奥巴马总统每周电台演讲:总统呼吁国会采取行动创造就业机会

Hi, everybody.

大家好。

Last week, without much fanfare¹, Members of the House of Representatives banged a gavel, turned out the lights, and rushed home, declaring their work finished for now.

在上周的一片寂静中，众议院的议员们敲锤定音，关闭电源并且匆匆赶回家，并同时宣布他们现下的工作已经完成。

If that frustrates² you, it should—because their work isn't finished.

如果说这让你感到沮丧，那是肯定的。因为他们的工作并没有完成。

See, when they skipped town, Members of Congress left a whole bunch of proposals sitting on the table—actions that would create jobs, boost our economy, and strengthen middle-class security.

让我们来看看，当国会议员们匆匆离开，他们的办公桌上还留着一大堆提案悬而未决：包括创造就业、提升我们经济以及增强中产阶级安全感等的多项法案。

These ideas have been around for months.

而这些想法已经提出来好几个月了。

But apparently³, some Members of Congress are more worried about their jobs and their paychecks this campaign season than they are about yours.

但很显然，一些国会议员在这个大选季更关心的是他们自己的工作和薪水，而不是你们。

Right now, if Congress had done the right thing, we could be on our way to having a veterans' jobs corps⁴ that helps returning heroes find work as cops and firefighters in communities all across the country.

现在，如果国会做的事情是正确的，我们就能有一个促进退伍军人就业社团来帮助这些衣锦还乡的英雄们在全国各地的社区找到像警察、消防员等的工作。

These men and women have made incredible sacrifices for our country.

正是这些男女战士们为国家做出了巨大的牺牲。

They shouldn't have to worry about finding a job when they get home.

我们不应该让他们回家之后还为找份工作而担忧。

But last week, Republicans in Congress voted it down. And then they left.

但上周，国会的共和党人否决了这一提案，然后他们离开。

Right now, if Congress had gotten its act together, we would have a farm bill to help farmers and ranchers respond to natural disasters like the drought we had this summer.

现在，如果国会团结起来，我们就能有一项农业法来帮助农民和牧民们应对今年我们遭受的夏季干旱这样的自然灾害。

And we'd have made necessary reforms to give our rural communities some long-term certainty.

而且我们也可以进行必要的改革来确保我们边远社区的长治久安。

But so far, Republicans in Congress have dragged their feet.

但到目前为止，国会的共和党人一拖再拖，

And now they're gone.

现在他们消失的无影无踪。

Right now, if Congress had acted, thousands of responsible homeowners could be saving an extra $3,000 a year on their mortgages by refinancing at historically low rates.

现在，如果国会做的正确，成千上万负责任的房主就可以以历史最低点的利率进行房贷转按揭，这样他们每年可以节省3000美元。

But instead, Republicans in Congress decided⁵ that working families could wait.

但是，国会的共和党人决定让这些工薪家庭继续等待。

And now they'll have to wait a little longer.

现在他们真的是要等很长一段时间了。

And finally, if Congress had listened to you, they could have given 98% of Americans and 97% of small business owners a guarantee that your taxes won't go up next year by a single dime⁶.

而且最后，如果国会听从你们的意见，他们就应该给予98%的美国人以及97%的中小企业主保证，承诺下一年的税收一分钱也不会上涨。

This is something we all agree on.

这是我们大家都同意的事情，

It should have gotten done a long time ago.

这是很早以前就应该做好的。

But Republicans in Congress have refused to budge⁷.

但国会的共和党人拒绝调整预算。

They're holding tax cuts for 98% of Americans hostage until we pass tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% of Americans.

他们以98%的美国人民为要挟，非要等到为2%的最富有人减税之后再做考虑。

And now middle-class families and small business owners are left wondering what their tax bill will look like next year.

现在中产阶级家庭和小企业主都不知道下一年他们的税单会变成什么样子。

All of these ideas would strengthen our economy and help the middle class right now.

所有这些想法都将巩固我们的经济并帮助中产阶级。

All of them are supported by Democrats⁸, Republicans and Independents.

所有想法都得到了民主党人、共和党人以及无党派人士的支持。

There's no reason to wait.

没有理由等下去。

That's why, after going home and listening to their constituents⁹ for a few weeks, Members of Congress should come back in November and do this work.

正因如此，在他们回家的这几个星期里，他们将听取选民的心声，新一届国会议员们将在11月重返岗位开始工作。

They should do the right thing for veterans and farmers; for responsible homeowners and small businesses; for Americans everywhere who are just trying to get ahead.

他们应该为退伍军人、农民、负责任的房主、中小企业以及各地努力奋斗希望获得成功的美国人做些正确的事情。

And if you agree with me, I need your help.

如果你们同意我，我很需要你们的帮助。

Tell your Members of Congress you can't afford to wait any longer.

告诉你们的议员们，你们不能再等下去了。

If you get an answering machine, leave a message.

如果你有录音电话，请留言。

If you see them campaigning back home, tell them in person.

如果你们在选举活动中看到他们回来，请当面告诉他们。

Because there's been enough talk.

因为我们需要更多的对话。

It's time for action.

是时候采取行动了。

That's what you deserve, and that's what it's going to take to move this country forward.

这也是你们应得的，是为推动国家前进所应该做的。

Thanks, and have a great weekend.

谢谢你们，祝大家周末愉快！

1 fanfare   

n.喇叭；号角之声；v.热闹地宣布

参考例句：

• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide.这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。
• A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King.嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。

2 frustrates   

v.使不成功( frustrate的第三人称单数 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• What frustrates him is that there's too little money to spend on the project. 使他懊恼的是，可用于这个项目的资金太少。
• His trouble is that he frustrates much easily. 他的毛病是很容易泄气。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

4 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。

5 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

6 dime   

n.（指美国、加拿大的钱币）一角

参考例句：

• A dime is a tenth of a dollar.一角银币是十分之一美元。
• The liberty torch is on the back of the dime.自由火炬在一角硬币的反面。

7 budge   

v.移动一点儿；改变立场

参考例句：

• We tried to lift the rock but it wouldn't budge.我们试图把大石头抬起来，但它连动都没动一下。
• She wouldn't budge on the issue.她在这个问题上不肯让步。

8 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》

9 constituents   

n.选民( constituent的名词复数 )；成分；构成部分；要素

参考例句：

• She has the full support of her constituents. 她得到本区选民的全力支持。
• Hydrogen and oxygen are the constituents of water. 氢和氧是水的主要成分。 来自《简明英汉词典》