VOA标准英语2009年-US Senate Panel Tackles Problems Posed by
时间:2019-02-12 作者:英语课 分类:VOA标准英语2009年(十一月)
By Lisa Ferdinando
Washington
05 November 2009
Senator Carl Levin
The U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Thursday tackled the problems posed by shell companies, or companies with hidden ownership. The panel heard the problem of the companies causing losses of billions of dollars to government and consumers and threatening national security.
Senator Carl Levin says companies with hidden ownership pose a significant security risk to the United States. He says they frustrate 1 law enforcement and take part in any number of illegal activities, including money laundering 3, drug trafficking and fraud.
The Michigan Democrat 4 says the problem is that U.S. states allow individuals who control or benefit from corporations to remain anonymous 5. "The end result is that a U.S. company may be associated with an alleged 6 arms trafficker, and supporter of terrorism but we are stymied 7 in finding out, in part because our states allow corporations with hidden ownership," he said.
He says forming a company in the United States is easy, with most states allowing hidden owners to buy companies online within 24 hours of a request.
David Cohen, the Treasury 8 Department's assistant secretary for terrorist financing, says the ability of criminal elements to form corporations in the U.S. without disclosing their true identity is a serious problem. "There is ample evidence that criminal organizations and others who threaten our national security exploit this vulnerability. Years of research and law enforcement investigations 9 have conclusively 10 demonstrated the link between the abuse of legal entities 11 and WMD [weapons of mass destruction] proliferation, terrorist financing, sanctions evasion 12, tax evasion, corruption 13 and money laundering for virtually all forms of criminal activity," he said.
Committee Chairman Joseph Lieberman, an Independent Democrat from Connecticut, says each year nearly two million corporations are established in the United States. "But each year, a small number of those businesses, but none the less significant, are incorporated for improper 15 or illegal purposes to try to use registered corporations to defraud 16 innocent people, to cheat tax authorities, to hide true transactions or to launder 2 ill-gotten funds," he said.
Lieberman noted 17 that legislation has been introduced to increase the transparency of business formation in an effort to reduce the estimated billions of dollars in fraud perpetrated by shell companies.
But Republican Senator John Ensign of Nevada told the panel he is against legislation that would change state law. "By forcing states to amend 18 their individual laws on corporate 14 formation, Congress is effectively imposing 19 a federal standard on business creation, ignoring the peculiar 20 particularities of each state's business culture," he said.
He says that with a federal standard, there is no incentive 21 to pick one state over another when deciding where to form a business. He says he believes that would harm many states that are attractive to businesses, including his home state of Nevada.
- But this didn't frustrate Einstein.He was content to go as far as he could.但这并没有使爱因斯坦灰心,他对能够更深入地研究而感到满意。
- They made their preparations to frustrate the conspiracy.他们作好准备挫败这个阴谋。
- She wore a freshly laundered and starched white shirt.她穿一件刚刚浆洗熨烫过的白色衬衣。
- The gang launders the steal money through their chain of restaurants.这帮匪徒通过他们的连锁饭店洗赃款。
- Separate the white clothes from the dark clothes before laundering. 洗衣前应当把浅色衣服和深色衣服分开。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He was charged with laundering money. 他被指控洗钱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- 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。
- Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
- The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。
- It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
- alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为
- Relief efforts have been stymied in recent weeks by armed gunmen. 最近几周的救援工作一直受到武装分子的阻挠。 来自辞典例句
- I was completely stymied by her refusal to help. 由于她拒不相助, 我完全陷入了困境。 来自互联网
- The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
- This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。
- 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。
- All this proves conclusively that she couldn't have known the truth. 这一切无可置疑地证明她不可能知道真相。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- From the facts,he was able to determine conclusively that the death was not a suicide. 根据这些事实他断定这起死亡事件并非自杀。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Our newspaper and our printing business form separate corporate entities. 我们的报纸和印刷业形成相对独立的企业实体。
- The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities. 北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。
- The movie star is in prison for tax evasion.那位影星因为逃税而坐牢。
- The act was passed as a safeguard against tax evasion.这项法案旨在防止逃税行为。
- The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
- The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。
- This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
- His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。
- Short trousers are improper at a dance.舞会上穿短裤不成体统。
- Laughing and joking are improper at a funeral.葬礼时大笑和开玩笑是不合适的。
- He passed himself off as the managing director to defraud the bank.他假冒总经理的名义诈骗银行。
- He is implicated in the scheme to defraud the government.他卷入了这起欺骗政府的阴谋。
- The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
- Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
- 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。
- The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
- He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。
- He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
- He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。