As millions of Americans welcome in 2011 with celebrations and fireworks, U.S. politicians are greeting the new decade with some familiar promises.
随着数百万美国人以庆祝活动和烟火表演迎来2011年，美国政界人士正在用一些熟悉的保证来迎接新的十年。
Far removed from raucous New Year celebrations like the one in New York City's Times Square, U.S, President Barack Obama had a somber message for the American people.
远离像在纽约时报广场上举行的喧嚣的新年庆祝活动，美国总统奥巴马向美国人民发出了严肃的讯息。
"We're still just emerging from a once-in-a-lifetime recession that's taken a terrible toll on millions of families," said President Obama. "We all have friends and neighbors trying to get their lives back on track."
奥巴马说：“我们经历了一次一生中罕见的经济衰退，几百万家庭在这期间受害。我们现在还刚刚开始恢复。我们周围都有朋友和邻居在试图让他们的生活重回正轨。”
In his weekly address, Mr. Obama promised to work harder to strengthen the country's shaky economy recovery, and said recent economic data suggests the situation is starting to improve.
奥巴马在他的每周例行讲话中保证要为加强脆弱的经济复苏而更加努力地工作。他还表示，近期的经济数据显示，目前的经济状况正开始好转。
He also pledged to work more closely with opposition Republican lawmakers, who made significant gains in November's elections.
奥巴马还表示要同反对派共和党的议员们更加紧密的合作。共和党在11月的中期选举中取得了重大胜利。
"I'm willing to work with anyone of either party who's got a good idea and the commitment to see it through," added President Obama. "And we should all expect you to hold us accountable for our progress or our failure to deliver."
奥巴马说：“我愿意同两党中任何人合作，只要他有好的主意，并且有决心贯彻落实。我们都知道你们要我们为我们取得的进展或是失败负责。”
When lawmakers return to Washington later this month, Republicans will control the House of Representatives and have an additional 6 seats in the Senate. Republicans say change is coming.
当国会议员们这个月下旬重返华盛顿的时候，共和党人将控制众议院，并在参议院中增加了6个席位。新当选的共和党参议员艾约特说，变革即将到来。
"The American people sent us to Congress with clear instructions: make....government smaller, not bigger," said newly-elected Republican Senator Kelly Ayotte. "And stop spending money we don't have on programs that aren't working. It's now our responsibility to carry out the will of the people."
艾约特说：“美国人民把我们选入国会，并且有明确的指示：即缩小，而不是扩大政府的规模，并且停止使用我们没有的钱在一些不起作用的项目上。我们现在的责任是实现人民的愿望。”
Giving the weekly Republican address, Ayotte said that for her, like many Americans, the challenge is personal.
艾约特在共和党每周例行讲话中说，对于她而言，这些挑战跟她个人有关。
"As the mother of two children, I'm like parents across the country who worry that our nearly $14 trillion debt threatens America's economic future and our children's future," added Ayotte. "To ensure generations to come have even more opportunities than we've had, Congress must get serious about meaningful debt reduction."
艾约特说：“作为两个孩子的母亲，我和全国各地的家长一样担忧我们将近14万亿的债务会对美国经济的未来和我们孩子的未来构成威胁。为了确保我们的后代能比我们拥有更多的机会，国会必须严肃对待大力减少债务的问题。
Both President Obama and the senator-elect say while the challenges facing the United States at the start of this new decade are great, they remain hopeful. Mr. Obama says there is even reason for optimism.
奥巴马总统和这位当选的参议员都表示，虽然美国在这个新年代的开始面临巨大的挑战，但是他们仍然充满希望。奥巴马说，我们甚至有理由保持乐观。
"I'm confident that we are poised for a period of progress - one in which our economy is growing, our standing in the world is rising, and we do what it takes to make sure America remains in the 21st century what it was in the 20th: the greatest country in the world," said Obama.
奥巴马说：“我相信，我们正处于一段发展的时期，我们的经济正在增长，我们的国际地位正在上升，我们尽力确保美国在21世纪的地位和在20世纪的地位一样，即世界上最伟大的国家。
As the New Year celebrations come to an end, and Americans go back to work and their daily routines, they will be watching to see if the president and lawmakers can make good on that promise.
随着新年的庆祝活动结束，美国人返回到工作岗位和日常生活当中，他们将对奥巴马总统和议员们能否实现他们的承诺拭目以待。 |