VOA标准英语2009年-Obama Calls for Dramatic Action to Combat Reces

President-elect Barack Obama says Washington must take dramatic action to combat the current economic recession. Mr. Obama, just days before his inauguration¹ next Tuesday, says businesses like those producing alternative energy can play a major role in creating jobs and improving the nation's struggling economy.
　
President-elect Barack Obama speaks about the economy after touring Cardinal² Fastener and Specialty³ Company in Bedford Heights, Ohio, 16 Jan. 2009

President-elect Obama, speaking Friday at a factory in the Midwestern state of Ohio that makes parts for wind turbines, says he wants to double the production of renewable energy in the first three years of his administration.

Mr. Obama says this will put nearly a half-million people to work building wind turbines, solar panels, fuel efficient cars and developing new energy technologies.

"Renewable energy is not something pie-in-the-sky, it is not part of a far-off future, it is happening all across America right now," he said. "It is providing alternatives to foreign oil right now. It can create millions of additional jobs and entire new industries if we act right now."

Mr. Obama's speech came the day after members of the U.S. Congress unveiled a huge economic recovery plan combining $550 billion in spending and $275 billion in tax cuts designed to create jobs and push the economy out of recession.

The president-elect says immediate⁴ action is needed to avoid years of a poor economy.

"It is not too late to change course, but only if we take dramatic action as soon as possible," he said. "The way I see it, the first job of my administration is to put people back to work and get our economy moving again."

Mr. Obama says his economic plan will create three to four million jobs across a wide range of businesses, and 90 percent of those jobs will be in the private sector⁵.

He also called for bi-partisan support for extending unemployment insurance and health care coverage⁶.

"Now given the magnitude of these challenges, none of this is going to come easy," he said. "Recovery is not going to happen overnight. It is likely that even with the reinvestment package that we are putting forward, even with the measures that we are taking, things could get worse before they get better. I want everyone to be realistic about this."

Mr. Obama has said he is hoping the economic stimulus⁷ package will be passed by the Congress shortly after he takes office.

1 inauguration   

n.开幕、就职典礼

参考例句：

• The inauguration of a President of the United States takes place on January 20.美国总统的就职典礼于一月二十日举行。
• Three celebrated tenors sang at the president's inauguration.3位著名的男高音歌手在总统就职仪式上演唱。

2 cardinal   

n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的

参考例句：

• This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。
• The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

3 specialty   

n.(speciality)特性，特质；专业，专长

参考例句：

• Shell carvings are a specialty of the town.贝雕是该城的特产。
• His specialty is English literature.他的专业是英国文学。

4 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

7 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。