The 2013 State of the Union Address

　　THE PRESIDENT: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, fellow citizens:

　　议长先生，副总统先生，国会议员们，美国人民：

　　Fifty-one years ago, John F. Kennedy declared to this chamber that “the Constitution makes us not rivals for power but partners for progress.” (Applause.) “It is my task,” he said, “to report the State of the Union -- to improve it is the task of us all.”

　　51年前，约翰-F-肯尼迪在这里宣布“宪法让我们成为进步的伙伴而不是权利的对手，”(掌声)他说，“发表国情咨文是我的任务，但是完善国情却是我们所有人的任务。”

　　Tonight, thanks to the grit and determination of the American people, there is much progress to report. After a decade of grinding war, our brave men and women in uniform are coming home. (Applause.) After years of grueling recession, our businesses have created over six million new jobs. We buy more American cars than we have in five years, and less foreign oil than we have in 20. (Applause.) Our housing market is healing, our stock market is rebounding, and consumers, patients, and homeowners enjoy stronger protections than ever before. (Applause.)

　　今晚，感谢美国人民的勇气和决心，我有很多内容需要汇报。在十年的残酷战争之后，我们勇敢的穿军装的男人女人正在归来。(掌声)在多年的紧张的萧条期后，我们的商业已经创造了600万新的就业岗位。我们现在开始购入比过去5年还要多的汽车，但依赖的国外石油比过去20年总和都要少。我们的住宅市场正在复苏，我们的股票市场正在反弹。消费者、病人、房产所有者也享受比之前更有力的保护。(掌声)

　　So, together, we have cleared away the rubble of crisis, and we can say with renewed confidence that the State of our Union is stronger. (Applause.)

　　所以，在一起，我们清除了危机的废墟。而且，我们可以说，通过新的信心，我们国家的状态更强有力了。(掌声)

　　But we gather here knowing that there are millions of Americans whose hard work and dedication have not yet been rewarded. Our economy is adding jobs -- but too many people still can’t find full-time employment. Corporate profits have skyrocketed to all-time highs -- but for more than a decade, wages and incomes have barely budged.

　　但是我们来到这里，知道还有数百万的美国人，通过辛苦的工作和奉献，并没有得到回报。我们的经济正在创造就业岗位——但仍然有许多人不能找到全职工作。企业利润飙升到了新高度——但十多年来，薪资和收入几乎从未上升。

　　It is our generation’s task, then, to reignite the true engine of America’s economic growth -- a rising, thriving middle class. (Applause.)

　　我们这一代人的任务是——重燃美国经济增长的发动机——造就一个升起的、兴旺的中产阶级。(掌声)

　　It is our unfinished task to restore the basic bargain that built this country -- the idea that if you work hard and meet your responsibilities, you can get ahead, no matter where you come from, no matter what you look like, or who you love.

　　我们的未竟任务是——恢复我们国家的基本协议——如果你工作努力并且负责任，你将会领先于别人，不论你从哪里来，不论你长得怎样，或者爱的是谁。

　　It is our unfinished task to make sure that this government works on behalf of the many, and not just the few; that it encourages free enterprise, rewards individual initiative, and opens the doors of opportunity to every child across this great nation. (Applause.)

　　我们的未竟任务是——政府为大多数人服务，而不是少数人;政府鼓励自由企业、奖励个人的主创性，并且给这个国家的每一个孩子都提供发展的机会。(掌声)

　　The American people don’t expect government to solve every problem. They don’t expect those of us in this chamber to agree on every issue. But they do expect us to put the nation’s interests before party. (Applause.) They do expect us to forge reasonable compromise where we can. For they know that America moves forward only when we do so together, and that the responsibility of improving this union remains the task of us all.

　　美国人并不期望政府解决所有的问题。他们不期望在这个议事厅里的我们在所有的事务上有一致的看法。但是他们期望我们把国家利益放在党派前面。(掌声)他们期望我们在我们能走做到的议题上形成合理的妥协。因为他们知道只有当我们一起做这些事的时候，美国才会前进。改善这个国家的责任是我们所共有的。

　　Our work must begin by making some basic decisions about our budget -- decisions that will have a huge impact on the strength of our recovery.

　　我们的工作必须从如何决定我们的预算开始——这些决定将对我们复苏的势头有巨大影响。

　　Over the last few years, both parties have worked together to reduce the deficit by more than $2.5 trillion -- mostly through spending cuts, but also by raising tax rates on the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans. As a result, we are more than halfway towards the goal of $4 trillion in deficit reduction that economists say we need to stabilize our finances.

　　过去几年，两党共同努力，削减了2.5万亿美元的赤字——大部分是通过削减支出进行的，当然我们也对最富有的1%的美国人提高了税率。结果就是，我们已经完成了经济学家认为的足以稳定财政的削减赤字4万亿美元任务的一半还要多。

　　Now we need to finish the job. And the question is, how?

　　现在我们需要完成这项任务。问题是，怎样完成?

　　In 2011, Congress passed a law saying that if both parties couldn’t agree on a plan to reach our deficit goal, about a trillion dollars’ worth of budget cuts would automatically go into effect this year. These sudden, harsh, arbitrary cuts would jeopardize our military readiness. They’d devastate priorities like education, and energy, and medical research. They would certainly slow our recovery, and cost us hundreds of thousands of jobs. That’s why Democrats, Republicans, business leaders, and economists have already said that these cuts, known here in Washington as the sequester, are a really bad idea.

　　2011年，国会通过了一个议案。议案称如果两党不能对削减赤字达成一致，那么价值约1万亿美元的预算削减将会自动生效。这些突然的、残酷的、武断的削减，将会使我们的军事准备陷入危险。这也将会使教育、能源及医疗科研等优先问题恶化。这将会毫无疑问地减缓我们的经济复苏，并且还会让我们付出成百上千个就业岗位的代价。这就是为什么民主党员们、共和党员们、商业领袖们以及经济学家们已经说过，在华盛顿被认为是一种扣押行为的这些削减措施，是一个确实无误的坏主意。

　　Now, some in Congress have proposed preventing only the defense cuts by making even bigger cuts to things like education and job training, Medicare and Social Security benefits. That idea is even worse. (Applause.)

　　现在，国会中的某些人已经开始提议防止通过更大幅度的削减教育、职业培训、老年保健医疗体系和社会保险津贴的经费以削减国防经费。(掌声)

　　Yes, the biggest driver of our long-term debt is the rising cost of health care for an aging population. And those of us who care deeply about programs like Medicare must embrace the need for modest reforms -- otherwise, our retirement programs will crowd out the investments we need for our children, and jeopardize the promise of a secure retirement for future generations.

　　是的，目前推动我们长期债务最大的推手是，养老医疗保障费用的增加。那些非常关心我们老年保健医疗体系的人必须接受适度的改革——否则，我们退休项目将会比我们对孩子们的投入更庞大，而且会使得未来几代人的退休保障更加危险。

　　But we can’t ask senior citizens and working families to shoulder the entire burden of deficit reduction while asking nothing more from the wealthiest and the most powerful. (Applause.) We won’t grow the middle class simply by shifting the cost of health care or college onto families that are already struggling, or by forcing communities to lay off more teachers and more cops and more firefighters. Most Americans -- Democrats, Republicans, and independents -- understand that we can’t just cut our way to prosperity. They know that broad-based economic growth requires a balanced approach to deficit reduction, with spending cuts and revenue, and with everybody doing their fair share. And that’s the approach I offer tonight.

　　但是，我们不能让老人和工薪家庭承担削减赤字的重任的同时，不去向最富有的最有影响力的人征收更多的税收。(掌声)我们不会通过向那些已经在艰苦奋斗的家庭简单地提升医疗保险经费或者大学学费抑或是强迫社区裁掉更多的老师、警察、消防员的方法以扩充我们的中产阶级。大多数美国人——民主党员们、共和党员们、独立人士——理解我们并不能削减掉我们通往繁荣的道路。他们知道，我们基础广泛的经济增长，需要的是一个可以削减支出和税收的每一个人都各司其职的平衡的途径以抵达赤字削减的目标。这就是今晚我要提出的方案。

　　On Medicare, I’m prepared to enact reforms that will achieve the same amount of health care savings by the beginning of the next decade as the reforms proposed by the bipartisan Simpson-Bowles commission. (Applause.)

　　关于老年保健医疗体系，我已准备颁布改革方案，那将在下一个10年开始时，实现同等数额的保健资金储备。这一改革方案是由国会内跨党派的辛普森-鲍尔斯委员会草拟提交的。(掌声)

　　Already, the Affordable Care Act is helping to slow the growth of health care costs. (Applause.) And the reforms I’m proposing go even further. We’ll reduce taxpayer subsidies to prescription drug companies and ask more from the wealthiest seniors. (Applause.) We’ll bring down costs by changing the way our government pays for Medicare, because our medical bills shouldn’t be based on the number of tests ordered or days spent in the hospital; they should be based on the quality of care that our seniors receive. (Applause.) And I am open to additional reforms from both parties, so long as they don’t violate the guarantee of a secure retirement. Our government shouldn’t make promises we cannot keep -- but we must keep the promises we’ve already made. (Applause.)

　　平价医疗法案已经开始帮助减缓医保经费的增长。(掌声)我提议的改革将会走得更远。我们将会削减纳税人对于处方类药品公司的津贴，同时向那些最富有的高层管理索取更多。(掌声)我们将会通过改变政府为老年保健医疗体系埋单的方式以调低医药费，因为我们的医疗账单不应该基于我们在医院住了多少天做了多少体检，而应基于我们的老人享受了多么高质量的医护措施。(掌声)现在我将听取来自两党的附加改革措施，只要他们不违反退休安全的保障。我们的政府不应该承诺一些我们不能完成的誓言，而是应该完成一些我们已经决定的诺言。(掌声)

　　To hit the rest of our deficit reduction target, we should do what leaders in both parties have already suggested, and save hundreds of billions of dollars by getting rid of tax loopholes and deductions for the well-off and the well-connected. After all, why would we choose to make deeper cuts to education and Medicare just to protect special interest tax breaks? How is that fair? Why is it that deficit reduction is a big emergency justifying making cuts in Social Security benefits but not closing some loopholes? How does that promote growth? (Applause.)

　　为了达到我们剩下的赤字削减目标，我们应该完成两党领袖已经建议了的，摆脱富贵者的税收漏洞和削减，这样可以节省千亿美元。毕竟，为什么我们要对教育和老年保健医疗体系选择进行更多的削减，而仅仅是为了保护一些特殊利益者的免税?那样公平吗?为什么赤字削减是社会保障救济金的的削减而非弥补那些高收入者的税收漏洞?那样可以提升经济增长速度吗?(掌声)

　　Now is our best chance for bipartisan, comprehensive tax reform that encourages job creation and helps bring down the deficit. (Applause.) We can get this done. The American people deserve a tax code that helps small businesses spend less time filling out complicated forms, and more time expanding and hiring -- a tax code that ensures billionaires with high-powered accountants can’t work the system and pay a lower rate than their hardworking secretaries; a tax code that lowers incentives to move jobs overseas, and lowers tax rates for businesses and manufacturers that are creating jobs right here in the United States of America. That’s what tax reform can deliver. That’s what we can do together. (Applause.)

　　现在是进行两党广泛合作的可以鼓励创造就业岗位以及削减赤字的税收改革最好时机。(掌声)我们可以完成这个。美国人民理应得到一个可以帮助小企业花更少的时间填写复杂表格以及更多时间扩员和招募的免税代码——一个确保拥有高效会计师的亿万富翁们不能投机取巧地比他们更努力工作的秘书缴纳更少低额税率的免税代码;一个降低把岗位挪到海外、降低美国本土商业和制造业岗位税率的免税代码。这才是税务改革可以实现的。这才是我们可以共同完成的。(掌声)

　　I realize that tax reform and entitlement reform will not be easy. The politics will be hard for both sides. None of us will get 100 percent of what we want. But the alternative will cost us jobs, hurt our economy, visit hardship on millions of hardworking Americans. So let’s set party interests aside and work to pass a budget that replaces reckless cuts with smart savings and wise investments in our future. And let’s do it without the brinksmanship that stresses consumers and scares off investors. (Applause.) The greatest nation on Earth cannot keep conducting its business by drifting from one manufactured crisis to the next. (Applause.) We can’t do it.

　　我知道税务改革和权利改革不会那么容易。对于两党来说，都将会很困难。我们没有人可以达到百分之百的需求。但是不这样做的后果是，我们的就业岗位、经济将会付出代价，百万奋斗中的美国人将会更加艰苦。因而我们要把党派利益放在一边，共同努力以通过一个可以取代不计后果的削减预算，对未来进行灵活的节省和智慧的投资。让我们共同努力，以取代一个让消费者紧张、让投资者害怕的边缘政策。(掌声)地球上最伟大的国家不能继续通过把一个制造业危机漂流到下一个制造业危机的方式发展经济。(掌声)我们不能这么做。

　　Let’s agree right here, right now to keep the people’s government open, and pay our bills on time, and always uphold the full faith and credit of the United States of America. (Applause.) The American people have worked too hard, for too long, rebuilding from one crisis to see their elected officials cause another. (Applause.) 让我们在此时此地就达成一致，保证人民的政府公开，按时付清我们的账单，并且经常迟滞美利坚合众国的信仰和信誉。(掌声)美国人民在相当长的时间里工作太努力了，从一个危机中重建起来，发现被选上来的新官员造成了另一个危机。(掌声)

　　Now, most of us agree that a plan to reduce the deficit must be part of our agenda. But let’s be clear, deficit reduction alone is not an economic plan. (Applause.)

　　A growing economy that creates good, middle-class jobs -- that must be the North Star that guides our efforts. (Applause.) Every day, we should ask ourselves three questions as a nation: How do we attract more jobs to our shores? How do we equip our people with the skills they need to get those jobs? And how do we make sure that hard work leads to a decent living?

　　现在，我们大多数人就削减赤字的方案达成一致。这是我们未来计划的一部分。但是我们要清醒地认识到，独立的赤字削减并不是一个经济方案。(掌声)一个可以创造好的、中产阶级的就业岗位增长的经济体——应该是指引我们前进的北极星。(掌声)每一天，我们作为一个国家应该对自己提出三个问题：我们如何把更多的岗位吸引到我们的两个海岸?我们如何进行岗位培训?我们如何确保努力工作之后可以有体面的生活?

　　A year and a half ago, I put forward an American Jobs Act that independent economists said would create more than 1 million new jobs. And I thank the last Congress for passing some of that agenda. I urge this Congress to pass the rest. (Applause.) But tonight, I’ll lay out additional proposals that are fully paid for and fully consistent with the budget framework both parties agreed to just 18 months ago. Let me repeat -- nothing I’m proposing tonight should increase our deficit by a single dime. It is not a bigger government we need, but a smarter government that sets priorities and invests in broad-based growth. (Applause.) That’s what we should be looking for.

　　一年半之前，我签署了美国就业法案。一些独立的经济学家认为这会创造100万个新岗位。我感谢上一届国会通过了其中的一些方案。我希望这一届国会通过剩下的。(掌声)但是今晚，我将提出附加的方案。这些附加的方案是和两党在一年半之前达成一致的预算框架方案有很直接的关系的。让我重复一遍——我今晚提出的方案不会增加我们的预算一毛钱。我们不需要大政府，而需要一个能够明辨主次之分的对广泛的经济进行投资的更智能的政府。(掌声)那才是我们应该寻求的。

　　Our first priority is making America a magnet for new jobs and manufacturing. After shedding jobs for more than 10 years, our manufacturers have added about 500,000 jobs over the past three. Caterpillar is bringing jobs back from Japan. Ford is bringing jobs back from Mexico. And this year, Apple will start making Macs in America again. (Applause.)

　　我们首要的任务是要让美国成为吸引新就业岗位和制造业的地方。在长达10年的制造业工作岗位的流失态势下，我们在过去3年创造了50万个就业岗位。 开拓重工公司开始把岗位从日本带回。福特汽车公司开始把岗位从墨西哥带回。今年，苹果公司也将重新在美国生产苹果电脑。(掌声)

　　There are things we can do, right now, to accelerate this trend. Last year, we created our first manufacturing innovation institute in Youngstown, Ohio. A once-shuttered warehouse is now a state-of-the art lab where new workers are mastering the 3D printing that has the potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything. There’s no reason this can’t happen in other towns.

　　现在有我们可以做的事情。这些事情可以加速这一潮流。去年，我们在俄亥俄州的杨斯敦创造了第一个制造业革新中心。一个曾经的百叶窗式库房变成了 一个艺术实验室。在那里，新工人在学习立体打印技术。这种技术可以革新我们制作几乎任何东西的方法。没有理由这个在其他城镇不能发生。

　　So tonight, I’m announcing the launch of three more of these manufacturing hubs, where businesses will partner with the Department of Defense and Energy to turn regions left behind by globalization into global centers of high-tech jobs. And I ask this Congress to help create a network of 15 of these hubs and guarantee that the next revolution in manufacturing is made right here in America. We can get that done. (Applause.)

　　所以今晚，我宣布三个新的制造业中心开始建造。在这些地方，商业将和国防部以及能源部合作，把被全球化淘汰的区域转变成全球可以提供高科技工作 岗位的中心。现在我向这届国会提议，帮助创建包括15个这样中心的网络，并且确保，下一次建造业革命就在美国发生。我们可以做到。(掌声)

　　Now, if we want to make the best products, we also have to invest in the best ideas. Every dollar we invested to map the human genome returned $140 to our economy -- every dollar. Today, our scientists are mapping the human brain to unlock the answers to Alzheimer’s. They’re developing drugs to regenerate damaged organs; devising new material to make batteries 10 times more powerful. Now is not the time to gut these job-creating investments in science and innovation. Now is the time to reach a level of research and development not seen since the height of the Space Race. We need to make those investments. (Applause.)

　　现在，如果我们想制造出最好的产品，我们还要在最好的想法上进行投资。每一个我们用于测出人类基因图谱的美元都给我们经济带来了140美元的收 入——每一个美元。今天，我们的科学家为解决老年痴呆症正在测出人类大脑的图谱。他们正在研制可以让我们器官再生的药品，发明可以让电池储电量比之前强 10倍的新材料。现在不是损毁科技革新领域可创造就业方面的投资的时候。现在是在一个让研发达到一个自从太空竞赛以来从未见过之高度的时候。我们需要进行这些投资。(掌声)

　　Today, no area holds more promise than our investments in American energy. After years of talking about it, we’re finally poised to control our own energy future. We produce more oil at home than we have in 15 years. (Applause.) We have doubled the distance our cars will go on a gallon of gas, and the amount of renewable energy we generate from sources like wind and solar -- with tens of thousands of good American jobs to show for it. We produce more natural gas than ever before -- and nearly everyone’s energy bill is lower because of it. And over the last four years, our emissions of the dangerous carbon pollution that threatens our planet have actually fallen.

　　今天，没有比我们在美国能源更需要我们投资的领域。在讨论了数年之后，我们终于准备控制我们自己的能源未来。我们在美国本土生产了比过去15年 综合还多的石油。(掌声)我们汽车用的1加仑天然气量可以让我们跑得比过去的两倍还多。我们通过风力发电和太阳能发电生产出来的新能源——创造了数以万计 的优质美国就业岗位。我们生产出了比以往任何时候都多的天然气——几乎所有人的能源账单都因此减少了。过去的4年，威胁我们星球的危险的碳排放量依然减少。

　　But for the sake of our children and our future, we must do more to combat climate change. (Applause.) Now, it’s true that no single event makes a trend. But the fact is the 12 hottest years on record have all come in the last 15. Heat waves, droughts, wildfires, floods -- all are now more frequent and more intense. We can choose to believe that Superstorm Sandy, and the most severe drought in decades, and the worst wildfires some states have ever seen were all just a freak coincidence. Or we can choose to believe in the overwhelming judgment of science -- and act before it’s too late. (Applause.)

　　但是对于我们孩子们以及我们更远的未来而言，我们必须在防治全球变暖方面做得更多。(掌声)现在，真实情况是，没有一个孤立的事件可以成为一个 潮流。但事实上，12个最热的有纪录的年份恰是在过去15年中。热浪、干旱、野火、洪水——比以往更加频繁和剧烈。我们可以选择相信，桑迪飓风、几十年来 最严重的干旱，以及最具有毁坏性的野火的同时发生不过是个怪异的巧合。我们也可以相信科学的绝对公平——并且现在就开始行动，为时未晚。(掌声)

　　Now, the good news is we can make meaningful progress on this issue while driving strong economic growth. I urge this Congress to get together, pursue a bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change, like the one John McCain and Joe Lieberman worked on together a few years ago. But if Congress won’t act soon to protect future generations, I will. (Applause.) I will direct my Cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take, now and in the future, to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change, and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy.

　　现在，好消息是我们可以在这个问题上做一些有意义的进程，而且不阻碍经济强势的增长势头。我期望这届国会可以协商一致，达成一个两党都同意的、 以市场为基础的解决全球变暖的方案，就像约翰-麦凯恩和乔-利伯曼几年前的那样。但如果国会不及时行动以保护子孙后代，我也将会采取行动。(掌声)我将让 我的内阁讨论一些我们可以采取的行政措施，现在的和未来的，减少污染，给我们的社区提供面对气候变化后果的方案，加速可持续能源的转变。

　　Four years ago, other countries dominated the clean energy market and the jobs that came with it. And we’ve begun to change that. Last year, wind energy added nearly half of all new power capacity in America. So let’s generate even more. Solar energy gets cheaper by the year -- let’s drive down costs even further. As long as countries like China keep going all in on clean energy, so must we.

　　4年前，其他国家控制了清洁能源市场以及由此带来的就业岗位。现在我们正开始改变这种状况。去年，风力能源给美国带来了近一半的所有新能源储 备。因此我们就来造就更多的这种能源。太阳能开始变得更便宜——我们来把费用降得更低吧。只要像中国这样的国家继续在清洁能源方面迈步，我们也必须迈步。

　　Now, in the meantime, the natural gas boom has led to cleaner power and greater energy independence. We need to encourage that. And that’s why my administration will keep cutting red tape and speeding up new oil and gas permits. (Applause.) That’s got to be part of an all-of-the-above plan. But I also want to work with this Congress to encourage the research and technology that helps natural gas burn even cleaner and protects our air and our water.

　　同时，天然气的迅速发展开始让我们更加习惯清洁能源，并且让我们的能源依赖更加独立。我们需要鼓励这么做。这就是为什么我的这届政府会继续削减 繁文缛节，加速新的石油和天然气许可。(掌声)这一定要成为上述全部方案的一部分。但我也希望和这届国会一道，鼓励那些可以帮助天然气更加清洁、更加保护我们空气和水资源的科研项目。

　　In fact, much of our new-found energy is drawn from lands and waters that we, the public, own together. So tonight, I propose we use some of our oil and gas revenues to fund an Energy Security Trust that will drive new research and technology to shift our cars and trucks off oil for good. If a nonpartisan coalition of CEOs and retired generals and admirals can get behind this idea, then so can we. Let’s take their advice and free our families and businesses from the painful spikes in gas prices we’ve put up with for far too long.

　　事实上，我们多数新发现的能源是从我们共同生存且共同拥有的土地和水中提取的。因此今天晚上，我提议我们用我们的一些石油和天然气收入，成立一 个能源安全基金会，用以发展新科研，以让我们的汽车和卡车以后不再用石油。如果一个无党派的首席执行官团体和退休的将军们可以支持这一想法，那么我们也可 以支持。让我们听取他们的建议，让我们的家庭和商业从油价的持续痛苦中解放出来。

　　I’m also issuing a new goal for America: Let’s cut in half the energy wasted by our homes and businesses over the next 20 years. (Applause.) We’ll work with the states to do it. Those states with the best ideas to create jobs and lower energy bills by constructing more efficient buildings will receive federal support to help make that happen.

　　我也给美国设定了一个新目标。让我们削减在过去20年中我们家庭和商业机构浪费掉的能源。(掌声)我们将会跟那些这么做的各州合作。那些提供创造就业岗位以及通过建造高效建筑以削减能源账单的最好想法的州，将会得到联邦政府的支持。

　　America’s energy sector is just one part of an aging infrastructure badly in need of repair. Ask any CEO where they’d rather locate and hire -- a country with deteriorating roads and bridges, or one with high-speed rail and Internet; high-tech schools, self-healing power grids. The CEO of Siemens America -- a company that brought hundreds of new jobs to North Carolina -- said that if we upgrade our infrastructure, they’ll bring even more jobs. And that’s the attitude of a lot of companies all around the world. And I know you want these job-creating projects in your district. I’ve seen all those ribbon-cuttings. (Laughter.)

　　美国的能源领域不过是我国继续改革的日益落伍的基础设施中的一部分。向任何首席执行官提问，他们想落户哪里或者在哪里招募人员——是选择一个公 路和桥梁日益恶化的国家，还是选择一个具有高铁和互联网、拥有高科技学校和自给自足电网的国家。美国西门子公司——一个给北卡罗来纳州数百份新工作的公司 ——它的首席执行官说，如果我们提升我们的基础设施建设，他们将会创造更多的就业岗位。那才是全世界很多工资的态度。而且我知道你们想在你们的小区看到这 些创造就业岗位的工程。我可是看见了全部的那些剪彩仪式哦。(笑声)

　　So tonight, I propose a “Fix-It-First” program to put people to work as soon as possible on our most urgent repairs, like the nearly 70,000 structurally deficient bridges across the country. (Applause.) And to make sure taxpayers don’t shoulder the whole burden, I’m also proposing a Partnership to Rebuild America that attracts private capital to upgrade what our businesses need most: modern ports to move our goods, modern pipelines to withstand a storm, modern schools worthy of our children. (Applause.) Let’s prove that there’s no better place to do business than here in the United States of America, and let’s start right away. We can get this done.

　　所以今天晚上，我提议一个“先修补”的项目，让人们去那些最需要修补的地方工作，比如那些7万个已经损失构造的桥梁。(掌声)而且要确保纳税人 不能承担所有的重担。我还提议设立一个“重建美国伙伴”，以吸引私人投资，用以提升我们商业机构最需要的东西： 搬运我们货物的现代港口、经受得住风暴的 现代管道，以及让我们孩子感觉物有所值的现代学校。(掌声)让我们证明世界上没有哪个地方比在美国做生意更好。让我们现在就开始。我们可以完成。

　　And part of our rebuilding effort must also involve our housing sector. The good news is our housing market is finally healing from the collapse of 2007. Home prices are rising at the fastest pace in six years. Home purchases are up nearly 50 percent, and construction is expanding again.

　　我们重建计划的一部分也必须包含房地产领域。好小时是，我们的房地产市场正在从2007年的垮塌中复苏。住房价格正在飙升，这在过去6年中速度是最快的。购房者上升了50%，房屋建筑又开始有拓展的迹象。

　　But even with mortgage rates near a 50-year low, too many families with solid credit who want to buy a home are being rejected. Too many families who never missed a payment and want to refinance are being told no. That’s holding our entire economy back. We need to fix it.

　　但即使是抵押率接近50年来的最低点，太多拥有良好信誉的家庭想要买一套房子还是会被拒绝。太多从未拒绝交账单的并且想要再次筹钱的家庭被告知不可以。这让我们整个经济都得不到发展。我们必须改革。

　　Right now, there’s a bill in this Congress that would give every responsible homeowner in America the chance to save $3,000 a year by refinancing at today’s rates. Democrats and Republicans have supported it before, so what are we waiting for? Take a vote, and send me that bill. (Applause.) Why would we be against that? (Applause.) Why would that be a partisan issue, helping folks refinance? Right now, overlapping regulations keep responsible young families from buying their first home. What’s holding us back? Let’s streamline the process, and help our economy grow.

　　就在现在，在国会有个议案将会提供给美国每一个负责任的房产所有者一个机会，通过再次筹钱，给每个家庭节约每年3000美元的资金。民主党员们 和共和党员们以前支持过，那么为什么现在我们在等待呢?投票，然后递给我让我签署生效。(掌声)我们为什么会反对呢?(掌声)为什么那会是一个党派的问题，以帮助民众再次筹钱?现在，一些重叠的法规让负责任的家庭不能购买他们的首套房子。让我们不这样做的理由是什么?让我们把流程变得简单化，帮助我们的经济增长。

　　These initiatives in manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, housing -- all these things will help entrepreneurs and small business owners expand and create new jobs. But none of it will matter unless we also equip our citizens with the skills and training to fill those jobs. (Applause.)

　　这些在建造、能源、基础设施、房地产领域的倡议——这所有的一切都将帮助企业家和小企业拥有者扩张发展领域，创造新的就业岗位。但除非我们也对他们进行岗位培训，这些也都不会有用。(掌声)。

　　And that has to start at the earliest possible age. Study after study shows that the sooner a child begins learning, the better he or she does down the road. But today, fewer than 3 in 10 four year-olds are enrolled in a high-quality preschool program. Most middle-class parents can’t afford a few hundred bucks a week for a private preschool. And for poor kids who need help the most, this lack of access to preschool education can shadow them for the rest of their lives. So tonight, I propose working with states to make high-quality preschool available to every single child in America. (Applause.) That’s something we should be able to do.

　　这必须在最早的阶段实施。一次又一次的科学研究证实，一个孩子越早接受教育，他或者她就越平稳上路。但是现在，只有不到30%的4岁孩子可以享 受高质量的学前教育。大多数中产阶级父母不能支付私立学前教育每周上百美元的学费。而对那些最需要帮助的穷孩子来说，这种缺失学前教育的状况可以影响到他 们日后的生活。因而今晚，我提及和各州一道，让美国的每一个孩子都能享受到高质量的学前教育。(掌声)那是一些我们应该能够做到的事情。

　　Every dollar we invest in high-quality early childhood education can save more than seven dollars later on -- by boosting graduation rates, reducing teen pregnancy, even reducing violent crime. In states that make it a priority to educate our youngest children, like Georgia or Oklahoma, studies show students grow up more likely to read and do math at grade level, graduate high school, hold a job, form more stable families of their own. We know this works. So let’s do what works and make sure none of our children start the race of life already behind. Let’s give our kids that chance. (Applause.)

　　我们在高质量学前教育领域投入的每1美元，可以为我们节省以后在提升毕业率、降低未成年人怀孕率，甚至削减犯罪率的地方将会用到的7美元。在那 些以教育最小的儿童为优先任务的州，比如佐治亚州或者亚拉巴马州，研究报告称学生长大后会更加有能力阅读和做数学、从高中毕业、找到工作、建立他们自己更 稳定的家庭。我们知道这如何运转。因而让我们开始这么做，以确保我们，当我们已经在生命的领域落后的时候，没有一个孩子不开始起跑。让我们给我们的孩子提 供那样的机会。(掌声)

　　Let’s also make sure that a high school diploma puts our kids on a path to a good job. Right now, countries like Germany focus on graduating their high school students with the equivalent of a technical degree from one of our community colleges. So those German kids, they’re ready for a job when they graduate high school. They’ve been trained for the jobs that are there. Now at schools like P-Tech in Brooklyn, a collaboration between New York Public Schools and City University of New York and IBM, students will graduate with a high school diploma and an associate’s degree in computers or engineering.

　　让我们确保高中学历可以让我们的孩子走上一条拥有好工作的道路。现在，像德国这样的国家开始在和高中生等同的我们的一个高中生的技术学位上做投 入。所以那些德国孩子们，他们在高中毕业就准备好了可以工作。他们训练成为可以干那些工作的人。现在，就像那些在纽约布鲁克林区的“通往早期技术的大学高 中学校”一样，在一个纽约公立学校和城市大学以及IBM公司的一种新的合作办学模式下，学生毕业后，不仅能拿到高中学历，而且还能拿到在电脑或者工程学领域的专科毕业证书。

　　We need to give every American student opportunities like this. (Applause.)

　　我们需要给每一个美国学生提供这样的机会。(掌声)

　　And four years ago, we started Race to the Top -- a competition that convinced almost every state to develop smarter curricula and higher standards, all for about 1 percent of what we spend on education each year. Tonight, I’m announcing a new challenge to redesign America’s high schools so they better equip graduates for the demands of a high-tech economy. And we’ll reward schools that develop new partnerships with colleges and employers, and create classes that focus on science, technology, engineering and math -- the skills today’s employers are looking for to fill the jobs that are there right now and will be there in the future.

　　四年前，我们开始了通往巅峰之竞赛——一种让每个州都确信可以发展智能课程表和高标准的竞赛，这大约花费我们每年用于教育领域投入的1%。今 晚，我宣布一个新的挑战，用以重新设计美国的高中，让他们能更好地提供给毕业生一种满足高科技经济需求的机会。我们将奖励和新大学及新雇主建立伙伴关系的 高中——这些技能是当今和未来的雇主正在寻找的。

　　Now, even with better high schools, most young people will need some higher education. It’s a simple fact the more education you’ve got, the more likely you are to have a good job and work your way into the middle class. But today, skyrocketing costs price too many young people out of a higher education, or saddle them with unsustainable debt.

　　现在，即便拥有更好的高中，很多年轻人还是需要些高等教育。很简单的事实，如果你接受的教育越多，你拥有好工作且成为中产阶级的几率就越大。但是当今我们看到，飙升的学费让太多的年轻人上不起大学，或者让他们欠有不可持续的债务。

　　Through tax credits, grants and better loans, we’ve made college more affordable for millions of students and families over the last few years. But taxpayers can’t keep on subsidizing higher and higher and higher costs for higher education. Colleges must do their part to keep costs down, and it’s our job to make sure that they do. (Applause.)

　　通过税款减免、补助及更好的贷款，我们在过去几年已经让大学变得让数百万的学生和家庭能够承担得起。但是纳税人不可能继续自助越来越高的高等教育的经费。大学必须想办法控制自己的经费，而这也是我们的职责以确保他们这样做。(掌声)

　　So tonight, I ask Congress to change the Higher Education Act so that affordability and value are included in determining which colleges receive certain types of federal aid. (Applause.) And tomorrow, my administration will release a new “College Scorecard” that parents and students can use to compare schools based on a simple criteria -- where you can get the most bang for your educational buck.

　　因此今晚，我向国会提议，修改高等教育法案。这样，哪些大学的可支付学费以及它们各自的价值就能被包含在联邦资助中。(掌声)明天我的政府班子 将会发布一个新的“大学记分卡”，这样家长和学生就能拿它用简单的标准来比较学校了。而这简单标准是——在哪个学校你用学费可以得到最多的快乐。

　　Now, to grow our middle class, our citizens have to have access to the education and training that today’s jobs require. But we also have to make sure that America remains a place where everyone who’s willing to work -- everybody who’s willing to work hard has the chance to get ahead.

　　现在，为了扩大我们的中产阶层，我们的公民必须接受教育和当今从事工作所必备的技能培训。同时我们也要确保，在美国的每一个人只要辛勤肯干，就能获得出人头地的机会。

　　Our economy is stronger when we harness the talents and ingenuity of striving, hopeful immigrants. (Applause.) And right now, leaders from the business, labor, law enforcement, faith communities -- they all agree that the time has come to pass comprehensive immigration reform. (Applause.) Now is the time to do it. Now is the time to get it done. Now is the time to get it done. (Applause.)

　　当我们充分发挥了人才和创新的作用，我们的经济才能更加强大，外来移民在这方面是大有希望的。(掌声)如今，来自商业、劳工、执法、宗教等领域的领导者，他们都认为是进行移民制度全面改革的时候了。(掌声)是时候做这件事了。是时候去完成这件事了。是时候去完成了。(掌声)

　　Real reform means strong border security, and we can build on the progress my administration has already made -- putting more boots on the Southern border than at any time in our history and reducing illegal crossings to their lowest levels in 40 years.

　　真正的改革意味着需要更强有力的边境安全保障，我们能够继续推进这项政府早已在做的工作——史无前例地增加南部边境的安保力量，将非法越境事件降到40年来最低。

　　Real reform means establishing a responsible pathway to earned citizenship -- a path that includes passing a background check, paying taxes and a meaningful penalty, learning English, and going to the back of the line behind the folks trying to come here legally. (Applause.)

　　真正的改革意味着需要建立一个负责人的公民权获取途径，包括身份背景审核、纳税及受罚情况、英语言学习情况，还要先来后到、依序依法等候。(掌声)

　　And real reform means fixing the legal immigration system to cut waiting periods and attract the highly-skilled entrepreneurs and engineers that will help create jobs and grow our economy. (Applause.)

　　真正的改革还意味着修正移民法律体系，以便缩短申请等候的时间，以及吸引那些能够创造就业岗位、带来经济增长的高技能创业家和工程技术人员。(掌声)

　　I n other words, we know what needs to be done. And as we speak, bipartisan groups in both chambers are working diligently to draft a bill, and I applaud their efforts. So let’s get this done. Send me a comprehensive immigration reform bill in the next few months, and I will sign it right away. And America will be better for it. (Applause.) Let’s get it done. Let’s get it done.

　　换言之，我们知道自己需要做些什么。正如之前已经提到的，国会参众两院的有关团体正在勉力草拟一个法案，我对他们的努力表示赞赏。那么，让我们做好这件事吧。几个月以后请把移民制度全面改革的草案交给我，我会立即予以签署。美国将会因此变得刚好。(掌声)让我们做好这件事。让我们做好它。

　　But we can’t stop there. We know our economy is stronger when our wives, our mothers, our daughters can live their lives free from discrimination in the workplace, and free from the fear of domestic violence. Today, the Senate passed the Violence Against Women Act that Joe Biden originally wrote almost 20 years ago. And I now urge the House to do the same. (Applause.) Good job, Joe. And I ask this Congress to declare that women should earn a living equal to their efforts, and finally pass the Paycheck Fairness Act this year. (Applause.)

　　不过我们也不能就此止步。我们清楚，只有当我们的妻子、母亲、女儿能够免于在职场受歧视，免于家庭暴力，我们的经济才会更加强大。今天，参议院通过了最初由现任副总统乔·拜登将近20年前草拟的防止对妇女施暴法案，我希望众议院接下来也会予以批准。(掌声)干得好，乔。我还要请求国会宣布，女性应该得到与之付出相配的回报，并在今年内最终通过工资公平法案。(掌声)

　　We know our economy is stronger when we reward an honest day’s work with honest wages. But today, a full-time worker making the minimum wage earns $14,500 a year. Even with the tax relief we put in place, a family with two kids that earns the minimum wage still lives below the poverty line. That’s wrong. That’s why, since the last time this Congress raised the minimum wage, 19 states have chosen to bump theirs even higher.

　　我们知道，只有当我们辛勤的工作获得体面的报酬时，我们的经济才会更加强大。但现在的情况是，一个全职工人每年最低工资仅为1.45万美元。即使把免税算上，一个拥有两个孩子的家庭最低工资仍处于贫困线以下。那是不对劲的。这就是为什么上次国会提高最低工资标准后，有19个州又在此基础上额外提高了标准。

　　Tonight, let’s declare that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty, and raise the federal minimum wage to $9.00 an hour. (Applause.) We should be able to get that done. (Applause.)

　　今晚，让我们在这个世上最富有的国家里宣告，没有一个全职工作者会被迫生活在贫困中，宣告将联邦最低工资标准提高至每小时9美元。(掌声)我们一定能够做好这件事。(掌声)

　　This single step would raise the incomes of millions of working families. It could mean the difference between groceries or the food bank; rent or eviction; scraping by or finally getting ahead. For businesses across the country, it would mean customers with more money in their pockets. And a whole lot of folks out there would probably need less help from government. In fact, working folks shouldn’t have to wait year after year for the minimum wage to go up while CEO pay has never been higher. So here’s an idea that Governor Romney and I actually agreed on last year -- let’s tie the minimum wage to the cost of living, so that it finally becomes a wage you can live on. (Applause.)

　　这一步骤将提高几百万个工作家庭的收入。这可能意味着，原来靠救济券领取食品的人能够自己购买生活用品，原来被逐出房子的人能够租住下去，原来被生活抛弃的讲出人头地。对于全国的企业来说，这意味着拥有更多钱包满满的消费者。而对穷困人群来说，可能更少依赖于政府的救济。实际上，劳动者不必要一年又一年地等待最低工资标准的上升，而只需限制企业高管们的报酬上涨。这就是罗姆尼州长和我去年就已达成的共识，让我们将最低工资标准与生活成本挂钩，这样一来，你的最低标准总是能够支撑你的生活所需。(掌声)

　　Tonight, let’s also recognize that there are communities in this country where no matter how hard you work, it is virtually impossible to get ahead. Factory towns decimated from years of plants packing up. Inescapable pockets of poverty, urban and rural, where young adults are still fighting for their first job. America is not a place where the chance of birth or circumstance should decide our destiny. And that’s why we need to build new ladders of opportunity into the middle class for all who are willing to climb them.

　　今晚，也让我们承认，这个国家确有一些人群他们无论怎么苦干都难以出人头地。一些工厂长期停工衰败。不可避免的贫困，无论城乡，年轻劳动力依旧为挣得第一份工作争破头。人们的命运不应该被他的出生状况和环境所决定，美国不是这样一个地方。这就是为什么我们要搭建新的机会的阶梯，让所有愿意攀登的人步入中产阶层的行列。

　　Let’s offer incentives to companies that hire Americans who’ve got what it takes to fill that job opening, but have been out of work so long that no one will give them a chance anymore. Let’s put people back to work rebuilding vacant homes in run-down neighborhoods. And this year, my administration will begin to partner with 20 of the hardest-hit towns in America to get these communities back on their feet. We’ll work with local leaders to target resources at public safety, and education, and housing.

　　让我们对那些为长期失业人群提供就业岗位的公司进行奖励。让我们引导人们重新建设那些衰败小区里冷落的家。今年，我的政府将帮助全国20个遭受贫困打击最严重的城镇重建家园。我们将与当地领导人一起，为他们争取公共安全、教育以及住房方面的资源。

　　We’ll give new tax credits to businesses that hire and invest. And we’ll work to strengthen families by removing the financial deterrents to marriage for low-income couples, and do more to encourage fatherhood -- because what makes you a man isn’t the ability to conceive a child; it’s having the courage to raise one. And we want to encourage that. We want to help that. (Applause.)

　　我们将通过减税鼓励企业用工和投资。我们将通过消除夫妻结婚的资金门槛来巩固家庭，并且进一步激励父亲的支撑力——因为男人之所以为男人并不是他有生孩子的能力，而是有养育孩子的勇气。而我们就是想要对此有所激励，有所帮助。(掌声)

　　Stronger families. Stronger communities. A stronger America. It is this kind of prosperity -- broad, shared, built on a thriving middle class -- that has always been the source of our progress at home. It’s also the foundation of our power and influence throughout the world.

　　更强有力的家庭，更强有力的社区，然后才是一个更强有力的美国。正是这样的繁荣——包容、共享、建构于一个勤奋向上的中产阶层——才一直成为我们国内进步的来源。这也是我们的力量以及对整个世界的影响力的基础。

　　Tonight, we stand united in saluting the troops and civilians who sacrifice every day to protect us. Because of them, we can say with confidence that America will complete its mission in Afghanistan and achieve our objective of defeating the core of al Qaeda. (Applause.)

　　今晚，我们共同肃立，向为保卫我们而每天都在作出牺牲的军人和平民致敬。因为有他们，我们能够充满信心地说，美国将完成在阿富汗的使命并达到挫败基地组织核心的目标。(掌声)

　　Already, we have brought home 33,000 of our brave servicemen and women. This spring, our forces will move into a support role, while Afghan security forces take the lead. Tonight, I can announce that over the next year, another 34,000 American troops will come home from Afghanistan. This drawdown will continue and by the end of next year, our war in Afghanistan will be over. (Applause.)

　　我们早已从阿富汗撤回3.3万名英勇的男女军人。今年春天，我们的驻军将转变为协助的角色，而由阿富汗政府军将担当主角。今晚，我宣布另外3.4万美国军人明年内将从阿富汗回家。这一撤军进程将持续到明年底，到那时阿富汗战争将会结束。(掌声)

　　Beyond 2014, America’s commitment to a unified and sovereign Afghanistan will endure, but the nature of our commitment will change. We’re negotiating an agreement with the Afghan government that focuses on two missions -- training and equipping Afghan forces so that the country does not again slip into chaos, and counterterrorism efforts that allow us to pursue the remnants of al Qaeda and their affiliates.

　　2014年以后，美国关于帮助重建一个统一、主权完整的阿富汗的承诺将会继续，但我们承诺的实质性内容将会改变。我们正在与阿富汗政府商谈一个协议，主要集中于两项任务：训练和装备阿富汗军队，以使其不再陷入混乱;开展反恐行动，以追剿基地组织残余及分支机构。

　　Today, the organization that attacked us on 9/11 is a shadow of its former self. (Applause.) It’s true, different al Qaeda affiliates and extremist groups have emerged -- from the Arabian Peninsula to Africa. The threat these groups pose is evolving. But to meet this threat, we don’t need to send tens of thousands of our sons and daughters abroad or occupy other nations. Instead, we’ll need to help countries like Yemen, and Libya, and Somalia provide for their own security, and help allies who take the fight to terrorists, as we have in Mali. And where necessary, through a range of capabilities, we will continue to take direct action against those terrorists who pose the gravest threat to Americans. (Applause.)

　　今天，在911事件中袭击我们的组织已经成为一个从前的影子。(掌声)然而，另外的基地组织分支以及极端组织已经崛起，从阿拉伯半岛到非洲。这些组织所构成的威胁正在增加。但应对这些威胁，我们不需要派遣几万儿女到海外占领别的国家，而只需要帮助诸如也门、利比亚、索马里这些国家加强自己的安保，以及帮助盟友打击恐怖分子，如前不久协助法国进军马里。但如果有需要，只要能力所及，我们还会继续采取直接行动，以对付那些对美国构成最严重威胁的恐怖分子。(掌声)

　　Now, as we do, we must enlist our values in the fight. That’s why my administration has worked tirelessly to forge a durable legal and policy framework to guide our counterterrorism efforts. Throughout, we have kept Congress fully informed of our efforts. I recognize that in our democracy, no one should just take my word for it that we’re doing things the right way. So in the months ahead, I will continue to engage Congress to ensure not only that our targeting, detention and prosecution of terrorists remains consistent with our laws and system of checks and balances, but that our efforts are even more transparent to the American people and to the world. (Applause.)

　　现在，正如我们所做的，我们必须在战斗中遵循我们的价值观。这就是为什么我的政府不懈地构建一个持久的法律与政策框架，来指导我们的反恐斗争。我们已经让国会普遍知道这一努力。我认为，在我们的民主体制下，没有人可以武断地说我们在做的事情一定是正确的。因此在未来几个月里，我将继续与国会紧密接触，以确保不但我们对于恐怖分子的调查、拘禁和起诉是符合法律及制衡体系的，而且我们的作为对于美国人民以及全世界将更为透明。(掌声)

　　Of course, our challenges don’t end with al Qaeda. America will continue to lead the effort to prevent the spread of the world’s most dangerous weapons. The regime in North Korea must know they will only achieve security and prosperity by meeting their international obligations. Provocations of the sort we saw last night will only further isolate them, as we stand by our allies, strengthen our own missile defense and lead the world in taking firm action in response to these threats.

　　当然，我们面临的挑战不会止于基地组织。美国将继续领导防止危险武器扩散的努力。朝鲜政权必须认识到，他们只有通过履行自己的国际义务才能实现安全与繁荣。我们在昨晚见到的那种挑衅行为只会进一步孤立他们，而我们将与盟友一起，加强自己的导弹防御系统，并领导国际社会采取坚决措施回应此类威胁。

　　Likewise, the leaders of Iran must recognize that now is the time for a diplomatic solution, because a coalition stands united in demanding that they meet their obligations, and we will do what is necessary to prevent them from getting a nuclear weapon. (Applause.)

　　同样，伊朗领导人必须认识到，达成核问题外交方案的时机现在已经到了。因为多个国家联合起来要求他们履行他们的义务，而我们将采用必要手段防止他们拥有核武器。(掌声)

　　At the same time, we’ll engage Russia to seek further reductions in our nuclear arsenals, and continue leading the global effort to secure nuclear materials that could fall into the wrong hands -- because our ability to influence others depends on our willingness to lead and meet our obligations.

　　同时，我们将与俄罗斯保持紧密接触，寻求进一步削减双方的核武器数量，继续领导世界确保核物质安全，防止它们落入错误之手。因为我们对他人的影响力，取决于我们领导和履行自身义务的意愿。

　　America must also face the rapidly growing threat from cyber-attacks. (Applause.) Now, we know hackers steal people’s identities and infiltrate private emails. We know foreign countries and companies swipe our corporate secrets. Now our enemies are also seeking the ability to sabotage our power grid, our financial institutions, our air traffic control systems. We cannot look back years from now and wonder why we did nothing in the face of real threats to our security and our economy.

　　美国还必须对面日益增长的网络攻击威胁。(掌声)现在我们已经知道，黑客盗取个人身份信息并渗入私人邮件，一些外国和公司偷走我们的商业机密，我们的敌人还试图获得破坏我国电网、金融机构和空管系统的能力。回首过去几年，我们禁不住要问，为什么我们的安全和经济面临如此真切的威胁却什么也没做。

　　And that’s why, earlier today, I signed a new executive order that will strengthen our cyber defenses by increasing information sharing, and developing standards to protect our national security, our jobs, and our privacy. (Applause.)

　　这就是为什么今天早些时候我签署了一个旨在加强网络防卫的行政命令。这项行政命令将通过强化情报共享、完善相关标准来保护我们的国家安全、工作岗位以及个人隐私。(掌声)

　　But now Congress must act as well, by passing legislation to give our government a greater capacity to secure our networks and deter attacks. This is something we should be able to get done on a bipartisan basis. (Applause.)

　　但国会也应该立即行动，通过立法授予政府更大的权限来保卫我们的网络并挫败攻击。这件事情，我们通过两党合作能够做好。(掌声)

　　Now, even as we protect our people, we should remember that today’s world presents not just dangers, not just threats, it presents opportunities. To boost American exports, support American jobs and level the playing field in the growing markets of Asia, we intend to complete negotiations on a Trans-Pacific Partnership. And tonight, I’m announcing that we will launch talks on a comprehensive Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership with the European Union -- because trade that is fair and free across the Atlantic supports millions of good-paying American jobs. (Applause.)

　　即使是在保护自己人民的时候，我们也应该清楚，今天的世界不仅仅存在危险、威胁，它也产生机遇。为了增强美国的出口，支持美国的就业以及提升不断增长的亚洲市场的水准，我们要建立泛太平洋伙伴关系。今晚，我要宣布，我们将与欧盟开展全面的跨大西洋贸易与投资伙伴关系会谈，因为公平自由的跨大西洋贸易将有利于增加美国数百万个优质就业岗位。(掌声)

　　We also know that progress in the most impoverished parts of our world enriches us all -- not only because it creates new markets, more stable order in certain regions of the world, but also because it’s the right thing to do. In many places, people live on little more than a dollar a day. So the United States will join with our allies to eradicate such extreme poverty in the next two decades by connecting more people to the global economy; by empowering women; by giving our young and brightest minds new opportunities to serve, and helping communities to feed, and power, and educate themselves; by saving the world’s children from preventable deaths; and by realizing the promise of an AIDS-free generation, which is within our reach. (Applause.)

　　我们也知道，那些世界上最贫困国家的进步有利于我们自身，不单单因为它创造了新的市场、数量更稳定的订单，而且它本身就是值得去做的正确的事情。在许多地方，人们靠每天一美元多一点的标准生活。为此，美国将与盟友们一起，在未来20年里根除这种极端贫困。而我们的采取的举措是：将更多的人纳入全球经济;拓展女性力量;向年轻有才能的人提供施展抱负的新机会;帮助社区自食其力、自我壮大和自我教育;在全球范围防止儿童不必要的死亡;实现“没有艾滋病的一代”的承诺。这些都是我们做能做到的。(掌声)

　　You see, America must remain a beacon to all who seek freedom during this period of historic change. I saw the power of hope last year in Rangoon, in Burma, when Aung San Suu Kyi welcomed an American President into the home where she had been imprisoned for years; when thousands of Burmese lined the streets, waving American flags, including a man who said, “There is justice and law in the United States. I want our country to be like that.”

　　你们知道，美国必须在这一历史性转变时期，为所有寻求自由的人们留一盏明灯。去年我去缅甸的仰光时看到了这一希望的力量。当时昂山素季将我引入她曾被软禁在那里好多年的家乡，几千名缅甸人站在街道两旁，挥舞着美国国旗，有个人说：“美国有正义和法律，我们的国家也要这样。”

　　In defense of freedom, we’ll remain the anchor of strong alliances from the Americas to Africa; from Europe to Asia. In the Middle East, we will stand with citizens as they demand their universal rights, and support stable transitions to democracy. (Applause.)

　　为了保卫自由，我们将继续担当从美洲到非洲、从欧洲到亚洲的强大联盟的中坚力量。在中东，我们将与那些争取普世权利的人站在一起，支持向民主制度的稳定过渡。(掌声)

　　We know the process will be messy, and we cannot presume to dictate the course of change in countries like Egypt, but we can -- and will -- insist on respect for the fundamental rights of all people. We’ll keep the pressure on a Syrian regime that has murdered its own people, and support opposition leaders that respect the rights of every Syrian. And we will stand steadfast with Israel in pursuit of security and a lasting peace. (Applause.)

　　我们知道，转型的过程会带着混乱。我们不能假设转型的过程一定像埃及等国那样，但我们能够、也一定会坚持对人的基本权利的尊重。我们将对谋杀自己人民的叙利亚政权保持压力，并支持那些尊重每个叙利亚人权利的反对派领导人。我们也会坚定地同追求安全与持久和平的以色列站在一起。(掌声)

　　T hese are the messages I’ll deliver when I travel to the Middle East next month. And all this work depends on the courage and sacrifice of those who serve in dangerous places at great personal risk –- our diplomats, our intelligence officers, and the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. As long as I’m Commander-in-Chief, we will do whatever we must to protect those who serve their country abroad, and we will maintain the best military the world has ever known. (Applause.)

　　下月我去中东访问时，将传递上述信息。所有这些工作，有赖于那些冒着巨大的个人风险在危险的岗位上工作的人们所付出的勇气和牺牲，他们有外交人员、情报人员和美国武装部队男女官兵。只要我还是总司令，我们将采取所有必要的手段来保护那些在海外执行任务的人，我们将保持一支世界上最好的军队。(掌声)

　　We’ll invest in new capabilities, even as we reduce waste and wartime spending. We will ensure equal treatment for all servicemembers, and equal benefits for their families -- gay and straight. (Applause.) We will draw upon the courage and skills of our sisters and daughters and moms, because women have proven under fire that they are ready for combat.

　　尽管减少了浪费和战时支出，我们还是会加大能力建设方面的投入。我们将确保现役人员的同等待遇以及给予他们家庭的同等利益，不论同性恋或异性恋。(掌声)我们信赖姐妹、女儿和母亲们的勇气和技能，因为女性已经被证明做好了进入战场的准备。

　　We will keep faith with our veterans, investing in world-class care, including mental health care, for our wounded warriors -- (applause) -- supporting our military families; giving our veterans the benefits and education and job opportunities that they have earned. And I want to thank my wife, Michelle, and Dr. Jill Biden for their continued dedication to serving our military families as well as they have served us. Thank you, honey. Thank you, Jill. (Applause.)

　　我们将信守对退伍军人的承诺，为了经历创伤的战士提供世界级的医护，包括精神护理;(掌声)援助军人家庭;给予退伍军人赢得的福利，以及受教育和工作的机会。在此，我也要感谢我的妻子米歇尔，和吉尔·拜登(副总统乔·拜登的妻子——译者注)博士，感谢她们长期致力于为军人家庭提供服务，当然她们也为我们服务。谢谢你，亲爱的。谢谢你，吉尔。(掌声)

　　Defending our freedom, though, is not just the job of our military alone. We must all do our part to make sure our God-given rights are protected here at home. That includes one of the most fundamental right of a democracy: the right to vote. (Applause.) When any American, no matter where they live or what their party, are denied that right because they can’t afford to wait for five or six or seven hours just to cast their ballot, we are betraying our ideals. (Applause.)

　　然而，保卫我们自由并不仅仅是军队的职责。我们必须从我做起，在国内保卫我们的天赋权利。其中最重要的基本民主权利之一是：投票权。(掌声)如果任何美国人——无论住在何处或属于哪个政党——因为等不起5个、6个或7个小时来投票而舍弃了这项权利，那么我们就被判了自己的理想。(掌声)

　　So tonight, I’m announcing a nonpartisan commission to improve the voting experience in America. And it definitely needs improvement. I’m asking two long-time experts in the field -- who, by the way, recently served as the top attorneys for my campaign and for Governor Romney’s campaign -- to lead it. We can fix this, and we will. The American people demand it, and so does our democracy. (Applause.)

　　因此，今晚我将宣布一个无党派的委员会，来改进美国的投票体验。当然，这最终需要通过国会批准。这个委员会将由两位实践领域的资深专家来领导，他们分别是我与罗姆尼州长竞选期间的最高法律顾问。我们可以解决这个问题。美国人要求解决这个问题，我们的民主制度也要去解决这个问题。(掌声)

　　Of course, what I’ve said tonight matters little if we don’t come together to protect our most precious resource: our children. It has been two months since Newtown. I know this is not the first time this country has debated how to reduce gun violence. But this time is different. Overwhelming majorities of Americans -- Americans who believe in the Second Amendment -- have come together around common-sense reform, like background checks that will make it harder for criminals to get their hands on a gun. (Applause.) Senators of both parties are working together on tough new laws to prevent anyone from buying guns for resale to criminals. Police chiefs are asking our help to get weapons of war and massive ammunition magazines off our streets, because these police chiefs, they’re tired of seeing their guys and gals being outgunned.

　　当然，如果我们不齐心协力保护我们最珍贵的资源——我们的孩子们，我今晚所说的这些就都没有意义。纽镇校园枪击事件已经过去两个月了。我知道这不是美国第一次就缓解涉枪暴力展开辩论，但这次有所不同。数量庞大的美国人——他们信赖第二修正案——联合起来希望改变常识，诸如设立持枪者背景情况调查，以使犯罪分子难以获得枪支。(掌声)来自两党的参议员联合起来草拟新的严格法律，以防止枪支转售给犯罪分子。警方要求我们立法禁止战争武器和大容量弹匣枪支携带上街，因为他们再也受不了警察反被对方火力压制。

　　Each of these proposals deserves a vote in Congress. (Applause.) Now, if you want to vote no, that’s your choice. But these proposals deserve a vote. Because in the two months since Newtown, more than a thousand birthdays, graduations, anniversaries have been stolen from our lives by a bullet from a gun -- more than a thousand.

　　这些提案，每一个都都有理由交国会投票表决。(掌声)现在，如果你想投反对票，这是你的权利。但这些提案有理由提交表决。因为就在纽镇枪击事件两个月后，又有1000多个生日庆祝、毕业典礼、年度纪念被从我们的生活中偷走了，所用的是一支枪、一颗子弹。

　　One of those we lost was a young girl named Hadiya Pendleton. She was 15 years old. She loved Fig Newtons and lip gloss. She was a majorette. She was so good to her friends they all thought they were her best friend. Just three weeks ago, she was here, in Washington, with her classmates, performing for her country at my inauguration. And a week later, she was shot and killed in a Chicago park after school, just a mile away from my house.

　　其中有一个失去生命的叫海迪亚·潘德尔顿的小女孩。她才15岁。她喜欢无花果酥和唇膏。她是学校的乐队指挥。她对朋友们很好，他们都把她当最好的朋友。就在三周以前，她还在华盛顿，和同学们一起在我的就职典礼上演奏。一周以后放学时，她在芝加哥一个公园里遭枪击身亡，那里离我家不过一英里。

　　Hadiya’s parents, Nate and Cleo, are in this chamber tonight, along with more than two dozen Americans whose lives have been torn apart by gun violence. They deserve a vote. They deserve a vote. (Applause.) Gabby Giffords deserves a vote. (Applause.) The families of Newtown deserve a vote. (Applause.) The families of Aurora deserve a vote. (Applause.) The families of Oak Creek and Tucson and Blacksburg, and the countless other communities ripped open by gun violence –- they deserve a simple vote. (Applause.) They deserve a simple vote.

　　海迪亚的父母内特和克里欧今晚就在会场，同时在场还有20多名被涉枪暴力夺去亲人的美国人。他们有理由要求一个表决。他们有理由要求一个表决。(掌声)嘉比·吉福德有理由要求表决。(掌声)纽镇枪击案受害者家庭有理由要求表决。(掌声)奥罗拉电影院枪击案家庭有理由要求表决。(掌声)奥克里克、图森和布莱克斯堡的受害者家庭有理由要求表决。(掌声)无数被涉枪暴力摧毁的社区有理由要求表决——他们有理由要求一个简单的表决。(掌声)他们有理由要求一个简单的表决。

　　Our actions will not prevent every senseless act of violence in this country. In fact, no laws, no initiatives, no administrative acts will perfectly solve all the challenges I’ve outlined tonight. But we were never sent here to be perfect. We were sent here to make what difference we can, to secure this nation, expand opportunity, uphold our ideals through the hard, often frustrating, but absolutely necessary work of self-government.

　　我们的行动不可能防止这个国家所有无意义的暴力行为。事实上，没有哪个法律、倡议、行政行为能够完全完美地解决所有以上提到的挑战。但我们不是来寻求完美的。我们是来寻求力所能及的改变的，来保护国家、拓展机会，在困难且经常是令人沮丧的境况下坚持我们的理想，进行绝对必要的自我管理。