美国总统奥巴马年度国情咨文

1、美国总统奥巴马年度国情咨文（五）When kids do graduate, the most daunting challenge can be the cost of college. At a time when Americans owe more in tuition debt than credit card debt, this Congress needs to stop the interest rates on student loans from doubling in July. （Applause.）在孩子们毕业时，最严峻的挑战可能是大学费用。此时此刻，美国人 的学费

2、债务超过了信用卡债务，国会必须阻止学生贷款利息在7月份 成倍上涨。（掌声）Extend the tuition tax credit we started that saves millions of middle-class families thousands of dollars, and give more young people the chance to earn their way through college by doubling the number of work-study jobs in the next five years. （Applause.）把我们开始的

3、、为数百万中产家庭节省成千上万美元学费的减税优惠 延长下去，并通过在未来5年加倍提供半工半读机会，让更多的年轻 人有机会自己挣钱念完大学。（掌声）Of course, its not enough for us to increase student aid. We cant just keep subsidizing skyrocketing tuition; well run out of money. States also need to do their part, by making higher education a higher priority in their budge

4、ts. And colleges and universities have to do their part by working to keep costs down.当然，仅仅增加学生援助是不够的。我们无法一再补贴不断猛涨的学 费；我们会耗光资金。各州也需要尽一份力，把高等教育作为其预算 的一项重要内容。各高等院校必须尽量努力降低费用。Recently, I spoke with a group of college presidents whove done just that. Some schools redesign courses to help students finish

5、 more quickly. Some use better technology. The point is, its possible. So let me put colleges and universities on notice: If you cant stop tuition from going up, the funding you get from taxpayers will go down. (Applause.) Higher education cant be a luxury - it is an economic imperative that every f

6、amily in America should be able to afford.最近，我与一批已经这样做的大学校长进行了交谈。一些学校重新设 计课程，帮助学生更快完成学业。有些采用了更好的技术手段。这就 是说，这是可以办到的。所以，让我告知高等院校：如果你们不能停 止学费上涨，那么你们从纳税人那里得到的资金就将减少。(掌声) 高等教育不能是奢侈品一一它是经济之必需，美国每一个家庭都应能 支付得起。Lets also remember that hundreds of thousands of talented, hardworking students in this country fa

7、ce another challenge: the fact that they arent yet American citizens. Many were brought here as small children, are American through and through, yet they live every day with the threat of deportation, Others came more recently, to study business and science and engineering, but as soon as they get

8、their degree, we send them home to invent new products and create new jobs somewhere else,我们还要记住，在这个国家，几十万才华横溢、勤奋好学的学生面临 着另一个挑战：他们尚不是美国公民。他们许多人是小时候被带到这 里，是地地道道的美国人，然而却每天面临被遣返的威胁。还有一些 人最近才来这里攻读商学、科学和工程学，但他们一拿到学位，我们 便送他们回国，到其他地方去发明新产品，创造新就业机会。That doesnt make sense.这毫无道理可言。I believe as strongly as eve

9、r that we should take on illegal immigration.Thats why my administration has put more boots on the border than ever before. Thats why there are fewer illegal crossings than when I took office. The opponents of action are out of excuses. We should be working on comprehensive immigration reform right

10、now. (Applause.) 我极其坚定地相信，我们应着手解决非法移民问题。正因为如此，我 的政府已经向边界派遣了人数比以往任何时候都多的边防人员。也正 因为如此，现在非法越境事件比我上任时减少。反对这项行动的人再 也找不到借口。我们现在应当立即努力制定全面的移民改革方案。(掌 声)But if election-year politics keeps Congress from acting on a comprehensive plan, lets at least agree to stop expelling responsible young people who want to

11、 staff our labs, start new businesses, defend this country, Send me a law that gives them the chance to earn their citizenship, I will sign it right away. (Applause.)但是，如果选举年的政局使国会不情愿就一项全面方案采取行动，那 么让我们至少同意停止遣返那些有责任感的年轻人，他们希望去我们 的实验室、创业和捍卫这个国家。向我提交一项法案，让他们有机会 通过奋斗取得公民身份。我将立刻签署。(掌声)You see, an economy

12、 built to last is one where we encourage the talent and ingenuity of every person in this country. That means women should earn equal pay for equal work. (Applause.) It means we should support everyone whos willing to work, and every risk-taker and entrepreneur who aspires to become the next Steve J

13、obs.要知道，长盛不衰的经济要求我们激发这个国家每个人的聪明才智和 创造力。这意味着对妇女应当实行同工同酬。(掌声)这意味着应当 支持每一个愿意工作的人，每一个敢于承担风险的人，每一个有志成 为下一个史蒂夫乔布斯(Steve Jobs)的实业家。After all, innovation is what America has always been about. Most new jobs are created in start-ups and small businesses. So lets pass an agenda that helps them succeed. Tear down regulations that prevent aspiring entrepreneurs from getting the financing to grow. (Applause.) Expand tax relief to small businesses that are raising wages and creating good jobs. Both parties agree on these ideas. So