美国总统奥巴马每周电台演讲2014.02.16

Hi, everybody. In this year of action, I said I’d do everything in my power to expand opportunity for more Americans.  And this week, I took action to lift more workers’ wages by requiring federal contractors to pay their employees a fair wage of at least $10.10 an hour.  These are workers who serve our troops’ meals, wash their dishes, care for our veterans – Americans who work hard and will get a raise as these contracts come up.  This will be good for contractors, for taxpayers, and for America’s bottom line.
 
大家好。在这个行动年，我说过我愿意竭尽全力为更多美国人增加机会。本周，我将采取行动要求联邦雇主给雇员至少每小时10.10美元的公道的工资，以提高更多工人的工资。这些工人为我们的军队做饭、洗碗、照顾我们的退伍军人--他们是努力工作的美国人，将在这些合同实施后工资得到提高。这也有利于雇主、纳税人和美国的底线。
 
We know why this is important.  Our economy has been growing for four years.  Our businesses have created eight and a half million new jobs.  But while those at the top are doing better than ever, average wages have barely budged.  Too many Americans are working harder than ever just to get by, let alone get ahead.  And that’s been true since long before the recession hit.
 
我们深知为什么这很重要。我们的经济已经增长了四年。我们的企业已经创造了八百五十万个新就业机会。但是尽管最富裕的人们比以往任何时候都滋润，平均工资却几乎没有增长。很多美国人比以往任何时候都努力工作却仅仅过得去，更不用说过得好了。这些早在衰退之前就如此了。
 
That’s why we’ve got to build an economy that works for everybody, not just a fortunate few.  We’ve got to restore opportunity for all – the notion that no matter who you are or how you started out, with hard work and responsibility, you can get ahead in America.
 
这就是为什么我们必须打造一个为每个人服务的经济，而不是为少数走运的人服务的经济。我们必须为美国人重塑机会--为一个不管你是什么人或什么出身，只要努力工作承担责任，你就可以过得好的国家--美国。
 
The opportunity agenda I’ve laid out is built on more new jobs that pay good wages; better training for folks to fill those jobs; a smarter education for our kids; and making sure honest work is rewarded.  And the action I took this week will reward hard work for more Americans.
But to finish the job, Congress needs to act.  In the year since I first asked Congress to raise the minimum wage, six states have passed laws to raise theirs.  More states, cities, counties, and companies are taking steps to join them.  An overwhelming majority of Americans support raising a minimum wage that’s worth about 20% less than when Ronald Reagan took office.
 
我提出的这个机会议程旨在打造更多高工资的新就业机会；培训工人适应这些新工作；给孩子们的更加明智的教育；确保诚实工作得到回报。我本周采取的行动将回报更多的美国人的勤奋工作。
但是要实现这些，国会需要行动。自从我首次提请国会提高最低工资以来，六个州已经通过法律提高他们的最低工资。更多的州、城市、县城和公司正在采取行动跟上他们。绝大多数美国人支持以比里根就任时低20%的幅度提高最低工资。
 
Right now, there’s a bill in Congress that would boost America’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.  That’s easy to remember: ten-ten.  And remember, the average worker who would get a raise if Congress acts is about 35 years old.  Most lower-wage jobs are held by women.  And raising the minimum wage wouldn’t just raise their wages – its effect would lift wages for about 28 million Americans.  It would lift millions of Americans out of poverty, and help millions more work their way out of poverty – without requiring a single dollar in new taxes or spending.  It will give more businesses more customers with more money to spend – and that means growing the economy for everyone.
 
现在，一个提交到国会的议案支持把美国的最低工资提高到每小时10.10美元。这很好记：10--10。请记住，如果国会35年前就采取行动，普通工人的工资早就提高了。大多数低收入工作都是有妇女来做的。提高最低工资不仅仅是提高她们的工资--它的作用是提高2千8百万美国人的工资。它将使千百万美国人脱贫，帮助更多的美国人靠自己努力脱贫--而且不用增加一美元的新税收或开支。它将给更多消费者钱花--就是说发展经济惠及每个人。
 
You deserve to know where the people who represent you stand on this.  If they don’t support raising the federal minimum wage to ten-ten an hour, ask them “why not?”  The opponents of raising folks’ wages have deployed the same old arguments for years, and time and again, they’ve been proven wrong.  Let’s prove them wrong again, and give America a raise.  Let’s make opportunity easier to come by for every American who’s willing to work for it.
 
你们理当知道代表你们的人们是什么立场。如果他们不支持提高联邦最低工资到每小时10.10美元，问问他们“为什么不？”反对提高最低工资的人们多少年来一直老生常谈，他们一次次失败了。让我们叫他们再失败一次，给美国人涨工资。让我们使每个为机会努力工作美国人都更容易地获得机会。
 
Thanks, and have a great weekend.
 
谢谢，周末快乐。