2007年VOA标准英语-FBI Chief Faces Tough Questions from Congress a
时间：2019-01-13 作者：英语课 分类：2007年VOA标准英语（三月）
Capitol Hill
27 March 2007
The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation 2 is vowing 3 reforms in the wake of an internal report that revealed the agency abused its powers in obtaining personal information during investigations 4 of suspected terrorists. Robert Mueller made his comments to skeptical 5 lawmakers Tuesday, as VOA's Deborah Tate reports from Capitol Hill.
FBI Director Robert Mueller testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington 27 Mar 2007
FBI Director Mueller faced tough questions from both Democrats 6 and Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee over a government inspector 7 general's report concluding that the agency misused 8 documents known as national security letters to obtain private information about people without getting prior approval from a judge.
Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania is the top Republican on the committee:
"The question emerging is whether the FBI is up to the enormous task that we have asked it to perform," he said. " Every time we turn around, there is another serious failure on the part of the bureau."
Specter proposed that Congress consider establishing a separate domestic intelligence agency like Britain's MI-5.
The national security letters are used to obtain telephone, e-mail and financial records in terrorism investigations. Controls over how the letters are used were eased under the Patriot 9 Act, passed by Congress after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States to strengthen the government's ability to pursue terrorists.
In light of the inspector general's report, the Judiciary Committee chairman, Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, said the time has come to consider whether Congress granted the government too much power.
"We are going to be reexamining the broad authorities we have granted the FBI under the Patriot Act," he said.
But FBI Director Mueller urged lawmakers not to amend 10 the law.
"It would handcuff us and inhibit 11 us from doing the kind of investigation necessary to thwart 12 terrorist attacks," he said.
Mueller said he has begun to correct the problems with the way the agency collects personal data and has ordered an audit 13 to determine whether any agents should be disciplined.
At a House of Representatives hearing last week, lawmakers warned the FBI that it could lose its expanded surveillance authority if the agency fails to correct its mistakes.
- It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
- Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。
- In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
- He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
- President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
- President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。
- His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。
- He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。
- Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
- Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。
- 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》
- The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
- The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。
- He misused his dog shamefully. 他可耻地虐待自己的狗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He had grossly misused his power. 他严重滥用职权。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He avowed himself a patriot.他自称自己是爱国者。
- He is a patriot who has won the admiration of the French already.他是一个已经赢得法国人敬仰的爱国者。
- The teacher advised him to amend his way of living.老师劝他改变生活方式。
- You must amend your pronunciation.你必须改正你的发音。
- Don't let ego and greed inhibit clear thinking and hard work.不要让自我和贪婪妨碍清晰的思维和刻苦的工作。
- They passed a law to inhibit people from parking in the street.他们通过一项法令以阻止人们在街上停车。
- We must thwart his malevolent schemes.我们决不能让他的恶毒阴谋得逞。
- I don't think that will thwart our purposes.我认为那不会使我们的目的受到挫折。