Congress and the White House are close to a deal to give struggling U.S. automakers $15 billion in loans and require the industry to restructure in order to survive in the marketplace.
美国国会和白宫在为陷入困境的美国汽车制造公司提供150亿美元贷款问题上，接近达成一项协议。这个计划还要求美国的汽车业进行结构调整，以在市场上得以生存。
Under the proposal, the loans - which would come from funds already appropriated - would be made available immediately to Chrysler, Ford and General Motors. In return, the three automakers would have to submit restructuring plans by March.
根据这个提议，这笔来自已经划拨款项的贷款将可以立即提供给克莱斯勒、福特和通用汽车公司。作为条件，这3家汽车制造公司则需要在3月份之前提交结构调整计划。
Congressman Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat, discussed aspects of the proposal at a Capitol Hill news conference on Monday.
来自麻萨诸塞州的民主党籍国会众议员巴尼.弗兰克在星期一的国会新闻发布会上谈到了这个建议的一些内容。
"They will have to demonstrate by the 31st of March that based on this they can go forward in an efficient way, producing a car that they think will sell," he said.
他说：“他们必须在3月21号前给出方案。他们需要以这个方案为基础，朝节油的方向迈进，生产出他们认为能卖得出去的汽车。”
Critics of the U.S. automobile industry say years of mismanagement have been responsible for a decline in sales and plant closures.
美国汽车业的批评者说，多年来的管理失当是销量下降和工厂关闭的原因。
Speaking on the Senate floor, Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said members of his party would demand that any plan aimed at helping the industry include a firm commitment to significant and fundamental reform.
来自肯塔基的共和党籍参议员米奇.麦康奈尔在参议院讲话时说，共和党议员将要求所有针对救助汽车业的计划都应该包括对显著和根本性改革做出的坚定承诺。
"Troubled automakers cannot expect taxpayers' help without a serious commitment to change their ways permanently," he said.
他说：“这些陷入困境的汽车制造公司如果不能严肃保证他们将做出彻底改变，他们就别指望得到纳税人的帮助。”
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, sought to assure Republicans that that would be the case.
众议院议长南希.佩洛西试图让共和党人相信会照这样去做。
"Unless the restructuring that is called for in this legislation and the goal of viability is achieved by March 31st, there is no justification for spending any more taxpayer dollars as a loan or any other way," she said.
她说：“除非这个法案中包括被要求进行的结构调整，以及到3月31号达到有生存能力的目标，那么要把更多纳税人的钱用在贷款或者其他方面都是没有理由的。”
Supporters say the aid is needed to prevent the collapse of one or more of the three major automakers, which could cost the industry millions of jobs.
支持者说，有必要帮助这3大汽车制造公司避免其中一家或者多家垮掉，因为那样将会让这个行业失去几百万个工作机会。
"We must act not to reward the executives of the 'Big Three,' or their failures, but to invest in the millions of Americans who could face the consequences of their failures," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.
参议院多数党领袖里德说：“我们必须做到不对这三大公司的高管们，或者是他们的败绩予以奖励，但是要对几百万面临困境的美国人进行投入。”
The White House is considering the proposal and is vowing to work with lawmakers.
白宫正在考虑这个提案，并且保证将会与议员们进行合作。
"If we can meet half way with Congress on some of these issues and get the legislation here and get this done, we can hopefully turn around the automakers for long-term viability which will be to the benefit of everybody," said White House Spokeswoman Dana Perino.
白宫发言人佩里诺说：“如果我们在这些问题上能有一半和国会保持一致，把议案提交到这里并得以通过，我们可能有希望扭转这些汽车制造公司，让它们有长远的生存能力。这将对每个人都会有好处。”
The proposal includes strict oversight provisions, including the creation of a position to oversee industry restructuring.
这个提议包含严格的监督条例，其中包括建立一个监督汽车业结构调整的职位。
Supporters hope the Senate and House will vote on legislation during their brief post-election session this week.
提案的支持者希望参众两院能在这个星期短暂的选后复会期内就这个议案进行表决。 |