VOA慢速英语听力 ECONOMICS REPORT（WORD文本）：1113B.doc

1、标题：voa慢速英语:国会对医疗改革迈向更近一步对应音频：1113b.mp3听力内容：On the Road to Health Reform, Congress Moves a Step CloserThis is the VOA Special English Economics Report.A major reform of the American system of health care and insurance has moved farther in Congress than ever before. President Obama wants a final bill

2、passed by the end of the year. But a difficult road still lies ahead.Saturday night, the House of Representatives passed a bill with an estimated trillion-dollar price over ten years. The president called the vote historic.BARACK OBAMA: The Affordable Health Care for America Act is a piece of legisl

3、ation that will provide stability and security for Americans who have insurance, quality affordable options for those who dont and bring down the cost of health care for families, business and our government while strengthening the financial health of Medicare.But thirty-nine Democrats voted no, and

4、 only one Republican, Joseph Cao of Louisiana, voted yes. The bill passed with just two more votes than required. Republicans say the plan would add to the nations debt, raise insurance costs and expand government involvement in health care.Representative Joe Barton is a Republican from Texas.JOE BA

5、RTON: So, there is a choice. Bigger government, more mandates, more control, less freedom. Or lower costs, more opportunity, more freedom or more choice. I vote for more freedom.The bill aims to provide health coverage to thirty-six million Americans. That would raise the nations coverage rate to ab

6、out ninety-six percent.The most disputed part of the bill is a public option for individuals and small businesses. The government would compete with private plans by offering it own insurance - based on payment rates negotiated with providers.The House bill would raise taxes on high earners to help

7、pay for the plan. It would also cut four hundred billion dollars from health programs for the retired and poor - money that supporters of the bill say is now being wasted.Most Americans would have to buy insurance or pay a fine; the government would help the needy. All but the smallest businesses wo

8、uld have to offer insurance for their workers or pay a tax. Some small businesses could receive tax credits to help with their costs.Insurance companies could not deny or cancel coverage for people with pre-existing conditions. And the industry would lose its protection from anti-competitive laws.No

9、w, Harry Reid, the Democratic majority leader, is working to produce a health care bill in the Senate. Two bills passed by committees must be combined into one. If that passes, then a compromise would be needed with the House version.But there is strong resistance in the Senate to a public option. A

10、lso, the Senate proposals would not require employers to provide coverage, but would offer tax credits to those that do.And thats the VOA Special English Economics Report, written by Mario Ritter. Im Steve Ember.国会对医疗改革迈向更近一步美国医疗保险改革制度已经在国会中迈向更远。总统奥巴马想在年底签订最终议案。但是前方依旧困难重重。周六夜间，众议院通过了一个约十年亿万亿美金的议案。总统

11、称这次投票是历史性的。奥巴马：“美国低额医疗改革法是为了给那些投保的美国人提供稳定、安全的一项立法，也是为了给那些不能支付或者不能削减医疗开支的家庭，公司以及政府提供一个安全，优质，能负担起的最优选择，同时也加强了医疗金融的健康运行。39个民主党投票否定，只有一个来自路易斯安那的Joseph Cao共和党投票肯定。议案仅以两票获胜。共和党提出计划将加入国家债务，提高保险费用，扩大政府在医疗上的参与。来自德克萨斯的共和党代表Joe Barton.JOE BARTON：“有这样的一个选择。一是大的政府，多控制，少自由；一个是低消费，多机会，多自由，多选择。我投票给更多自由。议案的目的是提供三千六百

12、万的美国人民医疗保险。这样可以使全国的普及程度提高到96%。议案中最受争议部分是对于个人和小企业的公共选择。基于和提供者在付款比率上的协商，政府会提供自己的保险。对于高薪者，议案以加高税来帮助支付这个计划。同时也会从医疗项目中拨款400000亿美元给退休和贫困的人们。-议案的拥护者称这是再浪费资金。多说美国人不得不去买保险或者支付罚金；政府会帮助贫困人群。规模较大的公司要为他们的员工提供保险和交税。小公司可以通过抵免所得税来付他们的费用。保险公司不得拒绝和取消先前存在的保险。工业通过反竞争法脱离保护。民主党主要领导人Harry Reid 在参议院中正在制定医疗法案。议会通过的两个法案需要合并成一个。如果合并后的法案一旦通过，就需要白宫协商。但是在参议院中，对公共选择的反对还是很强烈的。参议院的提议不要求雇主提供保险，但是需要提供退税额 。House of Representatives 众议院Legislation 法律，法规Democrat 民主党Republican 共和党aims to 目的在于例句：I aim to a writer.我立志当个作家。compete with 与.抗争例句：You can not compete with those postgraduates .