布什周四将视察美中部洪水灾区

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U.S. President George Bush will visit the Midwest state of Iowa Thursday to inspect damage from major flooding along the Mississippi River. Mr. Bush says he will work with Congress to replenish funds used to help those affected by natural disaster.

美国总统布什将于星期四到美国中西部爱奥华州，察看密西西比河沿岸地区重大水灾造成的损失。布什表示将跟国会共同协商，为一项专门帮助遭受自然灾害损失地区的基金增加拨款。

Federal officials briefed the president on efforts to shore-up levees along the Mississippi River and help those displaced by the flooding. Crews along the river have been working feverishly stacking sandbags to keep the water from spilling out into low lying areas.

联邦官员向布什总统通报了有关部门加固密西西比河沿岸堤坝和帮助那些在洪水灾害中无家可归的人们的努力。施工人员干劲十足，不停地在这条河的沿岸堆起沙袋，不让河水漫出河堤流进低洼地区。

Speaking to reporters after that briefing, Mr. Bush said there has been close coordination between federal and state authorities.

通报结束后，布什对记者说，联邦政府跟爱奥华州有关机构一直在保持密切协调。

"We're in constant contact with people on the ground to help make sure that we save lives," he said. "Now that the water is beginning to recede, the question is how do we help with the recovery?"

布什说：“我们跟现场工作人员保持不断的联系，以确保我们在挽救生命。现在洪水正在消退，我们面临的问题是如何帮助当地人民重建家园。”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is still assessing the economic impact of the flooding. President Bush says he understands many people are upset about loosing their homes and businesses.

美国农业部仍在评估洪水造成的经济损失。布什总统说，失去住房，失去了生意让许多人心烦意乱，他非常理解。

"We are worried about farmers and ranchers. The country that is being affected by these floods has got a lot of farm country, a lot people raising livestock," he said.

布什总统说：“我们惦记着农民和农场主。我国受到水灾的这个地区有大量农田，许多人在这里饲养家畜。”

Officials are reinforcing levees in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri to prevent further damage from river water that has already closed bridges and destroyed homes.

有关人员正在加固伊利诺伊州、爱奥华州和密苏里州的河堤，防止河水决堤造成进一步的损失。洪水已经迫使桥梁关闭，房屋被毁。

President Bush said there is enough money in a federal emergency fund to pay for the clean-up and help those affected by the flooding. He will work with lawmakers to ensure those funds are replaced ahead of another natural disaster.

布什总统表示，联邦紧急救助基金有足够资金来支付洪水后的清理费用，以及帮助洪水灾民。布什将跟国会议员们一道保证在下次自然灾害之前注入足够的款项来取代已经使用的基金。

"Congress doesn't need to worry about working with the White House on this because we think the supplemental is the way to go," he said. "What they do need to worry about is making sure there is enough but not too much money in the fund so that we can say we've done our job."

布什说：“国会不必因为跟白宫协商基金问题而有所担忧，因为，我们认为追加基金款项是正确的做法。他们真正需要担心的是确保基金要足够，但不需要过量，这样我们就可以说我们完成了我们的工作。”

The president will visit Iowa Thursday to meet with some of those affected by the flooding.

布什总统星期四视察爱奥华州，他将会见几位遭受水灾的居民。