Trump Chooses Kansas Governor to Lead Religious Freedom Efforts

Trump¹ Chooses Kansas Governor to Lead Religious Freedom Efforts

President Donald Trump chose the Republican governor of Kansas to lead American government support of religious freedom across the world.

If approved by the Senate, Governor Sam Brownback’s new position would be “ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.”

Brownback, like Trump, is a Republican.

Brownback, who is 60, talked about being selected for the religious freedom job at a news conference on Thursday.

"International religious freedom is going the wrong way," Brownback said. "There's more persecution², not less, that's taken place over the last 20 years."

On Twitter, he said, “Religious freedom is the first freedom. The choice of what you do with your own soul. I am honored to serve such an important cause.”

Brownback was a U.S. senator in 1998 when he was a lead sponsor of the International Religious Freedom Act. The bill was signed into law by then President Bill Clinton, a Democrat³.

The legislation called on the U.S. government to help people persecuted⁵ in foreign countries because of their religious beliefs.

The law created the ambassador-at-large position for which Brownback has been nominated. It also requires yearly reports on the state of religious freedom across the world.

In 2016, the State Department reported a decrease in religious freedom from the year before. The report blamed a growing refugee crisis, political divisions and economic problems for the drop in religious freedom.

It reported barriers to religious freedom in Pakistan, Mauritania, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Angola, Bahrain and the Central African Republican.

When the Senate will take up the Brownback nomination⁶ has not yet been announced. If he is approved, Brownback will give up his job as Kansas governor. He would be replaced by the lieutenant⁷ governor, Jeff Colyer. Colyer is a doctor and, like Brownback, a Republican.

Brownback was elected governor in 2010, and later won passage of big cuts in Kansas taxes. But the tax cuts led to cuts in services. The state’s education system was hard hit.

In June, the Legislature brought back most of the taxes that were cut.

Susan Wagle is president of the Kansas Senate. She has disagreed with Brownback on budget and tax issues. She commented on Brownback’s decision to resign as governor and take a new job in Washington.

“This position will be a good fit for Governor Brownback, a staunch defender⁸ of religious freedom. I’m sure he will do a great job,” Wagle said.

Wagle called on the U.S. Senate to approve Brownback’s nomination quickly -- “so that we can get Kansas back on track with new leadership.”

I’m Bruce Alpert.

Words in This Story

persecute⁴ - v. to treat someone cruelly or unfairly especially because of race or religious or political beliefs

soul - n. the spiritual part of a person that is believed to give life to the body and in many religions is believed to live forever

challenge - n. issues that test the ability or strength needed to solve problems

staunch - adj. very devoted⁹ or loyal to a person, belief, or cause

on track - phrase. on the way to getting something done

1 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

2 persecution   

n. 迫害,烦扰

参考例句：

• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
• Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。

3 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。

4 persecute   

vt.迫害，虐待；纠缠，骚扰

参考例句：

• They persecute those who do not conform to their ideas.他们迫害那些不信奉他们思想的人。
• Hitler's undisguised effort to persecute the Jews met with worldwide condemnation.希特勒对犹太人的露骨迫害行为遭到世界人民的谴责。

5 persecuted   

（尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人

参考例句：

• Throughout history, people have been persecuted for their religious beliefs. 人们因宗教信仰而受迫害的情况贯穿了整个历史。
• Members of these sects are ruthlessly persecuted and suppressed. 这些教派的成员遭到了残酷的迫害和镇压。

6 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

7 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

8 defender   

n.保卫者，拥护者，辩护人

参考例句：

• He shouldered off a defender and shot at goal.他用肩膀挡开防守队员，然后射门。
• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。

9 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。