奥巴马每周电视讲话:民主党和共和党应该同心协力，共促《美国就业法案》的通过

 　　华盛顿：在本周的讲话中，奥巴马总统告诉美国民众，自从他将就业法草案提交国会已经过去三个星期了，现在是国会有所反馈的时候了，这样该法案才能签署生效。经济学家们都认为该《美国就业法案》将促进就业和提振经济，并能给与工薪阶层和中小企业税收减免，让建筑工人重返工作岗位，改建我们的道路和桥梁，让更多的教师重返教室，让更多的警察重返街头巡逻。有太多的美国人在困难中挣扎，他们迫切需要帮助，因此，共和党和民主党应该同心协力，尽快促进《美国就业法案》的通过。

　　大家好。自从我将《美国就业法案》提交到国会已经三个星期过去了——我提交的这一草案将让人们重返工作岗位，让民众口袋有更多的钱，自我提交算起已经三个星期过去了。这一就业法案理应获得完全的支持。它所包含的各项措施是民主党和共和党在过去所支持的。现在我们再次需要这些。是国会对这一法案有所行动的时候了，这样我才能将其签署生效。

　　一些国会的共和党人说他们只是同意该就业法案的部分内容。如果是这样，我想让他们告诉我这些措施具体是哪些。如果他们反对这一法案，我也想知道他们反对的具体是什么。是反对让老师、警察和消防员重返工作岗位吗？还是反对让建筑工人改建我们的道路、桥梁和学校？还是反对给美国工薪人员和中小企业进行实实在在的减税？

　　来自各个政治派别的经济学家们都认为该就业法案可以提振经济并促进就业。为什么你们要反对这些呢？尤其是在这个时间，有这么多的美国人没有工作，还在为生计而挣扎。

　　这并不是说我所想的就是正确的。也不是说这些经济学家所说的都是正确的。这是关于美国民众所需要的东西。每当我到达一个地方，他们都告诉我他们想看到政府在就业上的一些行动。每一天，在我所接到的来自美国民众的信件里，他们都期待着华盛顿能对我们所面临的问题做些事情。

　　德斯提妮·维勒是一位来自乔治亚州的16岁小姑娘，她想要上大学。她在给我的信中写到：“现在，我对自己的发展前景和改善家庭境遇上感觉很难很难，尤其是自从经济状况不好之后，而我的家境本来就很贫穷。现在，《美国就业法案》让我看到了希望，我可以因此获得更好的教育，这样有一天，我可以获得更好的工作机会，而我也可以实现自己的美国梦。”德斯提妮需要我们通过就业法案。

　　爱丽丝·约翰逊是俄勒冈州的原住民，她和他的丈夫已经找了两年的工作了。他在信中写到：“每周我都虔诚的申请各个工作岗位……在我发出的数百份岗位申请里，能得到面试机会的也就10份左右……我对华盛顿的各种争吵感到很失望。请告诉共和党人，人民很受伤，人民很饥饿，人民需要帮助，请通过这项就业法案吧！”  爱丽丝·约翰逊需要我们的帮助。

　　凯瑟琳·狄克逊给我发了一些芝加哥老旧桥梁的照片，她每天送孩子上学要从这座桥上通过。她很担心孩子们的安全，她在信中写到：“我们的国家宣称有着众多的资源，却不能维护好基本的基础设施，我对此很是生气。如果我们不能保护自己的民众和民众的基本需求，那我们还怎么能够有希望保持或重新获得在世界上的地位呢？”

　　我还收到了金·法泊尔的信，她告诉我她丈夫在新泽西州开了一家地毯公司。她说：“我们现在命悬一线，我丈夫每天都在担心支票被退回，他不得不用我们的房屋贷款去维持公司运营。请通过就业法案吧！这项法案创造的就业岗位正是我们现在需要的！如果要让员工离去，我的丈夫会伤透心的。快通过这一法案吧！”

　　金说的很好：“快通过这一法案吧！”我知道有一位共和党人曾说，他们的党派是不会通过这一就业法案的，因为这样会给我获胜的机会。这不是让我获胜的问题，跟这些没有关系。这是关系到德斯提妮·维勒和爱丽丝·约翰逊的问题，这是关系到凯瑟琳·狄克逊的孩子们和法泊尔的家庭企业的问题。他们需要成功，为了他们的利益，每一天我都会力争该就业法案的通过。如果任何人有同样的感受，不要害羞，一定要让你们的国会议员们知道。是结束政治游戏的时候了。让我们一起通过这项就业法案！

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　　WEEKLY ADDRESS: Democrats¹ and Republicans Should Get  Together and Pass the American Jobs Act

　　WASHINGTON—In this week’s address, President Obama  told the American people that it has been nearly three weeks since he sent  Congress his jobs bill, and now it is time for Congress to send it back so  that it can be signed into law.   Economists² agree that the American Jobs Act will spur hiring and boost  the economy, and it will give workers and small businesses tax cuts, get  construction workers back to work rebuilding our roads and bridges, and put  more teachers in classrooms and cops on the streets.  Too many Americans are struggling and need  help now, and so Republicans and Democrats should come together without delay  to pass the American Jobs Act.

　　Hello,  everyone.  It’s been almost three weeks  since I sent the American Jobs Act to Congress – three weeks since I sent  them a bill that would put people back to work and put money in people’s  pockets.  This jobs bill is fully³ paid  for.  This jobs bill contains the kinds  of proposals that Democrats and Republicans have supported in the past.  And now I want it back.  It is time for Congress to get its act  together and pass this jobs bill so I can sign it into law.

　　Some Republicans  in Congress have said that they agree with certain parts of this jobs  bill.  If so, it’s time for them to  tell me what those proposals are.  And  if they’re opposed to this jobs bill, I’d like to know what exactly they’re  against.  Are they against putting  teachers and police officers and firefighters back on the job?  Are they against hiring construction  workers to rebuild our roads and bridges and schools?  Are they against giving tax cuts to  virtually every worker and small business in America?

　　Economists from  across the political spectrum⁴ have said that this jobs bill would boost the  economy and spur hiring.  Why would you  be against that?  Especially at a time  when so many Americans are struggling and out of work.

　　This isn’t just  about what I think is right.  It’s not  just about what a group of economists think is right.  This is about what the American people  want.  Everywhere I go, they tell me  they want action on jobs.  Every day, I  get letters from Americans who expect Washington to do something about the  problems we face.

　　Destiny Wheeler  is a sixteen year old from Georgia who wants to go to college.  She wrote to me saying, “Now-a-days it is  hard to see myself pushing forward and putting my family in a better  position, especially since the economy is rough and my starting situation is  so poor.  Yet, the American Jobs act  gives me hope that I might start to receive a better education, that one day  job opportunities will be open for me to grasp, and that one day my personal  American Dream will be reached.”   Destiny needs us to pass this jobs bill.

　　Alice Johnson is  an Oregon native who, along with her husband, has been looking for a job for  about two years.  She writes, “I have  faithfully applied⁵ for work every week…Of the hundreds of applications I have  put in, I received interview requests for about 10…I too, am sick of all the  fighting in Washington DC.  Please tell  the Republicans that people are hurting and are hungry and need help, pass the  jobs bill.”  Alice Johnson needs our  help.

　　Cathleen Dixon  sent me pictures of the aging bridge she drives under when she takes her kids  to school in Chicago every day.  She  worries about their safety, and writes, “I am angry that in this country of  vast resources we claim that we cannot maintain basic infrastructure⁶.  How can we ever hope to preserve or regain⁷  our stature⁸ in this world, if we cannot find the will to protect our people  and take care of our basic needs?”

　　I also heard  from Kim Faber, who told me about the small carpet business her husband owns  in New Jersey⁹.  “We hang on by a shoe  String,” she writes, “my husband worries every day about if checks might  bounce, he uses our home loan to put money in the business so they will be  covered.  Please pass this jobs bill!  This is the job creating we need right now! It breaks my husband’s heart when  he has to let people go! Pass the bill!”

　　Kim said it  best: Pass the bill.  I know one  Republican was quoted as saying that their party shouldn’t pass this jobs  bill because it would give me a win.   Well this isn’t about giving me a win, and it’s not about them.  This is about Destiny Wheeler and Alice  Johnson. It’s about Cathleen Dixon’s children, and the Fabers’ family  business.  These are the people who  need a win, and I will be fighting for this jobs bill every day on their  behalf.  If anyone watching feels the  same way, don’t be shy about letting your Congressman¹⁰ know.  It is time for the politics to end.  Let’s pass this jobs bill.

1 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》

2 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

4 spectrum   

n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列

参考例句：

• This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。
• We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。

5 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

6 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

7 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

8 stature   

n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材

参考例句：

• He is five feet five inches in stature.他身高5英尺5英寸。
• The dress models are tall of stature.时装模特儿的身材都较高。

9 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

10 Congressman   

n.（美）国会议员

参考例句：

• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman.他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics.这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。