196 国会通过布什关于慈善捐赠提议

Bush Faith-Based Charity Proposal Advances In US Congress
Deborah Tate
Washington
19 Jul 2001 23:30 UTC

The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives has approved a measure to give more money to religious 1)charities. The initiative is a top domestic 2)priority for President Bush.
The measure, which passed by a 233 to 198 vote, would expand the role of religious charities in federal social programs. It would 3)boost support for such charities by making them 4)eligible for more federal grants and by expanding tax deductions for charitable 5)donations.
Opponents say the bill would 6)erode federal 7)protections against discrimination in hiring. They also argue the measure would violate the constitutional separation of church and state.
Zoe Lofgren is a Democrat from California. "This bill would take tax money and give it directly to churches," he said. "How can that not run afoul of the Constitutional 8)prohibition against the establishment of religion? Our country was started by people seeking religious freedom to worship, and this fundamental American value is put in the very first Amendment to our Constitution. When government becomes involved in establishing or preferring religion, trouble follows."
But supporters like Republican James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin argue otherwise. "These organizations are striving to make a difference in communities all across America," he said. "It is a 9)tragedy that those moved to help others by the strength of faith face added 10)barriers to federal social service funds based upon 11)misguided understandings of the Constitution's religion 12)clauses."
The proposal now goes to the Democrat-led Senate, where its fate is in doubt, mostly because of concerns that it would violate the separation of church and state.

(1) charity[`tFArEtI]n.慈善, 施舍, 慈善团体
(2) priority[praI5RrItI; (?@) -C:r-]n.先, 前, 优先, 优先权
(3) boost[bu:st]v.推进
(4) eligible[5elIdVEb(E)l]adj.符合条件的, 合格的
(5) donation[dEJ5neIF(E)n]n.捐赠品, 捐款, 贡献
(6) erode[I5rEJd]vt.侵蚀, 腐蚀, 使变化vi.受腐蚀, 逐渐消蚀掉
(7) protection[prE5tekF(E)n]n.保护
(8) prohibition[prEJI5bIF(E)n; (?@) prEJE5bIFn]n.禁止, 阻止, <美>禁酒令
(9) tragedy[5trAdVIdI]n.悲剧, 惨案, 悲惨, 灾难
(10) barrier[5bArIE(r)]n.(阻碍通道的)障碍物, 栅栏, 屏障
(11) misguided[mIs5^aIdId]adj.被误导的
(12) clause[klC:z]n.子句, 条款