2006年VOA标准英语-Bush: Pledge on US Border Security Fulfilled

By Jeff Custer
Washington
05 August 2006

 
With backdrop of US Border Patrol keeping watch on Rio Grande River, George Bush speaks to a group about immigration policy in Mission, Texas,  Aug. 3, 2006 
  
President Bush is urging Congress to adopt an immigration reform package. In his weekly radio address, the president said he has fulfilled a promise to increase border security. Immigration is expected to be a major issue in November Congressional elections.

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This week, President Bush traveled to the Rio Grande Valley in Texas where National Guard troops have been deployed¹ to work with border patrol agents. In his weekly radio address, the president says, 6,000 National Guard Troops are now in place along the border - fulfilling a pledge he made in May. "With the support of the National Guard, border patrol agents have seized over 17,000 pounds of illegal drugs, and caught more than 2,500 illegal immigrants since June 15. Just last month, border patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley sector² confiscated³ more than 4,200 pounds of marijuana, hidden in a tractor-trailer," he said.

The president says he has asked Congress to provide more funding to improve border security by increasing manpower and installing new technology, such as motion sensors⁴, infrared⁵ cameras and unmanned aircraft.

But the president says successful immigration reform needs to go beyond border security and address illegal workers already in the country. He says a temporary workers program is needed to create a legal and orderly path to allow illegal immigrants to work in the United States. "This program will add to our security by helping⁶ us know who is in our country and why they are here. And by reducing pressure on our border, it will free up our border patrol to focus on making sure we stop terrorists and violent criminals from entering our country," he said.

Immigration is expected to be a significant issue in the November congressional elections in the United States.

The Democratic weekly radio address, touched on another likely campaign issue, an increase in the minimum wage for workers. A proposed increase in the minimum wage was part of a bill that would have cut inheritance taxes on multi-million dollar estates. The Senate rejected the bill this week.

Colorado Democratic Senator Ken⁷ Salazar chastised⁸ Senate Republicans, accusing them of using "political tricks," and urged Americans to vote out Republicans in November's elections.

1 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

2 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。

3 confiscated   

没收，充公( confiscate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Their land was confiscated after the war. 他们的土地在战后被没收。
• The customs officer confiscated the smuggled goods. 海关官员没收了走私品。

4 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

5 infrared   

adj./n.红外线(的)

参考例句：

• Infrared is widely used in industry and medical science.红外线广泛应用于工业和医学科学。
• Infrared radiation has wavelengths longer than those of visible light.红外辐射的波长比可见光的波长长。

6 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

7 ken   

n.视野，知识领域

参考例句：

• Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
• Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.

8 chastised   

v.严惩（某人）（尤指责打）( chastise的过去式 )

参考例句：

• He chastised the team for their lack of commitment. 他指责队伍未竭尽全力。
• The Securities Commission chastised the firm but imposed no fine. 证券委员会严厉批评了那家公司，不过没有处以罚款。 来自辞典例句