2007年VOA标准英语-Bush Wants Investigation of US Veterans' Health

By Scott Stearns
White House
02 March 2007

U.S. President George Bush wants a bipartisan commission to investigate the quality of health care for America's military veterans following a series of newspaper stories describing poor conditions at a Washington-area hospital. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns has the story.

 
George W. Bush, 2 Mar¹ 2007
President Bush says he was deeply troubled by reports of conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center outside Washington.

"Some of our troops at Walter Reed have experienced bureaucratic² delays and living conditions that are less than they deserve," he said. "This is unacceptable to me, it is unacceptable to our country, and it's not going to continue."

The scandal over conditions at Walter Reed has already claimed the general in charge of the facility, who was removed Thursday after Pentagon officials said they had lost confidence in his ability to address outpatient care.

 
Repairs are still needed as seen in some of the rooms at Building 18 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, 22 Feb 2007
An investigation³ by The Washington Post published last month reported that recuperating⁴ soldiers were living in a run-down building, infested⁵ with mice, mold and cockroaches⁶.

That is especially embarrassing for the president, as he regularly visits Walter Reed to meet with those injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

So even though the Defense⁷ Department has since appointed a group of experts to look into veterans' health care, the president wants his own bipartisan commission to ensure that recovering soldiers are treated with dignity and respect.

He said, "This review will examine their treatment from the time they leave the battlefield through their return to civilian⁸ life as veterans, so we can ensure that we are meeting their physical and mental health needs."

The president says he will announce the members of the commission and their deadline for reporting back to him in the coming days.

He made those comments in his weekly radio address, which is regularly broadcast Saturday morning, but which was released early by the White House.

Mr. Bush said the country has a moral obligation to provide service men and women with the best possible care and treatment.

1 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

2 bureaucratic   

adj.官僚的，繁文缛节的

参考例句：

• The sweat of labour washed away his bureaucratic airs.劳动的汗水冲掉了他身上的官气。
• In this company you have to go through complex bureaucratic procedures just to get a new pencil.在这个公司里即使是领一支新铅笔，也必须通过繁琐的手续。

3 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

4 recuperating   

v.恢复（健康、体力等），复原( recuperate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He's still recuperating from his operation. 他动了手术，还在恢复。
• He is recuperating from a serious back injury. 他背部受了重伤，目前正在康复中。 来自辞典例句

5 infested   

adj.为患的，大批滋生的（常与with搭配）v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 )；遍布于

参考例句：

• The kitchen was infested with ants. 厨房里到处是蚂蚁。
• The apartments were infested with rats and roaches. 公寓里面到处都是老鼠和蟑螂。

6 cockroaches   

n.蟑螂( cockroach的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• At night, the cockroaches filled the house with their rustlings. 夜里，屋里尽是蟑螂窸窸瑟瑟的声音。 来自辞典例句
• It loves cockroaches, and can keep a house clear of these hated insects. 它们好食蟑螂，可以使住宅免除这些讨厌昆虫的骚扰。 来自百科语句

7 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

8 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。