VOA标准英语2008年-US House of Representatives Approves Foreign Su

By Dan Robinson
Capitol Hill
20 June 2008

The House of Representatives has approved legislation updating U.S. foreign intelligence surveillance law. President Bush welcomed the bipartisan compromise measure saying it will improve U.S. capabilities¹ to prevent another terrorist attacks. But as VOA's Dan Robinson reports, some Democratic lawmakers opposed the measure.
　

President George W. Bush makes statement on legislative2 developments from Oval Office, 20 Jun 2008

In crafting the latest revision of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), House and Senate lawmakers gave President Bush much of what he sought during months of tough negotiations³.

The president wanted telecommunications companies to have immunity⁴ from possible lawsuits⁶ stemming from any cooperation they provided for the counter-terrorist surveillance program he approved after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

The program, which involves surveillance of terror suspects without a court warrant, triggered widespread protests and at least 40 lawsuits alleging⁷ violations⁸ of civil liberties. The program was publicly revealed in media reports in 2005.

The new legislation, which passed the house by a vote of 293-129, does not grant blanket immunity to the phone companies, but does provide for court review of certifications from the U.S. attorney general that companies acted under presidential orders. A judge could then dismiss a lawsuit⁵.

Among key points of the new law, electronic eavesdropping⁹ without court approval would be permitted in what are designated as emergencies, allowing the government to submit justifications¹⁰ within one week.

It requires court permission and establishment of probable cause for surveillance of Americans overseas, and prohibits a process in which the communications of a U.S. citizen could be monitored without court approval by targeting a foreigner.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said while the measure is not perfect, overall it helps keep Americans safe and does not violate American's constitutional rights.

"We must have a bill that does not violate the Constitution of the United States, and this bill does not," she said.

"The most important thing is that on a bipartisan basis we have come together on a national security issue to give our intelligence community the tools they need to keep America safe," said Republican Pete Hoekstra, a former Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.

But many Democrats¹¹ voiced strong opposition¹², among them Congresswoman Barbara Lee.

"It does not strike the proper balance between protecting national security and preserving our cherished civil liberties," she said.

In advance of the House vote, President Bush said the legislation will help the U.S. intelligence community protect Americans.

"The enemy that attacked us on September 11 is determined¹³ to strike this country again," he said. "It is vital that our intelligence community has the ability to learn who the terrorists are talking to, what they are saying, and what they are planning."

The president urged the U.S. Senate to take up the intelligence legislation as quickly as possible.

The American Civil Liberties Union described the measure as "disastrous¹⁴", asserting that it allows for mass and untargeted surveillance of American's communications.

1 capabilities   

n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力

参考例句：

• He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。 来自辞典例句
• Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

2 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。

3 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。

4 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

5 lawsuit   

n.诉讼，控诉

参考例句：

• They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
• He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

6 lawsuits   

n.诉讼( lawsuit的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Lawsuits involving property rights and farming and grazing rights increased markedly. 涉及财产权，耕作与放牧权的诉讼案件显著地增加。 来自辞典例句
• I've lost and won more lawsuits than any man in England. 全英国的人算我官司打得最多，赢的也多，输的也多。 来自辞典例句

7 alleging   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• His reputation was blemished by a newspaper article alleging he'd evaded his taxes. 由于报上一篇文章声称他曾逃税，他的名誉受到损害。
• This our Peeress declined as unnecessary, alleging that her cousin Thornhill's recommendation would be sufficient. 那位贵人不肯，还说不必，只要有她老表唐希尔保荐就够了。

8 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

9 eavesdropping   

n. 偷听

参考例句：

• We caught him eavesdropping outside the window. 我们撞见他正在窗外偷听。
• Suddenly the kids,who had been eavesdropping,flew into the room. 突然间，一直在偷听的孩子们飞进屋来。

10 justifications   

正当的理由，辩解的理由( justification的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• If he a vulgar person, she does not have justifications for him. 如果他是个低级趣味的人，她早就不会理他了。
• It depends on their effect on competition and possible justifications. 这则取决于它们对于竞争的影响和可能存在的正当抗辩理由。

11 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》

12 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。

13 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

14 disastrous   

adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的

参考例句：

• The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
• Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。