2007年VOA标准英语-US Senate to Reconsider Immigration Reform Next

By Deborah Tate
Capitol Hill
23 June 2007

The U.S. Senate next week is expected to make another effort to pass a sweeping¹ immigration reform bill.  The measure was blocked by opposition² Republicans earlier this month, and its fate remains³ unclear, as VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.

Under pressure from President Bush, for whom immigration reform is a top legislative⁴ priority, Senate leaders agreed to reconsider the comprehensive bill aimed at overhauling⁵ the nation's immigration system.

The measure would tighten⁶ border security, create a temporary guest worker program and offer the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States a possible path to citizenship⁷. 

Senator Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat⁸, is a supporter of the bill.

"To become a citizen, immigrants in the country illegally will have to demonstrate a real dedication⁹ to our country," she said.  "They will have to work to hold their visas, they will have to pay a fine, they will have to learn our language, and they do have to do this over a substantial period of time.  This won't happen overnight."

Supporters hope more Republicans will back the bill this time.  Earlier this month, minority Republicans used procedural tactics to block the bill from coming to a vote. 

Senate Majority Leader Harry¹⁰ Reid, a Nevada Democrat, says a newly proposed amendment¹¹ to provide $4 billion for border security, funded by fees and fines paid by undocumented workers, should help ease Republican concerns that the legislation does not go far enough to securing U.S. borders:

Rep. Harry Reid (16 Feb 2007)

"This bill is great with border with security," he said.  "Why?  Because it has $4.4 billion of mandated¹² spending for border security.  It is such a better bill, and for that reason, it should pass."

But many Republicans are skeptical¹³ of the proposal, and many others remain concerned that the legislation rewards immigrants who entered the United States illegally with the promise of citizenship.

"We are going to send a message around the world that all you have to do is get into our country illegally and you will be made a citizen," said Senator Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Republican.

Some Republican opponents are vowing¹⁴ to try to block the bill a second time.

"Many of us are going to use every procedural tool we can to try to stop this bill," said Senator Jim DeMint, a South Carolina Republican.

Although Senate Democratic leader Reid remains hopeful about the bill's passage, Republican leader Mitch McConnell is more cautious.  McConnell says he is not even sure how he will vote on the legislation until action on all amendments¹⁵ is completed.

The House of Representatives has yet to draft its own immigration reform bill.

1 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

2 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

3 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

4 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。

5 overhauling   

n.大修；拆修；卸修；翻修v.彻底检查( overhaul的现在分词 )；大修；赶上；超越

参考例句：

• I had no chance of overhauling him. 我没有赶上他的可能。 来自辞典例句
• Some sites need little alterations but some need total overhauling. 有些网站需要做出细微修改，而有些网站就需要整体改版。 来自互联网

6 tighten   

v.(使)变紧；(使)绷紧

参考例句：

• Turn the screw to the right to tighten it.向右转动螺钉把它拧紧。
• Some countries tighten monetary policy to avoid inflation.一些国家实行紧缩银根的货币政策，以避免通货膨胀。

7 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。

8 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。

9 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

10 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。

11 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

12 mandated   

adj. 委托统治的

参考例句：

• Mandated desegregation of public schools. 命令解除公立学校中的种族隔离
• Britain was mandated to govern the former colony of German East Africa. 英国受权代管德国在东非的前殖民地。

13 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

14 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。

15 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。