奥巴马总统每周电台演讲:总统呼吁国会逐一完成各个待办事项

We all know the past few years have been difficult for this country. After the worst recession of our lifetimes,it will take longer than any of us would like for the economy to fully¹ recover. But there are plenty of steps we can take to speed up the recovery. There are things we can do – right now – to help create jobs and restore some of the financial security that so many families have lost.

Now, the other side isn’t so optimistic. They think all we can do is cut taxes – especially for the wealthiest Americans – and go back to letting banks and corporations write their own rules again. That’s their plan.

But I think they’re wrong. We tried their ideas for nearly a decade, and it didn’t work out so well. We can’t go back to the same policies that got us into this mess. We’ve got to move forward. We need to build an economy where hard work and responsibility are rewarded – where you can find a good job, own your own home, maybe start a businesses, and give your kids the chance to do even better.

That’s where we need to go. And I’ve been pushing Congress to help us get there by passing a few common-sense policies that would make a difference. Democrats² and Republicans have already done some important work together – from passing tax cuts for workers, to opening up new markets for American products, to reforming our patent system. But now we need to do more.


That’s why we made Congress a handy “To-Do” list – just like the kind I get from Michelle. It’s short, but each of the ideas on this list will help create jobs and build a stronger economy right now.

First, Congress should stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas, and use that money to cover moving expenses for companies that bring jobs back to America.

Second, Congress should help the millions of Americans who have worked hard and made their mortgage payments on time refinance their mortgages at lower rates and save at least $3,000 a year.

Third, Congress should help small business owners by giving them a tax break for hiring more workers and paying them higher wages. Small businesses are the engine of economic growth in this country. We shouldn’t be holding them back – we should be making it easier for them to succeed.

Fourth, if Congress fails to act soon, clean energy companies will see their taxes go up and could be forced to lay off employees. These companies are putting Americans to work and helping³ break our dependence⁴ on foreign oil. Congress should extend these tax credits.

And finally, Congress should help our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan by creating a Veterans Job Corps⁵. Our men and women in uniform have served this country with honor. Now it’s our turn to serve them.

So that’s Congress’s “To-Do” List. But now we need them to start crossing things off. I need you to call your Members of Congress, write an email, tweet, and let them know we can’t afford to wait any longer to get things done. Tell them now is the time to take steps we know will grow our economy and create jobs.

You’re working harder. You’re meeting your responsibilities. Your representatives in Washington should do the same. Let’s push Congress to do the right thing. Let’s keep moving this country forward together.

Thanks, and have a great weekend.


我们都知道,过去几年对这个国家而言非常困难。在我们的有生之年经历的最严重的经济衰退后,将花费比我们任何人想的更长的时间来使经济完全恢复。但是我们可以采取很多步骤加快复苏。有些事情是我们可以做的——现在——就是帮助创造就业机会并恢复一些许多家庭失去的金融安全。

现在,另一方并不那么乐观。他们认为所有我们能做的就是减税——特别是对于最富有的美国人而言——回到让银行和企业再次写他们自己的规则。这是他们的计划。

但我认为他们错了。我们尝试了他们的想法已有将近十年,而这并不起效。我们不能再次回到使我们陷入这场混乱的相同政策中去。我们必须前进。我们需要建立一种经济体:努力工作并且责任可以得到回报,在那里你可以找到一份好工作,有属于你自己的房子,也许做些生意,让你的孩子有机会做得更好。

这才是我们需要去做的。我一直在推动国会通过一些与众不同的政策来帮助我们实现这一目标。民主党和共和党已经在一起做了一些重要的工作——通过为工人减税,为美国产品开辟新的市场,改革我们的专利系统。但现在我们需要做的更多。

这就是为什么我们使国会有方便的“待办事项”名单——就像我从米歇尔那里得到的一样。它很短,但在这份名单中的每个想法现在将帮助创造就业机会,建立一个更强的经济。

首先,国会应当停止提供向输出海外就业机会的企业赋税减免,并用这些钱来支付将工作岗位带回美国的企业。

其次,国会应该帮助工作努力,按时支付抵押贷款的数以百万计美国人以较低利率抵押贷款并一年节省至少3000美元。

第三,国会应该通过提供税收减免帮助雇佣更多工人并为他们支付更高的工资的小企业。中小企业是这个国家的经济增长的动力源泉。我们不应该阻碍它们的发展——我们应该使他们更容易成功。

第四,如果国会不很快采取行动,清洁能源公司将会看到他们的税率太高,可能会被迫解雇员工。这些公司正使美国人民开始工作,打破我们对外国石油的依赖。国会应该扩展并抵免这些税收。

最后,国会应该帮助我们从伊拉克和阿富汗退伍的老兵创建一个退伍军人工作公司。我们的男女军人已经为这个国家的荣誉效忠。现在轮到我们为他们服务。

这就是国会的“待办事项”清单。但现在我们需要他们开始逐一办妥每一件事并将已完成的事情划掉。我需要你们打电话,写电子邮件,发推特给国会成员们,让他们知道我们不能再等待把事情做完。告诉他们,现在是时候采取措施,我们知道促进经济增长和创造就业机会。

你更努力地工作。你履行你的责任。你在华盛顿的代表们也应该这样做。让我们推进国会做正确的事。让我们一起继续为了这个国家向前发展而努力。

谢谢,周末愉快。

1 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。

2 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》

3 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

4 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

5 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。