U.S. President Barack Obama says agreement on energy legislation and progress on health care reform show that Washington is beginning to change.
美国总统奥巴马说，在能源立法上达成的一致意见以及在卫生保健体制改革方面取得的进展说明，华盛顿正在开始发生变化。
In his weekly address, President Obama says he is heartened by the willingness of those with differing interests to come together around common goals.
奥巴马总统在每周例行广播讲话中说，那些代表不同利益的人们愿意为了共同的目标而走到一起，他为此感到鼓舞。
Mr. Obama has met in the past few days with representatives of insurance and drug companies, as well as doctors, hospitals and labor unions, to talk about reforming health care. These groups, which have opposed many previous reform attempts, agreed to reduce the health care spending growth rate.
奥巴马过去几天跟保险公司和制药公司，以及医生、医院方面和工会代表开会，商量卫生保健制度改革问题。上述各方曾经反对先前的多次改革尝试，而现在他们一致同意降低卫生保健费用的上升速度。
And leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives are trying to pass a health care reform bill by the end of July. The president is applauding both efforts.
美国众议院领袖们试图在7月底之前通过一项卫生保健改革法案。奥巴马总统对这两方面的工作表示欢迎。
"That is the kind of urgency and determination we need to achieve comprehensive reform by the end of this year," he said. "And the reductions in spending the health care community has pledged will help make this reform possible."
奥巴马说：“要在今年年底之前完成这项综合性改革，我们需要抓紧时间，还要有决心。卫生保健领域保证降低医药费用，将有助于使这一改革得以实现。”
In the weekly Republican message, Congressman Charles Boustany, who is also a cardiovascular surgeon, says his party agrees with the president on the basic principles of health care reform. But Boustany says offering consumers an option for government-run health care insurance would cause medical and financial problems.
共和党众议员查尔斯.布斯塔尼代表本党在每周广播讲话中说，共和党在卫生保健制度改革的基本原则上跟总统是一致的。布斯塔尼也是心脏外科医生。不过，布斯塔尼表示，让消费者可以挑选政府办的健康保险会造成医疗和财务方面的难题。
"Government takeover of health care will put bureaucrats in charge of health care decisions that should be made by families and doctors," he said. "It will limit treatment options and lead to rationed care. And to pay for government health care, your taxes will be raised."
布斯塔尼说：“政府接管卫生保健系统会让官员参与健保方面的决定，而这些决定原该由家庭和医生作出。这样做还会限制治疗方式的选择，导致限额分配制的医疗服务。还有，要支付政府经办的健康保险系统，还会提高纳税。”
Mr. Obama says he is also encouraged by progress on energy legislation. After weeks of negotiations in the House, a bill has been introduced to require reductions in the gases that are blamed for global warming and increase reliance on cleaner forms of energy.
奥巴马说，能源立法取得的进展也令他受到鼓舞。众议院经过几个星期的磋商，已经出台一项要求减少废气排放的法案，这些废气据信造成全球气候变暖。这项能源议案还要求进一步依靠各种洁净能源。
"For the first time, utility companies and corporate leaders are joining, rather than opposing, environmental advocates and labor leaders to create a new system of clean energy initiatives that will help unleash a new era of growth and prosperity," said the president.
奥巴马说：“供应水电煤气等公用事业公司的领导第一次跟环保倡导者以及工会领袖齐心协力，设立倡导洁净能源的新体制，这有助于开创增长和繁荣的新时代。”
Mr. Obama says, taken together, the agreements on energy and health care are signs that divisions in Washington are beginning to erode.
奥巴马说，在能源和卫生保健问题上取得的一致都说明，政府中存在的分歧开始逐渐消失。
"This has been an alien notion in Washington for far too long," he said. "But we are seeing that the ways of Washington are beginning to change."
奥巴马说：“华盛顿存在异类观念已经太久了。但是我们如今正目睹华盛顿在如何发生变化。”
The president will travel to the central state of Indiana on Sunday, to deliver the commencement address at the University of Notre Dame. Some students and others plan to boycott Mr. Obama's address at the Roman Catholic university because of his support for abortion rights.
奥巴马总统星期天前往美国中部印第安纳州，在圣母大学毕业典礼发表讲话。有些学生以及其他人计划抵制奥巴马在这所罗马天主教大学的讲话，理由是他支持堕胎权。 |