考例句：

• One set of provisions tightens emission standards. 一套使排放标准更加严格的规定。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• Requires no special tools or fittings; hand tightens to relief valve outlet. 不需要专用工具或管件；用手将其紧固到安全阀上即可。

2 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

3 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。

4 veers   

v.（尤指交通工具）改变方向或路线( veer的第三人称单数 )；（指谈话内容、人的行为或观点）突然改变；（指风） （在北半球按顺时针方向、在南半球按逆时针方向）逐渐转向；风向顺时针转

参考例句：

• The car veers out of control. 这辆车失去了控制。 来自辞典例句
• His fondness for his characters sometimes veers towards the sentimental. 他对那位主人公的偏爱有时也稍显矫情。 来自互联网

5 alienate   

vt.使疏远，离间；转让(财产等)

参考例句：

• His attempts to alienate the two friends failed because they had complete faith.他离间那两个朋友的企图失败了，因为他们彼此完全信任。
• We'd better not alienate ourselves from the colleagues.我们最好还是不要与同事们疏远。

6 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》

7 dismal   

adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的

参考例句：

• That is a rather dismal melody.那是一支相当忧郁的歌曲。
• My prospects of returning to a suitable job are dismal.我重新找到一个合适的工作岗位的希望很渺茫。

8 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？
• The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

9 diffused   

散布的，普及的，扩散的

参考例句：

• A drop of milk diffused in the water. 一滴牛奶在水中扩散开来。
• Gases and liquids diffused. 气体和液体慢慢混合了。