voa标准英语2008年-Troubled US Auto Industry Seeks Aid From Congre

Top executives from the three major U.S. automakers pressed Congress for aid to prevent their beleaguered² industry from collapsing³ and causing additional harm to the U.S. economy. Lawmakers are considering an aid package to automakers, but prospects⁴ for passage appear dim, as VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.
　

From right: GM CEO Rick Wagoner, Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli, and Ford5 CEO Alan Mulally, testify at a Senate Banking6, Housing and Urban Affairs hearing, 18 Nov 2008

In an appearance before the Senate Banking Committee late Tuesday afternoon, officials of Ford, Chysler and General Motors sought a financial rescue package for their industry, which has faced plummeting⁷ sales, plant closings and thousands of job losses.

Robert Nardelli is chairman and chief executive officer of Chrysler:

"We are asking for assistance for one reason: to address the devastating⁸ automotive industry recession caused by our nation's financial meltdown," said Robert Nardelli.

Richard Wagoner, chairman and chief executive officer of General Motors, warned of huge economic consequences if Congress does not act.

"What would it mean if the domestic industry were allowed to fail? The cost would be catastrophic in jobs lost, income lost, government tax revenue lost, and a huge blow to consumer and business confidence," said Richard Wagoner.

Many Democrats⁹, including Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, agree.

"The surest way to turn today's recession into a depression would be to let this industry founder," said Senator Brown.

Senate Democrats have introduced a plan to use $25 billion of the $700-billion financial rescue package approved last month to help the auto¹ industry.

The plan would offer loans to automakers and their suppliers and limit pay for executives.

Senate Republicans and the Bush administration oppose that plan, saying the $700 billion was meant to shore up financial institutions, not the auto industry.

Republicans say mismanagement by automakers is to blame for much of the industry's financial troubles, and say the Democrats' rescue plan would do little to restructure the industry. Senator Jim Bunning is a Kentucky Republican:

"It is virtually a blank check that does not require serious considerations or concessions," said Senator Bunning.

But the auto executives say they are streamlining their companies.

Alan Mulally is president and chief executive officer of the Ford Motor Company:

"Few companies have restructured more aggressively," said Alan Mulally. "We have taken out that excess capacity that we talked about earlier, closing 17 plants and reducing our workforce¹⁰ by 51,000 employees."

Republicans believe more needs to be done.

In the meantime, they say any help for automakers should come from a $25-billion loan program approved by Congress in September to promote the development of more fuel-efficient cars.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino agrees.

"We have legislation that is already on the books, where money has already been appropriated to help automakers through the DOE [Department of Energy] loan program," said Dana Perino.

Democrats, who enjoy the support of environmental groups, oppose using funds from that program, which they insist be used to develop cars that use less gasoline.

A Senate vote on the Democrats' $25-billion rescue plan for automakers - which also includes an extension of unemployment benefits - could come as early as Thursday. But aides in both political parties say the plan does not appear to have enough support to pass.

If the plan fails, the Senate would vote to approve the unemployment benefits only. That measure does appear to have widespread support.

1 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

2 beleaguered   

adj.受到围困[围攻]的；包围的v.围攻( beleaguer的过去式和过去分词)；困扰；骚扰

参考例句：

• The beleaguered party leader was forced to resign. 那位饱受指责的政党领导人被迫辞职。
• We are beleaguered by problems. 我们被许多困难所困扰。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 collapsing   

压扁[平]，毁坏，断裂

参考例句：

• Rescuers used props to stop the roof of the tunnel collapsing. 救援人员用支柱防止隧道顶塌陷。
• The rocks were folded by collapsing into the center of the trough. 岩石由于坍陷进入凹槽的中心而发生褶皱。

4 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

5 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

6 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

7 plummeting   

v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Prices are rising, falling, going up, going down, shooting up, plummeting, etc. 物价在上涨、下跌、上升、下落、猛然上涨、骤然下跌等。 来自辞典例句
• The enemy plane went plummeting into the sea. 敌机直直掉进海里。 来自辞典例句

8 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

9 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》

10 workforce   

n.劳动大军，劳动力

参考例句：

• A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。
• A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。