Learning English: as It as
Welcome, to As It Is.
President Obama will give his fourth State of the Union speech
Tuesday. The speech signals major policy goals for the coming year and reports, as the name suggests, on the current state of the country. Today, we hear about two issues that could be in the speech. And we talk with a Congressional expert about its tradition. Political candidates in the United States often talk about immigration reform during election campaigns. Now, lawmakers from the two main parties are saying the system is broken and major changes are needed. Many people expect President Obama to discuss the issue of the nation’s 11 million undocumented immigrants in his State of the Union speech. Faith Lapidus has more. A group of Democratic and Republican senators recently proposed a series of immigration reforms. Under the plan, illegal immigrants would register with the government. They would agree to let the government investigate their financial and criminal history. And they would have to pay any fines or taxes they owe.
1 learningenglish.voanews.com | Voice of America | As It Is |2.12.13
In return, the immigrants would earn a special "probationary" status. This would permit them to live and work legally in the
United States.
The plan would set special rules for children who entered the
United States with their parents and were educated in the country. Exceptions also would be given to agricultural workers needed for the nation's food supply. The Senators’ plan would strengthen enforcement of immigration rules.
President Obama has set out goals for his own plan.
"The time has come for common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform. The time is now."
The administration has noted four areas that need reform. They are border security, simplifying legal immigration, a path to earned citizenship and measures against those employing illegal immigrants. Immigration reform is now getting a lot of attention from both the Democratic and
President Obama will give his fourth State of the Union speech
Tuesday. The speech signals major policy goals for the coming year and reports, as the name suggests, on the current state of the country. Today, we hear about two issues that could be in the speech. And we talk with a Congressional expert about its tradition. Political candidates in the United States often talk about immigration reform during election campaigns. Now, lawmakers from the two main parties are saying the system is broken and major changes are needed. Many people expect President Obama to discuss the issue of the nation’s 11 million undocumented immigrants in his State of the Union speech. Faith Lapidus has more. A group of Democratic and Republican senators recently proposed a series of immigration reforms. Under the plan, illegal immigrants would register with the government. They would agree to let the government investigate their financial and criminal history. And they would have to pay any fines or taxes they owe.
1 learningenglish.voanews.com | Voice of America | As It Is |2.12.13
In return, the immigrants would earn a special "probationary" status. This would permit them to live and work legally in the
United States.
The plan would set special rules for children who entered the
United States with their parents and were educated in the country. Exceptions also would be given to agricultural workers needed for the nation's food supply. The Senators’ plan would strengthen enforcement of immigration rules.
President Obama has set out goals for his own plan.
"The time has come for common-sense, comprehensive immigration reform. The time is now."
The administration has noted four areas that need reform. They are border security, simplifying legal immigration, a path to earned citizenship and measures against those employing illegal immigrants. Immigration reform is now getting a lot of attention from both the Democratic and