評論
打印
Hi, everybody. Today, I want to talk with you about the crisis in Puerto Rico - and why it matters to all of us.
大家好。今天，我打算與各位談談波多黎各的經濟危機--以及為什么它與我們所有人息息相關。
Puerto Ricans are American citizens, just like folks in Maine or Oklahoma or New Mexico. And over the last decade, Puerto Rico has suffered through a deep and painful recession - but unlike the rest of the United States, it hasn't recovered.
波多黎各人是美國公民，就像緬因州、俄克拉荷馬州和新墨西哥州的人們一樣。在過去的十年里，波多黎各經歷了水深火熱的衰退--但是與美國的其它州不同，它至今沒有復蘇。
Today, the island continues to face a crippling economic crisis. Schools are closing. Power is being cut off at homes and hospitals. Teachers have to choose between turning on the lights or turning on the computers. Doctors can't get medicine to treat newborns unless they pay in cash. And as the Zika virus threatens both the island and the mainland, workers dealing with mosquito control to help protect women and their unborn babies are at risk of being laid off.
今天，這個島國仍然面對阻礙經濟發展的危機。學校關門。住宅和醫院的工地中斷。老師們不得不在開燈還是開電腦之間選擇。除非用現金支付，醫生無法得到藥品給新生兒治病。隨著在卡病毒在該島國和美洲大陸泛濫，執行蚊蟲控制以幫助保護婦女和她們的胎兒的工人們，面臨被下崗的遭遇。
Right now, Puerto Rico is spending about a third of its tax revenue on debt payments - far more than anywhere else in America. And on July 1, the island faces another $2 billion in debt payments that it cannot pay.
迄今為止，波多黎各將三分之一的稅收用于支付債務--遠遠高于美洲的任何地方。七月一日，該島國將面對它無法支付的另外$20億美元的債務。
There is only one way for Puerto Rico to pull itself out of this crisis - and that's by restructuring its debt and finding a sustainable fiscal path toward growth and opportunity for its people. But here's the problem. Right now, Puerto Rico doesn't have the tools it needs to restructure its debt - tools available elsewhere in America.
波多黎各只有一條擺脫危機的出路--那就是通過債務重組和找到，通往經濟增長和給其人民機會的可持續的金融途徑。但是問題有以下幾個。迄今為止，波多黎各沒有必要的金融工具重組它的債務--美洲其它地方都有的金融工具。
And only Congress can fix the problem, and put Puerto Rico on a path to recovery.
只有國會能解決這個問題，并且使波多黎各走上復興之路。
Thankfully, this week, the House overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan bill to address the crisis, and I now urge the Senate to move quickly to follow suit. This bill won't cost federal taxpayers a dime. It doesn't include special-interest bailouts. And it gives Puerto Rico the ability to restructure its debt, safeguard essential services, and provide important protections to public pensions that more than 300,000 folks rely on to retire with dignity.
謝天謝地，本周，國會以壓倒多數通過了一項兩黨議案來應對此危機，我現在敦促參議院盡快采取后續行動。這個議案不會花納稅人一毛錢。它也不用特殊利益群體施舍。它使波多黎各具備重組債務、保障必須的服務、和提供保護公共退休金的能力。這些退休金是300，000人退休后體面地生活的依托。
This bill also includes something else - a temporary system of oversight to help implement needed reforms and ensure transparency. I know that some folks in Puerto Rico are worried about this kind of oversight. But I've always insisted that any solution to this crisis has to respect the democratic rights of the people of Puerto Rico. And I am committed to making sure that Puerto Ricans are well-represented in this process, so that we can be sure we're taking steps that are in the island's best interests.
該議案包括其它事項--一個臨時監理系統，幫助完成必要的改革和確保公開透明。我知道波多黎各的有些人對這樣的監理產生了憂慮。但是我始終強調，這個危機的解決方案必須尊重波多黎各人民的民主權利。我承諾確保波多黎各人在此過程中有足夠的權利，以便我們能夠保證采取的措施最好地代表該島國的利益。
This bill is not a perfect solution - nobody's saying it is. That's what happens in divided government. But it's the only option on the table to save Puerto Rico from spiraling out of control. And that's exactly what would happen if Congress fails to do its job.
該法案不是完美無缺的--沒有人這樣說。它體現了分裂的政府發生的一切。但是它是我們能通過的唯一選擇，以避免波多黎各進入失控的尾旋。這就是如果國會不履行其職責，就必然發生的。
There's no question this is a trying time for folks in Puerto Rico. They've seen too many jobs lost and too many neighbors leave in search of better opportunity elsewhere. It's clear that it's time for Puerto Rico to chart a new course and make a fresh start. This bill is just a first step.
毫無疑問，波多黎各人民正處于艱難時期。那里失業人數激增，人們背井離鄉去找更好的機會。現在是波多黎各規劃一條新路線，開始嶄新的一頁的時候了。本議案僅僅是第一步。
We all have more work to do to make sure that the people of Puerto Rico receive the health care they deserve and the good jobs and economic opportunities they need to build a better future for their kids. And I want the people of Puerto Rico to know that my administration is committed to your success. Because you're vital to America's success.
我們有很多工作要做，以確保波多黎各人民得到他們應得的醫保和好工作，和他們為他們的孩子們打造更好的未來的經濟機會。我希望波多黎各人民知道，本屆政府確保你們的成功。因為你們對美國的成功至關重要。
That's what this is all about. We don't turn our backs on our fellow Americans. We don't treat folks differently because of where they live. Instead, we treat each other as Americans. We come together, especially when it's hard. That's how we've always set ourselves on a course toward a brighter day.
這就是本議案的全部意義。我們不會在我們的人民有難時袖手旁觀。我們不會因為他們生活的地區不同而不一視同仁。相反，我們待人如己。我們同舟共濟，特別是在困難時期。我們就是這樣使我們自己永遠走在通往更加光明的一天的道路上。
Thanks everybody, and have a great weekend.
謝謝各位，周末快樂。
