2006年VOA标准英语-US Senate Opens Debate on Funding Bill for

By Deborah Tate
Washington
25 April 2006

The U.S. Senate has begun considering a massive spending bill to pay for the war in Iraq and aiding the recovery of the storm-ravaged Gulf¹ coast. Iraq war critics are using occasion to question the rising costs of the military operation.

------------------------------------------------

Senator Thad Cochran, a Mississippi Republican and chairman of the Senate Appropriations² Committee, opened the debate on the nearly $107 billion emergency supplemental bill.

"Overall, the bill can be described as having two major point of focus: first, it provides needed funding for our military to continue to carry out operations overseas; and it also includes the commitment to rebuild the Gulf coast to permit inhabitants there to recover from the devastation³ caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," he said.

The measure calls for some $68 billion to go for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and $27 billion for hurricane relief. The remainder of the funding would go toward levee repairs and flood control, among other projects.

Much of the debate focused on Iraq.

Senator Robert Byrd, a West Virginia Democrat⁴ and outspoken⁵ critic of the Iraq war, questioned the sharp rise in the cost of the conflict.

He noted⁶ that two years ago the cost of Iraq operations was averaging $4 billion a month. But this year, he said, the Congressional Research Service is estimating the cost will rise to $6.8 billion a month. "The American people ought to be asking: How on earth has the monthly cost of the war in Iraq grown by 70 percent in just two years? Isn't there any way to control the cost of the war while making sure that our troops continue to get the support that they need? The truth is that the administration is out of control when it comes to asking for emergency spending," he said.

Other lawmakers, concerned about an open-ended commitment of U.S. troops in Iraq, introduced a non-binding resolution to press the Iraqis toward a political settlement. The amendment⁷ calls on President Bush to make clear to Iraqis that the continued presence of U.S. troops in Iraq is not unconditional⁸, and that it depends on Iraqis meeting their self-imposed deadlines for forming a unity⁹ government.

"For me, the message is that the Iraqi people have to know that the day is going to come when the American troops are not going to be in their country. They are responsible for the future of their country, and we need to keep the pressure on for a political solution," said Senator Susan Collins, a Maine Republican.

Senator Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat, is a cosponsor of the amendment. "We need to link our continued military presence to the Iraqis making the political compromises, which are essential if they are going to have a chance at defeating that insurgency¹⁰ and of avoiding that all-out civil war," he said.

The emergency supplemental bill is expected to be easily approved by the Senate. But it will have to be reconciled with a House-passed measure before a final bill is sent to President Bush.

The Senate bill is $15 billion over that requested by President Bush in February, and comes to the Senate floor at a time when many Republican conservatives are concerned about rising government spending and federal budget deficits¹¹.

But the size of the bill is likely to increase over the coming days, with senators expected to add amendments¹² to fund veterans' health care, drought relief, and efforts to combat avian flu.

Some Senate conservatives hope President Bush will threaten to veto the bill over its cost.

1 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

2 appropriations   

n.挪用（appropriation的复数形式）

参考例句：

• More commonly, funding controls are imposed in the annual appropriations process. 更普遍的作法是，拨款控制被规定在年度拨款手续中。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• Should the president veto the appropriations bill, it goes back to Congress. 假如总统否决了这项拨款提案，就把它退还给国会。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

3 devastation   

n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤

参考例句：

• The bomb caused widespread devastation. 炸弹造成大面积破坏。
• There was devastation on every side. 到处都是破坏的创伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 outspoken   

adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的

参考例句：

• He was outspoken in his criticism.他在批评中直言不讳。
• She is an outspoken critic of the school system in this city.她是这座城市里学校制度的坦率的批评者。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 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。

8 unconditional   

adj.无条件的，无限制的，绝对的

参考例句：

• The victorious army demanded unconditional surrender.胜方要求敌人无条件投降。
• My love for all my children is unconditional.我对自己所有孩子的爱都是无条件的。

9 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。

10 insurgency   

n.起义；暴动；叛变

参考例句：

• And as in China, unrest and even insurgency are widespread. 而在中国，动乱甚至暴乱都普遍存在。 来自互联网
• Dr Zyphur is part an insurgency against this idea. 塞弗博士是这一观点逆流的一部分。 来自互联网

11 deficits   

n.不足额( deficit的名词复数 )；赤字；亏空；亏损

参考例句：

• The Ministry of Finance consistently overestimated its budget deficits. 财政部一贯高估预算赤字。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Many of the world's farmers are also incurring economic deficits. 世界上许多农民还在遭受经济上的亏损。 来自辞典例句

12 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。