The United States House of Representatives is debating an omnibus drug bill and expects to pass the measure tomorrow.
美國眾議院正就一項綜合藥物法案展開辯論,該法案有望在明日獲得通過。
Though the bill has attracted strong bipartisan support,
盡管該法案已獲得了兩黨的大力支持,
NPR's Cokey Roberts reports the debate on the issue points up the differences between political parties.
但NPR考克·羅伯茨報道,就此項法案展開的辯論清楚地表明不同政黨之間仍存在分歧。
When Congress returned from the Fourth of July recess,
國會7月4日休會,現已復會,
House Speaker Tip O'Neill said there was only one thing members were talking about in the cloak-room: drugs.
眾議院議長奧尼爾說,議員們在更衣室里談論的只有一件事:毒品。
The Democrats quickly pulled together chairmen from twelve different committees to draft a drug package.
民主黨很快把來自十二個不同委員會的主席拉到一起,起草了一個藥物(毒品)計劃。
Then, stung by criticism that they were acting in a partisan fashion,
他們隨即受到指摘,稱他們結黨營私,
the democratic leaders invited the Republicans to join them in the newly declared war on drugs.
民主黨領導人邀請共和黨人一同加入,共同投身到新近宣布展開的毒品戰斗中來。
So, when the bill came to the House floor today, the party leaders led off debate. Texas Democrat Jim Wright.
所以,今天眾議院接到議案,黨領導們展開了辯論。德克薩斯民主黨人吉姆·賴特。
"It's time to declare an all-out war, to mobilize our forces, public and private,
“現在全面宣戰的時候到了,應動用一切力量,將公私力量、
national and local, in a total coordinated assault upon this menace,
國家和地方力量集結起來,全面協調,應對毒品威脅,
which is draining our economy of some two hundred and thirty billion dollars this year,
今年這種威脅造成經濟損失約2300億美元,
slowly rotting away the fabric of our society, seducing and killing our young.
它正慢慢侵蝕著我們的社會結構,誘殺我們的年輕一代。
That it will take money is hardly debatable.
毫無疑問,這需要錢。
We can't fight artillery with spitballs."
我們不能紙上談兵。”
The question of just how much money this measure will cost has not been answered to the satisfaction of all members.
這項舉措到底要花多少錢,尚未給出令全體議員滿意的回答。
Democrats say it's one and half billion dollars over three years,
民主黨人說這要消資15億美元,耗時3年以上,
with almost seven hundred thousand for next year.
而且明年就要將近70萬。
republicans claim the price tag will run higher and are trying to emphasize other aspects of the drug battle,
共和黨人聲稱花費還不止這些,并試圖強調毒品之戰涉及的其他方面,
aspects which they think play better in Republican campaigns. Minority leader Robert Michel.
他們認為這些方面在共和黨競選中可以更好助力。少數黨領袖羅伯特·米歇爾。
"The ultimate cure for the drug epidemic must come from with in the heart of each individual faced with the temptation of taking drugs.
“應對毒品泛濫的終極方法必須來自每個人的內心,他們要抵御來自毒品的誘惑。
It is ultimately a problem of character, of will power,
這歸根結底是人格問題,意志力問題,
of family and community, and concern, and personal pride."
家庭社會問題,關切及個人榮譽問題。
Among other items, the bill before the House increases penalties for most drugs related crimes,
其他條款中,擺在眾議院面前的這項法案加大了對大多數毒品相關犯罪的處罰力度,
sets the minimum jail term of twenty years for drug trafficking and manufacturing,
規定販毒和制毒的最低刑期為二十年,
authorizes money for the drug enforcement administration and prison construction,
為禁毒執法機關及監獄建設事宜撥款,
beefs up the ability of the coast guard and customs service to stop drugs coming into this country,
增強了海岸警衛隊和海關防范毒品入境的能力,
and creates programs for drug education.
并設立禁毒教育項目。
The various sections of the measure give House members amply opportunity to speak on an issue where they want their voices heard.
該措施的眾多分環節,給予眾議院議員充分機會,讓他們對此議題暢所欲言,這些議員也希望自己的聲音能為人所聽。
Maryland Democratic Barbara McCulsky was nominated for the Senate yesterday.
昨天馬里蘭州民主黨的芭芭拉·麥卡考斯基獲得參議院議員提名。
Today, she spoke to the part of the bill which funds drug eradication programs in foreign countries.
今天,她談到了法案中為境外毒品鏟除計劃提供資金支持的部分內容。

"When we fought yellow fever, we didn't go at it one mosquito at a time. We went right to the swamp.
“當我們與黃熱病戰斗時,我們并非一次只對付一只蚊子。而是直接奔向濕地沼澤。
That's what the Foreign Affairs section of this legislation will do.
這才是本法的外事部門所要做的。
It will go to the swamps, or where cocaine is either grown, refined, or manufactured."
它將直搗老巢,也就是種植、提煉或制造可卡因的地方。
Republican Henson Moore is running for the senate in Louisiana.
共和黨人漢森·穆爾正在競選路易斯安那州參議員。
He spoke to the part of the drug bill which changes the trade laws for countries which deal in drugs.
他就毒品法案的部分內容進行了發言,該法案改變了毒品交易國的貿易法則。
"We're moving to stop something; it's absolutely idiotic. It needs to be stopped:
“我們正積極行動,去阻止某件事情;這件事情愚蠢至極。我們需要阻止它的發生:
this situation of where a country can sell legally to us on the one hand and illegally to us under the table,
這種情形是,一個國家一面可以將毒品合法出售給我們,一面還在背地里非法將它們賣給我們,
selling drugs in this country poisoning our young people and our population."
在這個國家販賣毒品是在毒害我們的青年和人民。”