美国国会达成财政预算案协议

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　　The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the budget blueprint⁴ last week, and the Senate is expected to follow suit in coming days, showing that a politically-divided Congress can function, according to Democratic Senator Richard Durbin.

　　“I am encouraged that members on both sides, House and Senate, Democrats⁵ and Republicans, vote for this. Let us move. Let us govern. Let us not shut down this government again. This is an opportunity, and with this opportunity we can have a stronger national defense⁶, a stronger country, and we can save the taxpayers⁷ money,” said Durbin.

　　Once enacted⁸, the bill would give the nation a two-year reprieve⁹ from the budget wars that have consumed Congress in recent years. It reduces across-the-board cuts to federal spending and, at the same time pares the deficit¹⁰, earning the backing of Republicans like Congressman¹¹ Paul Ryan.

　　“This is the first time since 1986 that a divided Congress has done what we are about to do. Here is what the bill does: it reduces the deficit by $23 billion. It does not raise taxes and it cuts spending in a smarter way,” said Ryan.

　　Meanwhile, a furious lobbying effort by the Obama administration has succeeded in preventing Congress from enacting¹² new sanctions against Iran, at least until next year. Secretary of State John Kerry was one of many U.S. officials who pleaded with lawmakers to give international diplomacy¹³ a chance to curb¹⁴ Iran’s nuclear activities.

　　“We have a chance to address peacefully one of the most pressing national security concerns that the world faces today. I do not want to give Iranians a public excuse to flout¹⁵ the agreement,” said Kerry.

　　Some Democratic and Republican lawmakers want to boost sanctions to pressure Tehran in upcoming negotiations¹⁶, arguing that sanctions forced Iran to bargain in the first place. The administration says Congress can always act if talks were to break down.

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