House Committee Approves Changing Department of Defense Name to Department of War
眾議院委員會通過將國防部更名為戰爭部
Introduction
The House Armed Services Committee has voted along party lines to permanently change the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War.
眾議院軍事委員會已按黨派分歧投票，決定將國防部永久更名為戰爭部。
Main Body
The idea for this name change started with an executive order from President Donald Trump in September. This order allowed the government to return to a title used by the U.S. military before 1947. This change was officially added to the annual National Defense Authorization Act through an amendment by Representative Ronny Jackson. Supporters, including President Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth, emphasized that using the word 'War' sends a strong signal of determination and discourages enemies by showing a commitment to military victory.
這次更名的構想始於總統川普在九月發布的一項行政命令。該命令允許政府恢復使用 1947 年前美國軍方所使用的名稱。這項變更透過眾議員 Ronny Jackson 提出的修正案，正式加入到年度《國防授權法案》中。包括川普總統與 Pete Hegseth 部長在內的支持者強調，使用「戰爭」一詞能發出強而有力的決心信號，透過展現對軍事勝利的承諾來威懾敵人。
However, the proposal faced strong opposition from Democratic members of the committee. Representative Adam Smith asserted that the change is meaningless, while Representative Pat Ryan described it as a symbolic gesture rather than a practical move. Furthermore, there are concerns about the cost. While the Department of Defense estimated the cost at around $52 million, the Congressional Budget Office suggested it could be anywhere from a few million to $125 million, depending on how it is carried out.
然而，該提案遭到委員會中民主黨成員的強烈反對。眾議員 Adam Smith 主張這次更名毫無意義，而眾議員 Pat Ryan 則將其描述為象徵性舉措而非實際行動。此外，成本問題也引起關注。雖然國防部估計成本約為 5,200 萬美元，但國會預算辦公室指出，根據執行方式的不同，成本可能在數百萬美元至 1.25 億美元之間。
This amendment has increased the political divide within the larger defense bill. Although the overall National Defense Authorization Act passed the committee with a 44-12 vote, the renaming part caused significant disagreement. Democratic members cited the massive budget of $1 trillion to $1.15 trillion and a lack of oversight regarding the conflict with Iran as the main reasons for their opposition.
這項修正案加深了大型國防法案內部的政治分歧。儘管整體的《國防授權法案》以 44 比 12 票通過委員會，但更名部分引起了顯著分歧。民主黨成員將 1 兆至 1.15 兆美元的巨額預算以及對伊朗衝突缺乏監督，列為反對的主要原因。
Conclusion
The renaming proposal will now go to a full House vote, but it will only become law if the Senate also approves it.
更名提案現在將提交眾議院全體投票，但僅在參議院也通過後才會正式成為法律。
Vocabulary Learning
⚡ The 'B2 Jump': Moving from Simple to Nuanced Descriptions
At an A2 level, you describe things as good, bad, big, or small. To reach B2, you need to express intent and impact. In this text, we find a perfect bridge: the shift from describing an action to describing a symbol.
🛠️ The Power of "Symbolic" vs. "Practical"
Look at these two opposing views from the article:
- The Supporters: They say the name "War" sends a strong signal and shows determination.
- The Critics: They call it a symbolic gesture and a meaningless change.
The Linguistic Shift: Instead of saying "This is a bad idea" (A2), a B2 speaker says "This is a symbolic gesture."
- Practical: Something that actually changes how things work. (e.g., Changing the budget is a practical move.)
- Symbolic: Something that looks important or sends a message, but doesn't actually change the reality. (e.g., Changing a name is a symbolic move.)
📈 Elevating Your Contrast Connectors
Stop using "But" for everything. This text uses "However" and "Furthermore" to build a professional argument.
| A2 Style (Basic) | B2 Style (Advanced) | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| But the cost is high. | However, there are concerns about the cost. | It creates a formal pause and signals a shift in logic. |
| And it costs a lot. | Furthermore, the CBO suggested it could be $125 million. | It adds a stronger piece of evidence to the argument. |
🧠 Vocabulary Upgrade: The 'Impact' Word Bank
Replace your basic verbs with these high-impact alternatives found in the text:
- Instead of said Asserted (To say something with confidence and force).
- Instead of show Emphasize (To make something very clear because it is important).
- Instead of disagree Opposition (The act of fighting against a plan or idea).