VOA常速英语:Police Reform Stalls on Capitol Hill

Nationwide protests sparked by the death in police custody of this man George Floyd,
乔治·弗洛伊德在警方拘留期间死亡，引发全国范围的抗议活动，
exactly one month ago in the state of Minnesota,
此事发生在一个月前的明尼苏达州，
unleashed demands for police reform,
抗议活动要求警察改革，
that House Democrats say they addressed in legislation past Thursday.
众议院民主党人表示，他们在上周四的立法中已经解决了这一问题。
We are supposed to be the beacon of hope for human rights in other countries,
我们应该是其他国家人权希望的灯塔，
and the justice and policing act is a bill for human rights in our country.
这一正义与警务法案就是我们国家人权的法案，
Democrats say the House bill would transform U.S.policing culture,
民主党人说，众议院的法案将改变美国警察文化，
by leveraging federal aid to change practices such as no knock warrants and choke holds.
方式是通过利用联邦援助来改变一些做法，如禁止敲门搜查令和锁喉。
It also would end the practice of shielding officers from civil lawsuits,
它还将结束保护官员免受民事诉讼的做法，
a move republicans say they will never approve.
共和党人说，他们永远不会批准这一举措。
With the change to qualified immunity,
随着对合格豁免的改变，
an officer can go to prison for an unintentional act that unknowingly broke unknown law.
一名警官可能会因为无意中违反了未知的法律而入狱。
We believe in holding officers accountable for their actions,
我们认为应该追究官员的责任，
but the consequence of this would be making criminals out of decent cops enforcing the laws in good faith.
但这样做的后果是，正派的警察会因为诚信执法而成为罪犯。
On Wednesday in the Senate,
星期三在参议院，
the Republican proposal for police reforms was blocked from moving forward to debate by Democrats,
共和党关于警察改革的提案被民主党阻止了。
that the Senate Republican justice act lacks the substance,
参议院共和党司法法案缺乏实质内容，
and the strong desperately needed reforms to stop police brutality against black Americans.
迫切需要强有力的改革，以阻止警察对美国黑人的暴行。
This bill lost because it was woefully inadequate.
这项法案失败了，因为它严重不足。
By blocking debate democrats in effect refused an opportunity to negotiate,
通过阻挠辩论，民主党人实际上拒绝了谈判的机会，
the bills author saying he was open to discussing changes.
该法案的起草者表示，他愿意讨论改革。
The death of yet another African-American man George Floyd,
但是一个非裔美国人乔治·弗洛伊德的死，
his murder is why the country has given us the opportunity to lead, to lead…
他被谋杀了，这就是为什么这个国家给了我们领导的机会……
and my friends on the other side just said no.
而我的朋友在另一边说不。
Not no to the legislation, they just said no.
不是对立法说不，他们只是说不。
With many lawmakers facing tough reelection races,
许多议员面临艰难的连任竞选，
the incentives to work with the other side are few.
与另一方合作的动机寥寥无几。
California Senator Kamala Harris is a possible vice presidential pick for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
加州参议员卡玛拉·哈里斯(Kamala Harris)可能是民主党总统候选人的副总统候选人。
Joe Biden explained her objections.
乔·拜登解释了其反对意见。
What they have offered is basically the promise of constructing a confessional for police officers,
他们所提供的基本是为警察建立忏悔室的承诺，
where after their conduct has actually taken place.
即他们的行为实际已经真的发生。
They can confess what theyve done;
他们可以坦白他们所做的事情；
they can be reporting after you can study it,
他们在你可以研究之后可以报告；
you can do all this … its not enough.
你可以做所有这些…这还不够。
Its not even close to being enough.
这还远远不够。
The people want action.
人民想要行动。
But in the end the House and the Senate proposals will need White House approval to become law,
但最终，众议院和参议院的提案将需要白宫的批准才能成为法律，
and the president has laid down his marker.
总统已经明确表示了看法。
We wont do anything thats going to hurt our police.
我们不会做任何会伤害我们警察的事。
And with just over a little over four months until election day,
距离选举日还有四个多月，
lawmakers are running out of time to make a deal.
议员们已经没有时间达成协议了。
Catherine Gibson VOA news Washington
VOA新闻记者凯瑟琳?吉布森华盛顿报道