美国国家公共电台 NPR--Senate to vote on bill that would protect same-sex and interracial marriages

Senate to vote on bill that would protect same-sex and interracial marriages

Transcript¹

The Senate is expected to vote Tuesday on a measure that would protect same-sex and interracial marriages. Democrats²' push to pass the bill comes while they still control both chambers³ of Congress.

RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

The Supreme⁴ Court's decision this summer to overturn the constitutional right to abortion⁵ has raised questions about how vulnerable other civil rights laws could be. Today, the Senate is set to vote on legislation that would protect same-sex and interracial marriages. As NPR's Barbara Sprunt reports, it's a top legislative⁶ priority for Democrats while they still control both chambers of Congress.

BARBARA SPRUNT, BYLINE⁷: The Respect for Marriage Act would not force states to issue same-sex marriage licenses⁸, but would require them to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. On the Senate floor on Monday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said passing the legislation would be a big step forward.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

CHUCK SCHUMER: We all know that for all the progress that we've made on same-sex marriage, the rights of all married couples will never truly be safe without the proper protections under federal law. And that's why the Respect for Marriage Act is necessary.

SPRUNT: Opponents to the legislation argue it threatens religious liberty and that a 2015 Supreme Court decision already guarantees constitutional protections for same-sex marriage. Here's Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas on the Senate floor Monday.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

JOHN CORNYN: This idea that we have to pass this legislation in order to preserve what has already been recognized by the Supreme Court as a constitutional right - that this is based on, frankly⁹, a scare tactic¹⁰.

SPRUNT: He said while the bill raises questions on religious liberty, it, quote, "does not move the needle" on same-sex marriage.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

CORNYN: And there's no reason to believe that this decision is any - in any imminent¹¹ jeopardy¹².

SPRUNT: But Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon pushed back on that idea, pointing to the Supreme Court's decision over the summer overturning the constitutional right to an abortion.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

RON WYDEN: Some members of this body have questioned why we need to pass this bill when marriage equality is the law of the land. The answer is pretty straightforward¹³. The Dobbs ruling, which overturned Roe¹⁴ v. Wade¹⁵, showed that the Senate cannot take any modern legal precedent¹⁶ for granted.

SPRUNT: Twelve Republican senators have already supported this legislation on procedural hurdles¹⁷, and a deal was struck Monday to allow votes on amendments¹⁸ from three Republican senators aimed at protecting religious freedom. If the bill passes, it will then go to the House, where it's expected to pass easily, before being sent to President Biden for his signature. Barbara Sprunt, NPR News, Washington.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 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》

3 chambers   

n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅

参考例句：

• The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间：Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网

4 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

5 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

6 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。

7 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

8 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

9 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

10 tactic   

n.战略，策略；adj.战术的，有策略的

参考例句：

• Reducing prices is a common sales tactic.降价是常用的销售策略。
• She had often used the tactic of threatening to resign.她惯用以辞职相威胁的手法。

11 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

12 jeopardy   

n.危险；危难

参考例句：

• His foolish behaviour may put his whole future in jeopardy.他愚蠢的行为可能毁了他一生的前程。
• It is precisely at this juncture that the boss finds himself in double jeopardy.恰恰在这个关键时刻，上司发现自己处于进退两难的境地。

13 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

14 roe   

n.鱼卵；獐鹿

参考例句：

• We will serve smoked cod's roe at the dinner.宴会上我们将上一道熏鳕鱼子。
• I'll scramble some eggs with roe?我用鱼籽炒几个鸡蛋好吗？

15 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。

16 precedent   

n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的

参考例句：

• Is there a precedent for what you want me to do?你要我做的事有前例可援吗？
• This is a wonderful achievement without precedent in Chinese history.这是中国历史上亘古未有的奇绩。

17 hurdles   

n.障碍( hurdle的名词复数 )；跳栏；（供人或马跳跃的）栏架；跨栏赛

参考例句：

• In starting a new company, many hurdles must be crossed. 刚开办一个公司时，必须克服许多障碍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are several hurdles to be got over in this project. 在这项工程中有一些困难要克服。 来自辞典例句

18 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。