VOA标准英语2008年-Bush Confident Congress Will Approve Financial

U.S. President George Bush says he is confident that Congress will agree on a robust¹ plan to bailout America's troubled financial sector². VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, there is strong opposition³ to the president's $700 billion rescue plan among lawmakers.
　
US President George Bush, Mexican President Felipe Calderon prepare to make a statement on free trade with Western Hemisphere leaders at Council of the Americas in New York, 24 Sept. 2008

President Bush met with other leaders from the Western Hemisphere to talk about free trade on the sidelines of the opening of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

But it was America's own financial turmoil⁴ that dominated the session. Mr. Bush said he knows leaders want to hear about the rescue plan he has submitted to Congress.

"They can see our legislative⁵ process is full of give-and-take, that there is ample debate. But I am confident that when it's all said and done, there will be a robust plan. And there needs to be," Mr. Bush said.

The president wants Congress to allow the government to buy as much as $700 billion worth of devalued assets from troubled financial firms. The bad investments have made banks reluctant to lend money, and the lack of credit threatens to stall the U.S. economy.

The president's top economic advisers⁶ urged members of the Senate Banking⁷ Committee to quickly approve the rescue package. But the Democratic chairman o the committee called the plan "unacceptable" in its current form. The committee's top Republican said it must be closely examined to ensure that it does not waste taxpayers⁸' money.

President Bush canceled plans to attend a political fundraiser in Florida Wednesday and will instead return to the White House after his meetings in New York.

Mr. Bush met with the leaders of 11 countries that have a free trade agreement with the United States or have one pending⁹ before Congress.

"These agreements are mutually beneficial. And most importantly, they help small business owners and workers and farmers and ranchers," Mr. Bush said.

Mr. Bush and the leaders of Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, and Peru agreed on a new plan to continue the economic benefits of free trade.

"This initiative will provide a forum¹⁰ where leaders can work to ensure that the benefits of trade are broadly shared. It will deepen the connections among regional markets. It will expand our cooperation on development issues," Mr. Bush said.

In the nearly 15 years since the North American Free Trade Agreement came into force, President Bush says trade between the United States, Canada and Mexico has increased by a combined total of more than 200 percent.

Mr. Bush again called on Congress to approve free trade agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea.

 

1 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

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 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。

4 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

5 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。

6 advisers   

顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• a member of the President's favoured circle of advisers 总统宠爱的顾问班子中的一员
• She withdrew to confer with her advisers before announcing a decision. 她先去请教顾问然后再宣布决定。

7 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

8 taxpayers   

纳税人，纳税的机构( taxpayer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Finance for education comes from taxpayers. 教育经费来自纳税人。
• She was declaiming against the waste of the taxpayers' money. 她慷慨陈词猛烈抨击对纳税人金钱的浪费。

9 pending   

prep.直到，等待…期间；adj.待定的；迫近的

参考例句：

• The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
• He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。

10 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。