2006年VOA标准英语-US Lawmakers Propose Tough Legislation Aim

By Dan Robinson
Washington
02 February 2006

House of Representatives lawmakers are proposing legislation to cut off U.S. assistance to the Palestinian Authority following the Hamas election victory.  Sponsors say Congress needs to act swiftly and decisively to send the message that Hamas must renounce¹ terrorism and its stated objective of destroying Israel.

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In announcing the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006, the bipartisan group of lawmakers did not mince² words about the aims of the legislation.

 

Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen  
  

Florida Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who chairs the House Middle East Subcommittee, said "We would hope that everything, every word in this bill does everything possible to undermine the credibility and legitimacy³ of the new government, because the new government is a terrorist government."

The legislation proposes to cut off assistance to the Palestinian Authority, and treat it as a terrorist entity⁴ because of Hamas' State Department designation as a foreign terrorist organization.

U.S. officials would be banned from diplomatic contacts with Palestinian Authority officials who are members of Hamas. 

The bill calls for a ban on visas for officials or members of the Palestinian Authority.

The bill would also withhold⁵ U.S. contributions to the United Nations in an amount equal to what the world body provides to the Palestinian Authority, or Palestinian entities⁶ and programs.

Other steps include travel restrictions⁷ on Palestinian officials at the United Nations, and the closure of any other Palestinian offices in the United States.

Lawmakers were blunt in responding to reporters who suggested that Congress, and the Bush administration, are hypocritical in refusing to support a democratically-elected government.

Democrat⁸ Tom Lantos rejects what he calls "the na?ve notion" that an election automatically bestows⁹ legitimacy.

"Let me remind ourselves that Hitler was elected to office in free and open elections," he noted¹⁰.  "Now, elections are an important component¹¹, but certainly not all of the components¹² of building a free and open democratic society."

Congressman¹³ Eric Cantor  
  
Republican Congressman Eric Cantor says the legislation does not contradict longstanding U.S. policy and congressional positions on terrorism. "The Bush administration has been very clear about democracy," said Mr. Cantor.  "Democracy is the route to peace [and] freedom.  But, with democracy, comes choice and accountability.  The Palestinian people have chosen Hamas, have chosen terror.  And I think we have all said, as has the president and his administration, that choices have consequences."

Republican Congressman Steve Chabot says Hamas knows what it must do, if it wants to have any legitimacy.

"As long as Hamas remains¹⁴ a terrorist organization, there is no place for it in the political process," he added.

Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen says negotiations¹⁵ are continuing with the White House on what the legislation might look like in final form.  She says the Bush administration wants to ensure it will have sufficient authority to waive¹⁶ portions for national security reasons.

1 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。

2 mince   

n.切碎物；v.切碎，矫揉做作地说

参考例句：

• Would you like me to mince the meat for you?你要我替你把肉切碎吗？
• Don't mince matters,but speak plainly.不要含糊其词，有话就直说吧。

3 legitimacy   

n.合法，正当

参考例句：

• The newspaper was directly challenging the government's legitimacy.报纸直接质疑政府的合法性。
• Managing from the top down,we operate with full legitimacy.我们进行由上而下的管理有充分的合法性。

4 entity   

n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物

参考例句：

• The country is no longer one political entity.这个国家不再是一个统一的政治实体了。
• As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作为一个独立的法律实体，公司必须纳税。

5 withhold   

v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡

参考例句：

• It was unscrupulous of their lawyer to withhold evidence.他们的律师隐瞒证据是不道德的。
• I couldn't withhold giving some loose to my indignation.我忍不住要发泄一点我的愤怒。

6 entities   

实体对像； 实体，独立存在体，实际存在物( entity的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Our newspaper and our printing business form separate corporate entities. 我们的报纸和印刷业形成相对独立的企业实体。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities. 北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

7 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

8 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。

9 bestows   

赠给，授予( bestow的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Second, Xie Lingyun bestows on basic subject and emotion connotation. 谢灵运赋的基本主题及情感内涵。
• And the frigid climate bestows Heilongjiang rich resources of ice and snow. 寒冷的气候赋予了其得天独厚的冰雪资源。

10 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。

11 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

12 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

13 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

14 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

15 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

16 waive   

vt.放弃，不坚持(规定、要求、权力等)

参考例句：

• I'll record to our habitat office waive our claim immediately.我立即写信给咱们的总公司提出放弃索赔。
• In view of the unusual circumstances,they agree to waive their requirement.鉴于特殊情况，他们同意放弃他们的要求。