PBS高端访谈:哈维飓风重创美国休斯顿

 　　For another view on the soggy ground in Texas, I spoke¹ a short time ago to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a Democrat².

　　She has represented downtown Houston for more than two decades.

　　The congresswoman has not been able to access her own home due to flooding in the area.

　　She joins us from the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. Thanks very much for being with us, Congresswoman.

　　I know you have been in your district for the day, and I know you are personally affected³ by this.

　　If you can just paint the scene for me, what are you seeing among your constituents⁴ right now?

　　Well, I'm seeing a lot. I just came back in from the northeast part of high district, rescuing about 50 people,

　　including elderly that were frail⁵, babies and moms and others that were disabled,

　　but these were resilient people who are waiting and really said, we will wait it out.

　　We will stay here in this place with no real food and no real resources.

　　They had taken cover, if you will, in a place in the neighborhood. A lot of people are doing that.

　　They are seeking their own refuge, but a lot of people are volunteering and being the good samaritans.

　　At the same time, we're working closely with local governments, the mayor and county judge.

　　And I'm here on the federal resources. FEMA at this center we have, this very, very popular center, if you will,

　　the George R. Brown Convention Center, the shelter that is here, we just got FEMA coming in to work with people on their losses. We have got a full medical center established.

　　And we're trying to restore people's lives. But we do need and will need federal resources.

　　And I'm looking for a bipartisan approach to making sure we get those monies to restore the lives of Houstonians and those in South Texas

　　and all over the state that have been impacted and still being impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

　　What will you be asking for from Washington and from your fellow members of Congress?

　　We're planning on introducing an aid package that we hope will be joined by Republicans and Democrats⁶ that will comprehensively look at the housing.

　　We believe that there will be a major impact on people who will be able to go back to their housing at this time. We realize that there are homes that are now sitting with water.

　　This is the most catastrophic event that we have had in Houston, in Harris County, bar none, bar Alicia and Allison.

　　The water is pounding. So, we're going to have to restore a lot of housing. Our infrastructure⁷ has to be restored, our water retention⁸.

　　All of that will be part of an aid package. And I hope that we will not only have the leadership of the Congress,

　　but the White House will understand that a large economic piece of the nation has been severely⁹ impacted.

　　I heard someone from FEMA say this will take months for restoration and maybe even years.

　　Of course, the politics here in Washington is the possibility maybe of a government shutdown.

　　In the context of what's happening in Houston, what do you say to that?

　　Well, this is a busy place. And I'm trying to get people rescued.

　　But I intend to send a letter to the president of the United States and emphasize to him that this is the worst time that a government shutdown could occur.

　　I'm not for a government shutdown. I understand the speaker of the House is not for a government shutdown, the majority leader is not for a government shutdown.

　　Those of us in the other party, Democratic Party, our leadership wants to be able to help working people get a better deal.

　　We do not want to have a shutdown. So my message to the president is if you're coming here tomorrow,

　　come here with a message of unity¹⁰, come here with a message of strength and come here with a message that we are America first and that we want to help the people of America,

　　we're going to help Houston, Texas, and we're going to help the first-responders, the police and firefighters who were out there with me just an hour ago bringing these 60 people in.

　　I watched them carefully lift up the elderly and the sick and the frail and young mothers and families.

　　That's what I needed the president to do. He should come here with a message unity and a message of thanks for all of these people who have sacrificed, who are out there with their own boats helping¹¹.

　　And he should come with a message of a dollar sign, that he's going to go back, keep the government open, and help us get back on our feet.

　　Is there a sense of desperation in your district?

　　I will say to you that this is beyond our even appreciation¹² or understanding. We're in an ocean.

　　So, people, rightly so, are mourning and concerned about their lives. They have been disrupted. But they're welcoming of help.

　　And I don't think despair has set in at this point, but I think they're looking for those who are going to be held accountable and get us back on our feet.

　　Despair comes when you think no one is out caring about you.

　　Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, thank you very much. We will let you get back to it.

　　I thank you so very much.

　　And I thank all the volunteers who have come in, some across the nation. And we need help, so please send us help.

　　A lot of items here, whatever you have, bring them down to the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. Thank you so very much. undefined

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 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。

3 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

4 constituents   

n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素

参考例句：

• She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
• Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 frail   

adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的

参考例句：

• Mrs. Warner is already 96 and too frail to live by herself.华纳太太已经九十六岁了，身体虚弱，不便独居。
• She lay in bed looking particularly frail.她躺在床上，看上去特别虚弱。

6 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》

7 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

8 retention   

n.保留，保持，保持力，记忆力

参考例句：

• They advocate the retention of our nuclear power plants.他们主张保留我们的核电厂。
• His retention of energy at this hour is really surprising.人们惊叹他在这个时候还能保持如此旺盛的精力。

9 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

10 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

11 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

12 appreciation   

n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨

参考例句：

• I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
• I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。