Weekly Address: President Obama Announces New Plans to Increase Responsible Domestic Oil Production
每周电视讲话:奥巴马总统宣布负责任地增加美国国内石油产量的新计划
WASHINGTON – In this week’s address, President Obama laid out his strategy to continue to expand responsible and safe domestic oil production, leveraging existing authorities as part of his long-term plan to reduce our reliance on foreign oil. He is directing the Department of the Interior to conduct annual lease sales in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve – while respecting sensitive areas, to speed up the evaluation of oil and gas resources in the mid and south Atlantic, and to create new incentives for industry to develop their unused leases both on and offshore. Also, to give companies more time to meet higher safety standard for exploration and drilling, the administration is extending drilling leases in areas of the Gulf of Mexico that were impacted by the temporary moratorium, as well as certain leases off the coast of Alaska. And, he is establishing a new interagency working group to ensure that Arctic development projects meet health, safety and environmental standards. The past few months, rising gas prices have put an added strain on American families. While there are no quick fixes to the problem, these are steps, along with eliminating taxpayer subsidies for oil companies and rooting out fraud and manipulation in the markets, that are worth taking.
华盛顿:在本周的讲话中,奥巴马总统宣布了继续安全负责任地扩大国内石油产量的总体计划，提升现有机构权力作为他降低对国外石油依赖这一长远计划的一部分。考虑到涉及一些敏感地区，他还指示内政部负责阿拉斯加国家石油储备局的年度租赁销售，加速大西洋中部和南部地区的石油气资源评估，同时也刺激石油开采产业开发陆上和近海的未使用租赁区域。当然，为了给各公司一些时间在勘测和钻探中满足更高的安全标准，当局也延长了墨西哥海湾受临时禁令影响地区的钻探租赁期，当然也包括阿拉斯加近海区域部分地区的租赁期。同时他还成立了一个跨机构的工作组来确保北极发展计划满足健康、安全和环保的要求。在过去的几个月，上涨的油价给美国家庭增加了不小的负担。尽管没有解决这一问题的灵丹妙药，但依然可以采取一些措施，例如在减少用纳税人的钱为石油公司提供补贴的同时，根除石油市场的欺诈和暗箱操纵都是值得采取的措施。
Recently, there have been signs that the economy is picking up steam. Last month, we saw the strongest job growth in five years, and have added more than three-quarters of a million private sector jobs in just three months. But there are still too many Americans who are either looking for work, or struggling to pay the bills and make the mortgage. Paychecks aren’t getting any bigger, but the cost of everything from groceries to college tuition keeps on rising.
最近，有迹象显示我们的经济蒸蒸日上。上个月，我们看到了5年来最强劲的就业增长，在短短3个月时间里，我们的私营部门就增加了75万个工作岗位。但依然有不少美国人还在找工作，或是为了日常开销和还贷而不堪重负。因为工资没有上涨，而各项开销，从日用品到大学学费都在不断上涨。
Without a doubt, one of the biggest burdens over the last few months has been the price of gasoline. In many places, gas is now more than $4 a gallon, meaning that you could be paying more than $60 to fill up your tank.
毫无疑问，过去几个月来人民面临最大的负担就是油价。在很多地方，汽油已经超过4美元每加仑，这意味着大家加满一箱油要多花60美元。
These spikes in gas prices are often temporary, and while there are no quick fixes to the problem, there are a few steps we should take that make good sense.
油价迟早会下降，虽然没有快速解决这一问题的方法，但依然有一些值得采取的措施。
First, we should make sure that no one is taking advantage of consumers at the pump. That’s why we’ve launched a task force led by the Attorney General that has one job: rooting out cases of fraud or manipulation in the markets that might affect gas prices, including any illegal activity by traders and speculators.
首先，我们要确保任何人都不可以在油价上占消费者的便宜。这也是我们成立了以司法部长为首的特别工作组的原因，他们的唯一目标就是根除石油市场的欺诈和暗箱操纵，包括交易员和投机商的任何违法行为，以消除对油价的影响。
Second, we should increase safe and responsible oil production here at home. Last year, America’s oil production reached its highest level since 2003. But I believe that we should expand oil production in America – even as we increase safety and environmental standards.
其次，我们应该安全负责任地增加国内石油产量。去年，美国的石油产量就达到了自2003年来的最高值。即便我们提高了安全和环保的标准，我认为我们依然需要扩大国内的石油产量。
To do this, I am directing the Department of Interior to conduct annual lease sales in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve, while respecting sensitive areas, and to speed up the evaluation of oil and gas resources in the mid and south Atlantic. We plan to lease new areas in the Gulf of Mexico as well, and work to create new incentives for industry to develop their unused leases both on and offshore.
为此，考虑到会涉及一些敏感区域，我指示内政部负责阿拉斯加国家石油储备局的年度租赁和销售，加快对大西洋中部和南部地区的石油气资源的评估。我们计划在墨西哥海湾开放一些新的区域的租赁权，并对这一产业制定一些新的刺激政策促进对未使用的陆上和近海租赁区域的开发。
We’re also taking steps to give companies time to meet higher safety standards when it comes to exploration and drilling. That’s why my Administration is extending drilling leases in areas of the Gulf that were impacted by the temporary moratorium, as well as certain areas off the coast of Alaska. And to streamline that permitting process, I am establishing a new team to coordinate work on Alaska drilling permits.
我们也采取措施给各公司一些时间在勘测和钻探中满足更高的安全标准。这也是当局延长墨西哥海湾受临时禁令影响区域的钻探租期，以及阿拉斯加近海部分区域的租期的原因。为了让许可程序更流畅的实施，我成立了一个新的工作组来协调阿拉斯加的钻探许可工作。
Finally, the third step we should take is to eliminate the taxpayer subsidies we give to oil and gas companies. In the last few months, the biggest oil companies made about $4 billion in profits each week. And yet, they get $4 billion in taxpayer subsidies each year. Four billion dollars at a time when Americans can barely fill up their tanks. Four billion dollars at a time when we’re trying to reduce our deficit.
最后，我们要采取的第三项措施就是减少用纳税人的钱为石油气公司提供补贴。在过去几个月，最大的石油公司每周赚取40亿美元的利润。而同时他们每年却还能获得纳税人40亿美元的补贴。全美人民加满油箱，一次也就40亿美元。我们想尽办法削减赤字，一次也就40亿美元。
This isn’t fair, it makes no sense. Before I was President, the CEOs of these companies even admitted that the tax subsidies made no sense. Well, next week, there is a vote in Congress to end these oil company giveaways once and for all. And I hope Democrats and Republicans come together and get this done.
这不公平也不合理。在我担任总统前，这些公司的CEO们就公开承认说这些税金补贴无关痛痒。好吧，下周，国会将进行一次投票表决彻底结束对石油公司的馈赠。我希望民主党和共和党人一起把这件事做好。
The American people shouldn’t be subsidizing oil companies at a time when they’re making near-record profits. As a nation, we should be investing in the clean, renewable sources of energy that are the ultimate solution to high-gas prices. That’s why we’re investing in clean energy technology, helping businesses that manufacture solar panels and wind turbines, and making sure that our cars and trucks can go further on a tank of gas – a step that could save families as much as $3,000 at the pump.
这些石油公司赚取了几乎是创纪录的利润，美国人民不应该继续补贴他们。作为一个国家，我们应该投资清洁、可再生能源，这才是解决高油价的最终方案。这是为什么我们要投资清洁能源技术，帮助生产太阳能电池板和风力发电机的公司，确保我们的汽车和卡车用更少的油跑更远的路，这将为每个家庭在油费上节约3000美元。
These are investments worth making – investments that will save us money, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and protect the health and safety of our planet. That’s an energy policy for the future, and it’s what I’ll be fighting for in the weeks and months to come.
这些都是值得的投资，这些投资将节约我们的金钱，降低我们对海外石油的依赖，保护我们星球的健康和安全。这是关乎未来的能源政策，在未来的日子里我将继续为此而奋斗。
Thanks.
谢谢！ |