2006年VOA标准英语-US House of Representatives Approves Bill Advan

By Dan Robinson
Washington
27 July 2006
 
An agreement under which the United States would sell nuclear technology and fuel to India took a major step forward Wednesday with approval of legislation by the House of Representatives. The bill is one of several legislative¹ steps required before the U.S.-India agreement can be implemented².

-------

Without an exemption³ from the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, a law approved more than 50 years ago, India would not be eligible⁴ to receive U.S. exports of nuclear-related technology or fuel.

The United States has refused to sell such technology to India since it conducted its first nuclear test in 1974, a restriction⁵ that remained in force even after neighboring Pakistan became a nuclear power.

In establishing requirements for granting that exemption, the legislation obligates India to fulfill⁶ key commitments made in a joint⁷ statement [with the U.S.] in 2005 on civilian⁸ energy cooperation.

These include separating its civilian and military nuclear facilities, concluding a safeguard agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and signing a still-to-be finalized⁹ Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty.

Republicans and Democrats¹¹ supporting the U.S.-India accord cite what they call significant improvements since the Bush administration originally proposed it.

New York Democrat¹⁰ Joseph Crowley says the accord will help solidify¹² India's commitment to nonproliferation. "We need to find a way to bring India into the tent of nonproliferators as she has always been a nonproliferating country. She has never once proliferated¹³ beyond her borders, unlike some of her neighbors," he said.

However, some lawmakers say the U.S. failed to obtain strong enough assurances from India regarding its nuclear programs and fissile [bomb-making] material production.

Ohio Democrat Dennis Kucinich says the agreement undermines the Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). "We're going in the wrong direction here. At this time of great crisis in the world, we should be looking toward nuclear disarmament, nuclear abolition¹⁴, saving the world, not ramping¹⁵ up for Armageddon by nuclear proliferation," he said.

Florida Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen notes that the legislation underscores the need for India to help work against Iran's efforts to acquire a nuclear weapons capability¹⁶. "Securing India's full and active involvement in dissuading¹⁷, isolating¹⁸ and if necessary sanctioning and containing Iran for its efforts to acquire chemical, biological and nuclear weapons capability, and the means to deliver these deadly unconventional weapons," he said.

A U.S. president could stop nuclear transfers if India exports equipment or technology in violation¹⁹ of international guidelines, or the international Missile Technology Control Regime. Congress would receive extensive annual reports on compliance²⁰, including an assessment²¹ of whether India has used any civil nuclear assistance to enhance its weapons program.

House lawmakers also require the agreement to be submitted to a second vote after the Bush administration sends the text of a final agreement to Congress.

Similarly, the Senate must approve not only its own version of the House bill, but also hold a second vote before the cooperation agreement can go ahead.

With both houses of Congress winding²² down their business before a long summer recess²³, final approval may have to wait until September.

1 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。

2 implemented   

v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。 来自辞典例句

3 exemption   

n.豁免，免税额，免除

参考例句：

• You may be able to apply for exemption from local taxes.你可能符合资格申请免除地方税。
• These goods are subject to exemption from tax.这些货物可以免税。

4 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

5 restriction   

n.限制，约束

参考例句：

• The park is open to the public without restriction.这个公园对公众开放，没有任何限制。
• The 30 mph speed restriction applies in all built-up areas.每小时限速30英里适用于所有建筑物聚集区。

6 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

7 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

8 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

9 finalized   

vt.完成（finalize的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The draft of this article has been finalized [done]. 这篇文章已经定稿。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The draft was revised several times before it was finalized. 稿子几经删改才定下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

11 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》

12 solidify   

v.(使)凝固，(使)固化，(使)团结

参考例句：

• Opinion on this question began to solidify.对这个问题的意见开始具体化了。
• Water will solidify into ice if you freeze it.水冷冻会结冰。

13 proliferated   

激增( proliferate的过去式和过去分词 )； （迅速）繁殖； 增生； 扩散

参考例句：

• Books and articles on the subject have proliferated over the last year. 过去一年以来，论及这一问题的书和文章大量涌现。
• Influenza proliferated throughout the country. 流感在全国蔓延。

14 abolition   

n.废除，取消

参考例句：

• They declared for the abolition of slavery.他们声明赞成废除奴隶制度。
• The abolition of the monarchy was part of their price.废除君主制是他们的其中一部分条件。

15 ramping   

土堤斜坡( ramp的现在分词 )； 斜道； 斜路； （装车或上下飞机的）活动梯

参考例句：

• The children love ramping about in the garden. 孩子们喜欢在花园里追逐嬉戏，闹着玩。
• Have you ever seen a lion ramping around? 你看到过狮子暴跳吗？

16 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

17 dissuading   

劝（某人）勿做某事，劝阻( dissuade的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• If he has once fastened upon an idea,there is no dissuading him from it. 他一旦认准一个主意，就不可能让他放弃。

18 isolating   

adj.孤立的，绝缘的v.使隔离( isolate的现在分词 )；将…剔出（以便看清和单独处理）；使（某物质、细胞等）分离；使离析

参考例句：

• Colour filters are not very effective in isolating narrow spectral bands. 一些滤色片不能很有效地分离狭窄的光谱带。 来自辞典例句
• This became known as the streak method for isolating bacteria. 这个方法以后就称为分离细菌的划线法。 来自辞典例句

19 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

20 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

21 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

22 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

23 recess   

n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处）

参考例句：

• The chairman of the meeting announced a ten-minute recess.会议主席宣布休会10分钟。
• Parliament was hastily recalled from recess.休会的议员被匆匆召回开会。