2006年VOA标准英语-US House Moves to Impose New Sanctions Aga
时间：2019-01-13 作者：英语课 分类：2006年VOA标准英语（四月）
By Dan Robinson
Washington
26 April 2006
Amid the latest tensions between Iran and the international community over Iranian nuclear ambitions, the House of Representatives has approved legislation that would sanction companies or individuals engaged in Iran's energy sector 1.
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The legislation strengthens existing bilateral 2 U.S. sanctions against Iran under a 1996 law that also targeted Libya, which ended its weapons of mass destruction efforts in 2003.
Called the Iran Freedom Support Act, the bill contains provisions to punish foreign companies or individuals investing more than $20 million in Iran's energy sector.
It raises the prospect 3 of cutting off U.S. aid to countries helping 4 Iran acquire or develop chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, or what it calls destabilizing numbers of advanced convention weapons.
It is also aimed at encouraging American investors 5 and pension plans to divest 6 from companies that invest in Iran's energy sector.
Provisions of the bill support groups opposing Iran's government and its support for international terrorism.
By the time it reached the House floor Wednesday, the Iran Freedom Support Act had strong bipartisan support of 367 lawmakers in the 435-member House.
Rep. Tom Lantos
(file photo)
"If we fail to use both our economic and our diplomatic tools, the world will face a nightmare that knows no end. A despotic, fundamentalist regime that avidly 7 supports terrorism, exploiting and threatening to use the ultimate weapon of terror," said Congressman 8 Tom Lantos, the ranking Democrat 9 on the House International Relations Committee.
Opponents of the legislation asserted that, threats from Iran notwithstanding, it will hurt diplomatic efforts to resolve the standoff with Tehran.
"This legislation does not provide solution[s]. Instead it limits the administration's flexibility 10 to pursue diplomacy 11 without providing any new tools not already at their disposal. We need allies and partners to address the Iranian threat," said Rep. Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat.
Republican Mike Pence says the legislation sends an unequivocal message to Iran's leadership.
"It is strong, it is smart, and it is a diplomatic measure expressed by the Congress, the will of the American people into a circumstance that is real, that is meaningful, and for which the clarity of the position of the U.S. is essential at this moment," he said.
House debate took place against the backdrop of the latest statements by Iranian officials, including one by Iranian Supreme 12 Leader Ayatollah Khamenei threatening to harm U.S. interests around the world in response to any attack.
The legislation contains language stating that it does not authorize 13 military action against Iran, which was included to make clear the House is not going on record sanctioning regime change.
Ohio Democrat Dennis Kucinich, an opponent of the legislation, is among those arguing it is a step in the direction of military action.
"While this bill makes a point of so-called not authorizing 14 the use of force against Iran, be assured this is a stepping stone to the use of force, the same way that the Iraq Liberation Act was used as a stepping stone," he said.
The Bush administration had pressed lawmakers to soften 15 provisions of the legislation so as to not undermine U.S. efforts to engage key allies in joint 16 diplomatic efforts.
Supporters maintained Wednesday that the White House has not yet taken a position on the bill as amended 17.
A similar bill introduced in the Senate in February of 2005 has been stuck in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and it is not known when or whether it will move forward there.
House and Senate versions of the Iran Freedom Support Act contain provisions calling for support of independent pro-democracy radio and television broadcasts to Iran.
- 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。
- They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
- There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。
- This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
- The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
- 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。
- a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
- a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会
- I cannot divest myself of the idea.我无法消除那个念头。
- He attempted to divest himself of all responsibilities for the decision.他力图摆脱掉作出该项决定的一切责任。
- She read avidly from an early age—books, magazines, anything. 她从小就酷爱阅读——书籍、杂志，无不涉猎。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Her melancholy eyes avidly scanned his smiling face. 她说话时两只忧郁的眼睛呆呆地望着他的带笑的脸。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）
- He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
- The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。
- 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。
- Her great strength lies in her flexibility.她的优势在于她灵活变通。
- The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.人老了肌肉的柔韧性将降低。
- The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
- This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。
- It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
- He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
- He said that he needed to get his supervisor to authorize my refund.他说必须让主管人员批准我的退款。
- Only the President could authorize the use of the atomic bomb.只有总统才能授权使用原子弹。
- Letters of Marque: Take letters from a warning friendly power authorizing privateering. 私掠许可证：从某一个国家获得合法抢劫的证书。
- Formal phavee completion does not include authorizing the subsequent phavee. 阶段的正式完成不包括核准随后的阶段。
- Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
- This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。