2007年VOA标准英语-US Senate to Begin Immigration Reform Debate Ne

By Deborah Tate
Capitol Hill
11 May 2007

The U.S. Senate is to begin debate on immigration reform next week.   But prospects¹ for passage of any legislation remain unclear amid partisan² wrangling³ over what to do about the millions of illegal immigrants already in the country.   VOA's Deborah Tate has this report from Capitol Hill.

Immigration reform is a key priority for the Senate's top Democrat⁴, Majority Leader Harry⁵ Reid of Nevada.

Rep. Harry Reid (16 Feb 2007)

"I believe immigration is one of the most important issues facing our country today.  Our immigration system is broken and needs fixing," he said.

Immigration reform is also a priority for President Bush, who has proposed establishing a guest worker program that could give the estimated 11 to 12 million undocumented workers in the United States a path to U.S. citizenship⁶.

The Senate passed immigration reform legislation last year with the guest worker provision, but the legislation died because the House of Representatives never acted on the measure.

Senator Reid plans to reintroduce the bill next week.  But many Republicans oppose the measure because they believe the proposed guest worker program with its promise of citizenship amounts to rewarding immigrants who broke the law when they crossed the U.S. border.

"Will we continue to see people all over the world get the idea in their heads, correctly today basically, that if they can just get into America sooner or later we will make them citizens and give them everything even if they came here illegally?" asked Alabama Republican Senator Jeff Sessions.  "Is that the kind of message we want to continue to say or not?"

Republicans are signaling they may block any attempt to have last year's bill come to a vote again in the Senate.

Instead, they favor a possible bipartisan compromise that has been under discussion for weeks between the White House and senators in both parties.

"This exercise needs to be a bipartisan one or it will not, it will not, succeed," said Republican Senator Mitch McConnell.  "That is an indisputable fact.  Any effort to move legislation on this issue that is not the result of an ongoing⁷ bipartisan discussion would be a clear signal from the Democrats⁸ that they are not yet serious about immigration reform."

News reports say the possible deal calls for establishing greater control of the U.S. border with Mexico and implementing⁹ an identification system for immigrant workers.  Those measures would be put in place before allowing illegal immigrants already in the United States an opportunity to pursue legal status.  Reports also say the plan would limit immigrants' ability to bring their families to the United States. 

It is not clear if the compromise legislation can be concluded in time for the Senate debate next week.

1 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。

2 partisan   

adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒

参考例句：

• In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。
• The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

3 wrangling   

v.争吵，争论，口角( wrangle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The two sides have spent most of their time wrangling over procedural problems. 双方大部分时间都在围绕程序问题争论不休。 来自辞典例句
• The children were wrangling (with each other) over the new toy. 孩子为新玩具（互相）争吵。 来自辞典例句

4 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。

5 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

6 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。

7 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

8 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》

9 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句