2006年VOA标准英语-Bush Urges Senate to Approve Research Funding

By Scott Stearns
Washington
08 July 2006

President Bush says the U.S. economy is strong, and he wants Congress to keep it that way by boosting funding for research into new technologies. Opposition¹ Democrats², meanwhile, say the president's plan to change the federal retirement³ system would increase government debt.

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President Bush says a growing economy is creating jobs and delivering prosperity to more Americans. In his weekly radio address, he said workers are keeping more of what they earn because of his tax cuts.

To ensure continued growth, Mr. Bush says, he wants Congress to make those cuts permanent.

 
President Bush 
  
"Our economic expansion is lifting the lives of millions of Americans, and to keep this expansion going, we must maintain the pro-growth, low-tax policies that helped to launch it in the first place," said Mr. Bush.  "The tax relief we delivered has helped unleash⁴ the entrepreneurial spirit of America, and kept our economy the envy of the world. So, I will continue to work with Congress to make that tax relief permanent."

The president also wants Congress to double federal funding for research into emerging technologies, including supercomputing and alternative energy sources. He says that will encourage bolder private sector⁵ investment, and help ensure that American children have the math and science skills needed for the jobs of the future.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives last month approved funding for the basic research component⁶ of what the president calls his American Competitiveness Initiative. Mr. Bush wants the Senate to do the same.

Opposition Democrats say a Republican plan to privatize the federal retirement program threatens economic growth.

In the Democratic radio address, Iowa Congressional candidate Bruce Braley said Republican plans for the program known as Social Security could cause huge debt for decades.

"They are spending the money seniors rely on, while making no effort to balance the budget or protect the limited funds we have for retirement security," said Mr. Braley.

Reforming Social Security was the key domestic priority of the president's second term, but ran into opposition from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress over how future retirement payments should be funded.

President Bush says he intends to pursue the issue after November's Congressional elections.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 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》

3 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

4 unleash   

vt.发泄，发出；解带子放开

参考例句：

• They hope to create allies to unleash against diseases,pests,and invasive species.他们希望创造出一些新群体来对付疾病、害虫和一些有侵害性的物种。
• Changing water levels now at times unleash a miasma of disease from exposed sewage.如今，大坝不时地改变水位，从暴露的污水释放出了疾病瘴气。

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 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。