A key Democratic lawmaker has outlined his plans to use legislation the U.S. Congress would approve in coming months to impose greater controls on financial firms to protect investors and help avoid another financial system collapse. Republicans stepped up pressure on Democrats over financial issues.
一名重量级民主党国会议员计划利用国会未来几个月将通过的立法，加强对金融企业的监管，以保护投资人，协助避免再度发生金融系统崩溃。
In his most extensive remarks yet on reform plans, House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank detailed steps he says are needed to reduce systemic risk through increased regulation, and new restrictions on financial institutions.
国会众议财政委员会主席弗兰克在他迄今发表的对金融改革计划最广泛的评论里，详细介绍了他准备采取的步骤。他表示，需要经由加强规范以及对金融机构施加新的限制，来减少系统性的风险。
A key to avoiding a repeat of the U.S. financial meltdown, says Frank, is to discourage excessive risk taking, a task he believes will likely fall to the U.S. Federal Reserve.
弗兰克说，避免重蹈美国金融危机的一个关键是，不鼓励过度冒险的投资行为。他相信这项任务可能将落到美国联邦储备委员会头上。
"There is an emerging consensus I believe that probably the Federal Reserve will be given the power to do systemic risk regulation, covering all forms of financial activity and it will have some flexibility as to what the reach is." he said.
弗兰克说：“我相信越来越多的人认识到，也许应当授权联邦储备委员会规范系统性的投资冒险。这项规范将函盖所有的金融行为，同时保持某种程度的灵活性。”
Frank says it remains to be seen how much reach, or regulatory authority, this would entail, adding he hopes Congress will have a general outline by April.
弗兰克说，目前还不清楚这项规范的权力范围有多大。他希望今年4月以前国会能够提出一个概要。
New authorities, he adds, should not weaken the capabilities of existing bodies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Among other steps, Representative Frank is looking at establishing a commission to assess the reliability of investment products, which grew sharply in number before the financial crisis.
在其他的步骤方面，弗兰克众议员希望成立一个委员会来评估投资产品的可靠性。这种投资产品在金融危机爆发前急剧增加。
Others include tougher restrictions on sub-prime loans, and government action to make rental housing more affordable.
Frank refers to what he calls deeply-rooted anger among average Americans about unfairness in the financial system, something he says banks and institutions must address.
弗兰克提到他所说的美国一般民众对金融系统内存在的不公平现象根深蒂固的愤怒。他认为银行和金融企业必须改变这些作法。
"You cannot get credit restored without doing something that will be of benefit to the existing group of people. As I said to a couple of the bankers, here is the problem, people really hate you, and they are starting to hate us for hanging out with you and you have to help us deal with that. For example, you have to avoid being stupid," he said.
他说：“你不可能在做出一些对人们有益的事情之前，恢复信用。正如我对一些银行家所说的，现在的问题是，人们真的很痛恨你们，他们现在也开始痛恨我们纵容你们，因此你们必须协助我们解决这个问题。比如，你们必须避免做蠢事。”
In explanation, Frank refers to billions of dollars in bonuses banks and other institutions paid out to executives even as companies received government bail out money.
弗兰克解释说，他指的是银行和其他金融机构在接受政府救助款项的同时，却给自己的高级主管发放几十亿美元的奖金。
Assuring accountability for how government funds are spent will be a key focus for lawmakers.
确保有效适用政府的救助资金，将是国会议员关注的一个重点。
Next week, eight financial institution executives testify before Frank's committee on implementation of the much-criticized $700 billion Troubled Assets Relief Program, or TARP.
下星期，8家金融机构的负责人将在弗兰克的财政委员会作证，就备受批评的7千亿美元“问题资产救助计划”款项的执行情况，接受质询。
Frank's remarks came as House Republicans launched a new stage of pressure on majority Democrats and President Obama over that program.
弗兰克发表这番评论之际，众院共和党议员对多数党民主党和奥巴马总统的经济振兴计划施加了新一波压力。
In a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and National Economic Council chief Lawrence Summers, the Republicans ask the administration to provide an exit strategy from the TARP and what they call the government's sweeping involvement in financial markets.
这些共和党议员在给财政部长盖特纳和国家经济委员会首席顾问萨默斯的信里，要求奥巴马政府提出一个退出“问题资产救助计划”的战略，以及退出他们所说政府全面介入金融市场的战略。
President Obama and Geithner are expected to unveil details next week about new accountability and transparency rules for banks receiving government aid, amid reports the administration is preparing yet another financial institution support plan.
有报导说，奥巴马政府正准备提出另外一项金融机构支持计划。与此同时，预期奥巴马总统和财政部长盖特纳下星期将会对接受政府救助资金的银行，提出新的问责和透明度规章的细节。 |