奥巴马每周电视讲话:通过《美国就业法案》

 　　华盛顿：在本周的讲话中，奥巴马总统敦促国会立即通过《美国就业法案》，以便企业可以雇佣工人，让每个需要工作的美国人都能找到工作。总统提出的就业法案将在不增加赤字的情况下保证警察还能继续在街上巡逻，让教师在教室上课，减少对中小企业的征税，让建筑工人重返工作岗位。所有支持总统计划的美国人都应该向他们选举出来的官员们反映，告诉他们现在是通过这一就业法案的时候了，这样才能确保每个人都承担自己应该承担的义务，量入为出帮助经济继续增长。

　　最近我花了些时间走遍了全国，并与华盛顿之外的人民交谈。我所遇到的人关注的第一件事就是我们如何才能重回可以创造良好就业，造就中产阶级的，有优厚薪水和安全感的时代。

　　这就是《美国就业法案》背后的意图。该就业法案就要做两件简单的事情：让更多的人重返工作岗位，并让工作的人们能挣到更多的钱。

　　该就业法案能让建筑工人重返工地，重建我们的公路和桥梁，建设现代化的学校。

　　该就业法案可以让老师回到教室上课，让警察和消防员留在各自的岗位上。

　　该就业法案还将给与企业税收优惠，让他们可以招聘退伍军人，因为如果你曾经志愿为国战斗，那么最不愿意看到的就是当你回到家乡还要为一份工作而奋斗。

　　该就业法案还为长期失业人员联系临时工作，让他们历练技能以便他们找到工作，并给成千上万的年轻人在明年夏天找到一份工作的希望。

　　该就业法案还为美国的各中小企业减税。削减的幅度甚至超过这些中小企业雇佣新员工和增加工人薪水的成本。同时也为每个工薪家庭减税，这样你们将有更多的钱可供支配，而商家也知道他们会有顾客光临购买他们的商品。

　　这就是《美国就业法案》，大家可以亲自前往白宫官网WhiteHouse.gov确认。

　　这将创造新的岗位。为这个国家的每个劳动者和中小企业减税。并且不增加赤字。我们有能力支付。

　　下周一，我将展示我们如何实施的具体计划——我们如何支付这一计划并偿还我们的债务，遵循的就是以下几个基本原则：确保我们量入为出并让每个人都承担自己应当承担的义务。

　　但现在，我们需要国会通过这一就业法案。《美国就业法案》中的所有内容都是曾经有民主党人和共和党人共同支持过的想法。如果这些想法你也同意，每个人都可以通过告诉你们的议员代表立即通过这一法案来帮助实现这些想法。

　　我知道有些人宁愿再等一年的下届选举也不愿在当下一起合作。但大多数美国人是等不起的。这场由华尔街制造的金融危机让中产阶级的生活陷入困难之中，截至这个星期已经三年了。而且还有很多人还在受着持续的伤害。

　　因此行动的时机就是当下。不要再较量或阻挠了。也不要再有分歧和延误了。你们把那些人选举出来，是时候让他们把国家利益放在党派利益之上——不再计较他们的饭碗而要开始考虑你们的工作了。

　　是时候开始工作，并向全世界再一次展示为什么美利坚合众国依然是世界上最伟大的国家。

　　谢谢大家。

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　　Weekly Address: Passing the American Jobs Act

　　WASHINGTON—In this week’s address, President Obama  urged Congress to pass the American Jobs Act without delay so that businesses  will be able to hire more workers and every American who wants a job will be  able to find one.  The President’s jobs  bill keeps cops on the streets and teachers in the classrooms, cuts taxes for  small businesses, and puts construction workers back to work without adding  to the deficit¹.  All Americans who  agree with the President’s plan should call their elected officials and tell  them that it’s time to pass the jobs bill, which will ensure that everyone  pays their fair share and that we live within our means as we help the  economy continue to grow.

　　I’ve spent some  time lately traveling the country and talking with folks outside of  Washington.  And the number one issue  for the people I meet is how we can get back to a place where we’re creating  good, middle-class jobs that pay well and offer some security.

　　That’s the idea  behind the American Jobs Act.  It’s a  jobs bill that does two simple things: put more people back to work, and more  money back in the pockets of people who are working.

　　This jobs bill  puts construction workers back to work rebuilding our roads and bridges and  modernizing our schools.

　　This jobs bill  puts teachers back in the classroom, and keeps cops and firefighters on our  streets.

　　This jobs bill  gives tax credits to companies that hire our veterans, because if you sign up  to fight for our country, the last thing you should have to do is fight for a  job when you come home.

　　This jobs bill  connects the long-term unemployed² to temporary work to keep their skills  sharp while they look for a job, and it gives hundreds of thousands of young  people the hope of a job next summer.

　　This jobs bill  cuts taxes for every small business owner in America.  It cuts them even more for small business  owners that hire new workers and raise workers’ salaries.  And it cuts taxes for every working family  in America so that you’ll have more money in your pockets, and businesses  know they’ll have customers to buy what they sell.

　　That’s the  American Jobs Act, and you can check it out for yourself on WhiteHouse.gov.

　　It will create  new jobs. It will cut taxes for every worker and small business in the  country.  And it will not add to the  deficit.  It will be paid for.

　　On Monday, I’ll  lay out my plan for how we’ll do that – how we’ll pay for this plan and pay  down our debt by following some basic principles: making sure we live within  our means and asking everyone to pay their fair share.

　　But right now,  we’ve got to get Congress to pass this jobs bill.  Everything in the American Jobs Act is the kind  of idea that’s been supported by Democrats³ and Republicans⁴ before.  And if they’re ideas you agree with, too,  every one of you can help make it happen by telling your congressperson to  pass this jobs bill right away.

　　I know some of  them would rather wait another year to wage another election than work  together right now.  But most Americans  don’t have the luxury of waiting.  It  was three years ago this week that a financial crisis⁵ on Wall Street made  things much more difficult for working folks on Main Street.  And too many are still hurting as a result.

　　So the time for  action is now.  No more games or  gridlock.  No more division or  delay.  It’s time for the people you  sent to Washington to put country before party – to stop worrying so much  about their jobs and start worrying more about yours.

　　It’s time to get  to work and show the world once again why the United States of America  remains the greatest nation on Earth.

　　Thank you.

1 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

2 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

3 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 republicans   

拥护共和政体者，共和主义者( republican的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Republicans got shellacked in the elections. 共和党在选举中一败涂地。
• The latest poll gives the Republicans a 5％ lead. 最近的民意调查结果表明共和党领先了五个百分点。

5 crisis   

n.危机，危急关头，决定性时刻，关键阶段

参考例句：

• He had proved that he could be relied on in a crisis.他已表明，在紧要关头他是可以信赖的。
• The topic today centers about the crisis in the Middle East.今天课题的中心是中东危机。