Obama unveils new initiatives to help veterans get jobs

 　　WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Monday announced three new initiatives to get veterans back to work, as part of recent executive actions the president has taken to jump start the economy and create more jobs.

　　"We're here today to try to take some steps to better serve today's veterans in a rough economy," Obama said during a speech at the White House.

　　"Even though the overall unemployment rate ticked down last month, unemployment among veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan continue to rise," he said, adding that more than 850,000 veterans remain unemployed¹.

　　The three new initiatives, entitled Veteran Gold Card, My Next Move for Veterans and Creating a Veterans Job Bank, are mostly aimed at facilitating unemployed veterans with their job searching efforts including better access to job-hunting services.

　　However, those measures are unlikely to make much difference for jobless veterans as they are deemed minor² steps compared with what the president proposed in two legislative³ provisions -- Returning Heroes and Wounded Warrior⁴ Tax Credits.

　　The Returning Heroes Tax Credit provides firms that hire unemployed veterans with a maximum credit of 5,600 dollars per veteran. The Wounded Warriors⁵ Tax Credit offers firms that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities with a maximum credit of 9,600 dollars per veteran.

　　The two provisions, part of the American Jobs Act Obama proposed, are scheduled to be debated by Congress this week.

　　"This week Congress will have another chance to do the right thing," Obama said. "When these ideas come up for a vote this week ... I expect both sides of the aisle⁶ to stand up for our veterans and vote in the affirmative."

　　This was the latest step Obama has taken administratively⁷ to address the nation's economic problems after his jobs package was blocked in the highly partisan⁸ Congress. Those executive actions were taken to help homeowners refinance at lower mortgage rates, to help college graduates reduce the burden of their student loans, and to help prevent and reduce prescription⁹ drug shortages.

1 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

2 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

3 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

4 warrior   

n.勇士，武士，斗士

参考例句：

• The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。
• A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

5 warriors   

武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I like reading the stories ofancient warriors. 我喜欢读有关古代武士的故事。
• The warriors speared the man to death. 武士们把那个男子戳死了。

6 aisle   

n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道

参考例句：

• The aisle was crammed with people.过道上挤满了人。
• The girl ushered me along the aisle to my seat.引座小姐带领我沿着通道到我的座位上去。

7 administratively   

[医]adv.行政上

参考例句：

• Administratively, the country is divided into counties. 这个国家在行政区划分上分为许多郡。 来自辞典例句
• Administratively permission enactment right is the foundation of administrative systems standardization. 摘要行政许可设定权是行政许可制度规范化的基础。 来自互联网

8 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

9 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。