The White House says the American people are on the "verge" of health-care reform. One big hurdle remains before the needed legislation can be signed into law.

This may be the most difficult part of all.

When Congress returns in the new year, negotiators for the House and Senate will begin the tough task of merging their different versions of health-care reform legislation into one bill the president can sign.

白宫称，美国人民即将获得医疗改革的成功。然而，在最终签署法律之前，该立法仍然面临很大的障碍。

这可能是最为困难的部分。

国会新年归来之时，参议院和众议院谈判人员将开始一项艰巨的任务，将两个版本的医改立法融为一体，随后奥巴马总统将其签署法律。




on/to the verge of something/of doing something: very near to the moment when somebody does something or something happens 濒于;接近于;行将

He was on the verge of tears.

他差点儿哭了出来.

They are on the verge of signing a new contract for a further two years' work.

他们即将签订两年继续工作的新合同.

These events left her on the verge of having a nervous breakdown.

这些事件使得她的精神濒于崩溃.

On the brink of

on the brink of collapse/war/death/disaster

濒于崩溃╱战争╱死亡╱灾难

Scientists are on the brink of making a major new discovery.

科学家很快就会有新的重大发现.