2006年VOA标准英语-US House Committee Votes to Block Dubai Po

By Dan Robinson
Washington
09 March 2006

Republicans in the House of Representatives have voted to block Dubai Ports World's acquisition of management operations at six key U.S. ports. The move in the House came as majority Republicans in the Senate turned back a Democrat¹-backed effort to force a vote on the issue.

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The latest round in the Dubai ports controversy² played out Wednesday on both sides of Capitol Hill.

Senate Democrats³ tried unsuccessfully to force the Republican Senate leadership to allow a vote on the ports issue.

The Democratic effort, in the form of an amendment⁴ to must-pass lobbying reform legislation, brought business in the Senate to a halt.

At a news conference soon after [Democratic] Senator Richard Durbin complained that Republicans are trying to block a vote because of the sensitivity of the issue for the Bush administration:

"The Republican leadership in the U.S. Senate does not want to face a vote on the Dubai ports deal. Not this afternoon, not this evening, not tomorrow, maybe not ever, but they will. They're going to be held accountable to the American people," he said.

Developments in the Senate contrasted with the House of Representatives, where Republicans went ahead with legislation aimed at blocking Dubai Ports World from taking over management of terminals at six U.S. ports.

House Republicans moved even closer to confrontation⁵ with President Bush by attaching their bill to crucial legislation being considered by the Appropriations⁶ Committee containing money for U.S. military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Republican Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis spoke⁷ before the committee voted 62 to 2 in favor of blocking the Dubai ports deal.

"This is a national security issue, this is a national security bill. We want to make sure that the security of our ports is in America's hands. My amendment blocks the deal by prohibiting Dubai Ports World or any entity⁸ controlled by DP World from taking control of U.S. port operations," he said.

Congressman⁹ Lewis noted¹⁰ that the amendment does not attempt to reform the existing U.S. government approval process involving a special committee on foreign investment, something many lawmakers would like to see happen.

Some opponents as well as supporters of the amendment cautioned that lawmakers have not yet examined the ports issue thoroughly¹¹ enough to take such an action.

"I think that the Congress itself, if it is going to interpose its judgment¹² in this instance, than we ought to have a regularized process in which it does so over the long haul," said Wisconsin Democrat David Obey.

"I am concerned about what we are doing here today as I think this diverts us from the real issue, which is port security," said Republican Congressman Jim Kolbe.

President Bush has threatened to veto any legislation emerging from Congress that blocks the Dubai ports deal.

The White House said Wednesday the president has not changed his position, adding that the Bush administration continues to talk with members of Congress about possible solutions.

Events in the Senate placed Senate Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist in a difficult position, as he may be unable to move forward with lobbying and other important legislation while Democrats continue to use legislative¹³ techniques to force a vote on blocking the Dubai ports deal.

1 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。

2 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

3 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 confrontation   

n.对抗，对峙，冲突

参考例句：

• We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。
• After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

6 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

7 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

8 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。

9 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。

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 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

12 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

13 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。