[In the News]:Senator Helms To Retire


This is Steve Emberwith the VOA Special English program IN THE NEWS.

Wednesday, one of America's most powerful Senators announced hisplans to retire when his term ends in Two-Thousand-Three. JesseHelms has served in the United States Senate for almost thirtyyears. He is a Republican from North Carolina.

Senator Helms made his announcement in Raleigh, where he onceworked as a political commentator on radio and television. He toldlocal voters he will not seek re-election in Two-Thousand-Two. Hesaid he would be eighty-eight at the end of another six year term.He said he and his family decided he should not run again.

Mister Helms has suffered from health problems in recent years,including prostate cancer. He also has a nerve condition whichcaused him to lose feeling in his feet. He now travels around theCapitol building in a small electric powered vehicle.

Senator Helms is a leading supporter of conservative issues inthe United States Congress. He has opposed civil rights legislationand the rights of women to end pregnancies. He opposes any expandingof the federal government. For years he strongly criticized theChinese government and the United Nations. In Nineteen-Ninety-Six,he helped pass the Helms-Burton law, which increased restrictions ontrade with Cuba.

Mister Helms was first elected to the Senate inNineteen-Seventy-Two. He took control of the Senate ForeignRelations Committee in Nineteen-Ninety-Five, after the Republicansgained control of the Senate. During his chairmanship, he helpeddefeat a nuclear test ban treaty. He also blocked severalpresidential nominations.

Senator Helms also used his leadership position to helpreorganize America's foreign policy agencies. Recently, he releasedAmerican debt payments to the United Nations in return for reformsin the organization. He lost his chairmanship of the ForeignRelations Committee after the Democrats regained control of theSenate in June.

Political experts say Mister Helms' retirement will mark the endof a period in politics that helped reshape the conservativemovement. His decision may affect control of the Senate inTwo-Thousand-Two. Democrats now have fifty seats, the Republicansforty-nine. One seat is held by an independent. Both major partiesthink they can win Mister Helms' seat.

One Republican reportedly interested in replacing Mister Helms isElizabeth Dole. She is a North Carolina native who campaignedunsuccessfully for president two years ago. Missus Dole has servedon the cabinets of Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush Senior.

One Democrat, North Carolina's Secretary of State ElaineMarshall, has already announced she will campaign for job. Severalother Democratic and Republican candidates are expected to seekSenator Helms' seat.

This VOA Special English program, IN THE NEWS, was written byJill Moss. This is Steve Ember.

品牌培训机构展示

该专题下最近更新的节目

专题广播资料索引