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　　President George Bush says the United States faces difficult economic times - a situation made worse by congressional inaction.
美国总统布什星期二在白宫举行的记者会上说，美国正面临经济困难时期，而国会缺乏行动则使目前的经济困难进一步恶化。
President Bush says he does not know whether America's sagging¹ economic performance meets the technical definition of a recession. But he says, without a doubt, conditions are "tough" for Americans struggling with high energy prices, soaring food costs, a plummeting² housing market and tight credit.
"Across our country, many Americans are understandably anxious about issues affecting their pocketbook: from gas and food prices to mortgage and tuition bills," Mr. Bush said.
布什总统说，他不知道美国经济疲软是否满足了经济衰退的严格定义。但是他表示，毫无疑问，目前的状况对于美国人来说确实难以招架，因为他们正面对能源价格暴涨、食品价格飙升、房屋市场狂跌和信贷市场紧缩的局面而苦苦挣扎。布什总统说：“在全国各地，很多美国人都对影响他们钱包的问题忧心忡忡：从汽油和食品价格，到房屋按揭和学杂费，不一而足。”
Speaking in the White House Rose Garden, Mr. Bush said his administration has made a series of proposals to shield the American people from the worst effects of the economic turndown and to address long-term energy needs. But, he said Congress has refused to act on the proposals from extending tax cuts to expanding America's oil refinery³ capacity.
布什总统是在白宫玫瑰园向记者发表这番讲话的。他说，他领导的政府提出了一系列建议来保护美国人民，防止他们受到经济下滑的最恶劣的影响，解决他们长期的能源需求问题，比如，延长减税期限和扩大美国炼油厂的生产能力，然而国会却拒绝就这些建议采取行动。
He was particularly critical of congressional resistance to authorizing⁴ oil exploration in a national wildlife refuge in Alaska, known as ANWAR.
他特别批评国会反对授权在阿拉斯加州的一个国家野生动植物保护区勘探石油。
"Members of Congress have been vocal⁵ about foreign governments increasing their oil production, yet Congress has been just as vocal in opposition⁶ to efforts to expand our production here at home," Mr. Bush said. "They have repeatedly blocked environmentally safe exploration in ANWAR. The Department of Energy estimates that ANWAR could allow America to produce about a million additional barrels of oil every day."
布什说：“国会议员们口口声声地要求外国政府增加他们的石油产量，可是同时却又口口声声地反对在我们国内扩大石油生产。他们再三阻挠在阿拉斯加州的国家野生动植物保护区勘探石油，尽管这种勘探从环保角度来看是安全的。能源部估计，如果在阿拉斯加州的国家野生动植物保护区勘探石油，那将给美国每天增加大约一百万桶的石油。”
Mr. Bush urged congressional leaders of both parties to work together and take concrete steps to address America's economic and energy needs.
布什总统敦促国会民主-共和两党的领导人相互合作，采取具体步骤，满足美国的经济和能源需求。
His comments provoked a swift response from congressional Democrats⁷, who control both legislative⁸ houses. New York Senator Charles Schumer says the president is out of touch with the American people, and late in leading the charge for action on the economy.
然而布什总统的这番话立即遭到国会民主党人的反驳。美国国会参众两院目前都在民主党的控制之下。来自纽约州的民主党参议员查尔斯.舒默说，布什总统完全脱离了美国人民，尤其是在振兴经济方面行动迟缓。
"The president and the White House have repeatedly ignored repeated shots across the bow of our economy: rising foreclosures, falling home prices, withering⁹ consumer confidence, and record oil company profits," Schumer said. "None of them are being addressed."
舒默说：“总统和白宫一再忽视我国经济反复发出的信号：丧失抵押住房赎回权的人数增加，房屋价格大幅度下滑，消费者信心日益低落，石油公司的利润破记录地上升。这些问题全都没有得到处理。”
On Alaskan oil drilling, Mr. Schumer said it would take years before new crude started flowing, and that the oil generated would have a negligible affect on gasoline prices.
在阿拉斯加的石油勘探问题上，舒默参议员说，新的油田投产需要很多年的时间，而那里生产的石油对于汽油价格的影响将是微乎其微的。
The back-and-forth between the White House and Capitol Hill on economic matters came amid a mixed batch¹⁰ of U.S. financial indicators¹¹. U.S. consumer confidence now stands at a five-year low, a sign that consumer spending may slow in the months to come. Another report shows U.S. housing prices dropped in February at the fastest rate ever recorded.
就在白宫和国会就经济问题唇枪舌剑地相互指责的时候，新出炉的经济数据可以说是有好有坏。美国的消费者信心现在下降到五年来的最低水平，暗示在今后的几个月中，消费者支出将会走缓。另外一份报告显示，美国的住房价格在2月份以前所未有的幅度下滑。
On a more positive note for American consumers, oil prices receded¹² amid reports of falling domestic demand for fossil fuels.
不过，对于美国消费者来说，也有一个积极的迹象：由于有报告说美国国内对化石燃料的需求有所减少，石油价格开始回落。