二、Fight Again Youth Smoking

　　Three years ago, appalled by how many children were becoming addicted to cigarettes every year, the Vice President and I committed this administration to stopping the sale and marketing of cigarettes to children. Today, thanks to these efforts and the persistence of state attorneys general, the public health community, and leaders in Congress, we have the best opportunity ever to pass comprehensive anti-smoking legislation that well save millions of our children from a premature, painful, and very preventable death.

　　This week, in a historic and resounding 19 to 1 vote, a key Senate committee gave its stamp of approval to comprehensive legislation sponsored by Senator John McCain, a Republican, and Senator Fritz Hollings, a Democrat, that would cut youth smoking by half over the next decade. This bill represents a dramatic step forward. It would raise the price of cigarettes, give the FDA full authority to regulate tobacco products, ban advertising aimed at children, and protect tobacco farmers.

　　We still have work to do in this legislation. Above all, we need to put in place tough penalties that will cost the tobacco industry if it continues to sell cigarettes to young people. Just this week the Centers for Disease Control released a disturbing report that more than a third of teenagers in the United States now smoke, even though it's illegal.

　　It is time to hold tobacco companies accountable. Reducidng youth smoking must be veerybody's bottom line. Let's remember —— this is not about politics or money, or seeking revenge against the tobacco industry for past practices. We're not trying to put the tobacco companies out of business; we want to put them out of the business of selling cigarattes to kids. This week's progress in the Senate shows we have real momentum in both parties to do just that.

　　There're still maly issues to be worked out and many long nights ahead. But we have within our grasp one of the most important public health victories our nation has ever achieved.

　　Finally, lit me just pause a moment to observe the 30th anniversary of the death of one of America's greatest heroes, Dr. Martin Luther King. His dream, deeply rooted in the American Dream, is a dream for all Americans. Let us here at home always strive to heed Dr. King's words and live up to his legacy.

　　appall vt.使驚駭，使大吃一驚

　　[聯(lián)想詞]

　　terrify vt.使害怕，使驚嚇

　　outrage vt.激起……的義憤，激怒

　　n.1.義憤，憤慨 2.暴行，駭人聽聞的事件

　　addict n.1.有癮的人 2.入迷的人

　　vt.使成癮，使入迷

　　[聯(lián)想詞]

　　cocaine n.可卡因

　　toxic a.有毒的，中毒引起的

　　persistent a. 1.堅持不懈的，執(zhí)意的 2.持續(xù)的

　　persistence n.1.堅持不懈，執(zhí)意 2. 持續(xù)性，持續(xù)狀態(tài)

　　[聯(lián)想詞]

　　stubborn a. 1.頑固的，執(zhí)拗的，倔強的 2.難對付的，難于克服的

　　legislation n.1.法律，法規(guī) 2.立法的，法律的制定

　　[聯(lián)想詞]

　　legitimate a. 1.合情合理的 2.合法的，法律認可的

　　judicial a. 1.司法的，法庭的，審判的 2.明斷的，公正的

　　sue vi.1.控告，起訴 2.要求，請求 vt.控告，起訴

　　prosecute vt.1.對……提起公訴，告發(fā)，檢舉 2.繼續(xù)從事 vi.起訴，告發(fā)

　　defendant n.被告

　　invalid a.1.無效的，作廢的 2.無可靠依據(jù)的 n.病弱者，殘疾者

　　testify vi.1.作證，證明 2.表明，說明 vt.作證，證明

　　testimony n.1.證詞 2.見證，證明

　　premature a.1.比預(yù)期時間早是 2.不成熟的，倉促的

　　authority n.1.權(quán)力，管轄權(quán) 2.官方，當局 3.當權(quán)者，行政管理機構(gòu) 4.權(quán)威，專家

　　authoritative a.1.權(quán)威性的，可信的 2.專斷的，命令式的

　　authorize vt.授權(quán)，批準

　　[聯(lián)想詞]

　　definitive a. 1.比較可靠的，權(quán)威性的 2.決定性的

　　accountable a. 負起責任的

　　revenge n.報復，報仇

　　momentum n.1.動力，沖力，勢力 2.動量

　　[聯(lián)想詞]

　　impetus n.1.推動，促進，刺激 2.推動力

　　strive vi.努力，奮斗，力求

　　heed vt.留心，注意，聽從

　　legency n.遺贈的財物，遺產(chǎn)

　　deadly a.1.致死的，致命的 2.不共戴天的，殊死的 3.極度的，十足的 ad.非常，極度地

　　[聯(lián)想詞]

　　drastic a.1.極端的，嚴厲的 2.激烈的，迅猛的

　　epidemic n.1.流行病 2.流傳，流行 a.流行性的，流傳極廣的

　　lure vt.吸引，引誘，誘惑