奧巴馬新年講話：美已有經濟復甦跡象
President Barack Obama says he is hopeful that the United States will be able to strengthen its economy and create jobs in the new year. The president said he is encouraged by the recent vote in Congress to prevent higher payroll taxes and extend unemployment benefits.
美國總統奧巴馬說，他有信心，新的一年美國經濟能夠改善並創造就業機會。奧巴馬總統表示，國會最近通過延長削減工資稅和失業救濟的法案，他對此深受鼓舞。
In his final weekly address of the year, President Obama said 2011 was a year of great change and progress.
奧巴馬總統星期六在他今年最後一次的每週例行講話中說，2011年是出現了巨大變化和進展的一年。
"We ended one war and began to wind down another," said Obama. "We dealt a crippling blow to al-Qaida and made America more secure. We stood by our friends and allies around the world through natural disasters and revolutions. And we began to see signs of economic recovery here at home, even as too many Americans are still struggling to get ahead."
奧巴馬說：“我們結束了一場戰爭，並開始結束另一場戰爭。我們給予基地組織重大打擊，使美國更加安全。我們與全世界的盟友一起經歷了自然災害和革命。雖然太多的美國人仍在艱難中前進，但我們開始看到美國這裏已出現經濟復甦的跡象。”
Obama applauded Democrats and Republicans in Congress for working together to pass a two-month extension of a payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits.
奧巴馬總統對國會民主黨人和共和黨人一道通過了將工資稅減稅措施和失業福利延長兩個月的法案表示歡迎。
The president credited Americans who contacted Congress in support of the extension, and he called on lawmakers to approve a year-long extension when they return to Washington in January.
奧巴馬讚賞那些爲支持延長上述措施而與國會聯絡的美國民衆。他呼籲國會議員1月份返回華盛頓時，批准將這些措施延長一年。
"And I expect Congress to finish the job by extending these provisions through the end of 2012," Obama added. "It was good to see members of Congress do the right thing for millions of working Americans, but it was only possible because you added your voices to the debate."
奧巴馬說：“我期待國會完成他們的工作，把這些措施延長到2012年年底。國會爲數百萬美國勞動人民採取了正確的行動，這是很好的事情。但是這之所以成爲可能，是因爲辯論中加入了你們的聲音。”
Obama recorded his message from the state of Hawaii, where he is on vacation with his family.
奧巴馬及其家人正在夏威夷度假，他的新年講話是在那裏錄製的。
The president said his main goal for the new year is to make America's economic system more fair for the middle class-a theme he is expected to repeat throughout his 2012 re-election campaign.
奧巴馬總統說，他新年的主要目標是要使美國的經濟制度對中產階級更公平。預計他在2012年的競選活動中將重申這一主題。"As president, I promise to do everything I can to make America a place where hard work and responsibility are rewarded, one where everyone has a fair shot and everyone does their fair share," Obama said. "That's the America I believe in. That's the America we have always known."
奧巴馬說，作爲總統，我承諾要盡我所能使美國成爲一個勤勞和負責會得到報償的地方，人人都有公平的機會，也都公平地承擔自己的責任。這就是我所相信的美國，也是我們一直都瞭解的美國。
In the weekly Republican address, Senator Johnny Isakson said his party's top priority for the new year is to make it easier for small businesses to create jobs. He said Republicans will do so by fighting for lower taxes, fewer regulations and energy security.
來自喬治亞州的聯邦參議員約翰尼.艾薩克森代表共和黨發表每週講話說，共和黨新年的首要任務是要讓小企業更容易創造就業機會。爲此共和黨人要努力爭取減少稅收和各種規定，並加強能源安全。
President Obama Friday delayed a request to Congress to raise the debt ceiling, the legal limit on the amount of money the U.S. government can borrow.
奧巴馬總統星期五推遲要求國會提高債務上限，也就是美國政府借債的最高限額。
Obama granted top lawmakers from both parties more time to allow both houses to vote on a largely symbolic bill allowing some legislators to express their opposition to increasing the limit.
從而給國會兩黨領袖更多時間，使國會兩院能夠對一個主要是象徵性的提案進行表決。一些議員通過表決對提高政府借債限額表示不滿。
The proposed $1.2 trillion increase in the borrowing authority is likely to pass despite the objections.
儘管有人反對，這個建議把政府借貸上限提高1萬2千億美元的提案可能會獲得通過。
