VOA标准英语2013--Washington Week: Fireworks in Washington Foreshadow Battles to Come

 

Washington Week: Fireworks in Washington Foreshadow Battles to Come

The Senate passed a landmark¹ overhaul² of U.S. immigration laws, but the battle is far from over.  Backers and opponents of reform are gearing up for what promises to be an even tougher fight in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where Speaker John Boehner has all but ruled out a vote on the Senate bill.

“I do not see any way of bringing an immigration bill to the floor that does not have the majority support of Republicans," he said.

President Barack Obama is urging an all-out effort by the pro-reform side to demand a House vote on a bill that boosts U.S. border security and provides a path to citizenship³ for millions of undocumented immigrants, like this man.

“The only thing we are looking for is the same opportunity that all the immigrants had since the beginning of this country," said an undocumented immigrated⁴ who called himself Oscar.

The coming weeks will see rallies and intense lobbying efforts to pressure lawmakers.  Reform opponents are gearing up, as well.   Jim Gilchrist views legalization as amnesty for law-breakers.

“You cannot expect me or 310 million other Americans to respect the rules of law if you are going to give preferential treatment to those who violated the laws," he said.

Meanwhile, backers of marriage rights for same-sex couples are hailing Supreme⁵ Court decisions that significantly advanced their cause.  The court ruled the federal government must recognize gay unions, and set in motion a resumption of same-sex marriages in California, America’s most-populous state.

Proponents⁶ are strategizing to establish same-sex marriage rights nationwide in coming years, and say the Supreme Court rulings are a big step in the right direction.

Attorney David Boies said, “The United States Supreme Court held that there was no purpose for depriving gay and lesbian couples of the right to marry the person they love.”

But opponents of same-sex marriage are not giving up the fight, including Christian⁷ minister Rob Schenk. “The Supreme Court has no authority when it comes to the nature of marriage.  That authority belongs to the creator who our founders⁸ declared is the source of all our rights," he said.

Thursday, Americans will celebrate U.S. Independence Day. 

1 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

2 overhaul   

v./n.大修，仔细检查

参考例句：

• Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。
• It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

3 citizenship   

n.市民权，公民权，国民的义务(身份)

参考例句：

• He was born in Sweden,but he doesn't have Swedish citizenship.他在瑞典出生，但没有瑞典公民身分。
• Ten years later,she chose to take Australian citizenship.十年后，她选择了澳大利亚国籍。

4 immigrated   

v.移入( immigrate的过去式和过去分词 )；移民

参考例句：

• He immigrated from Ulster in 1848. 他1848年从阿尔斯特移民到这里。 来自辞典例句
• Many Pakistanis have immigrated to Britain. 许多巴基斯坦人移居到了英国。 来自辞典例句

5 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

6 proponents   

n.（某事业、理论等的）支持者，拥护者( proponent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Reviewing courts were among the most active proponents of hybrid rulemaking procedures. 复审法院是最积极的混合型规则制定程序的建议者。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• Proponents of such opinions were arrested as 'traitors. ' 提倡这种主张的人马上作为“卖国贼”逮捕起来。 来自辞典例句

7 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

8 founders   

n.创始人( founder的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was one of the founders of the university's medical faculty. 他是该大学医学院的创建人之一。 来自辞典例句
• The founders of our religion made this a cornerstone of morality. 我们宗教的创始人把这看作是道德的基石。 来自辞典例句