2007年VOA标准英语-Commerce Secretary Says US Economy Strong, Resi

By Mil Arcega
Washington, DC
08 January 2007
 
watch US Economy 2007 report

Carlos Gutierrez

Despite serious economic challenges ahead, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce says the nation's economy remains¹ strong and resilient. Secretary Carlos Gutierrez says among the challenges are the continuing slump² in the housing market, a shortage of skilled workers and the nation's continuing dependence³ on foreign oil.

From Hurricane Katrina to the recent correction in the housing market, Carlos Gutierrez says the U.S. economy has withstood shocks that would have toppled other economies.  Speaking before the business community in Washington DC, the Secretary of Commerce, Carlos Gutierrez, hailed the nation's entrepreneurs as the true heroes of the economy.

"The reason our economy is strong is that U.S. businesses are strong.   The stock market has hit record highs.  Corporate⁴ profits were at a 40-year high for the third quarter.  Small and medium sized businesses continue to contribute to the economy as well."

Gutierrez says small and medium sized businesses are responsible for nearly half of the entire U.S. payroll⁵.  And he says the success of those businesses is largely responsible for creating 167,000 new jobs in December --  or about seven million new jobs since August 2003.

In spite of the impressive job growth figures, the Cuban-born secretary says one of the most pressing challenges to continued growth is the shortage of high-skilled workers. "I can't tell you how often I hear that companies can't find enough workers and that's happening in industries throughout the country.  Immigration is also a key solution to that problem."

Although U.S. lawmakers have addressed the issue of border security, Gutierrez says a temporary worker program that gives qualified⁶ workers a path to legalization will be high on the administration's list of priorities this year.

So is the need to reduce the country's dependence on foreign oil. "We must also push for alternative resources such as biofuels and innovative⁷ technologies which will reduce our overall consumption and provide new opportunities for U.S. businesses," Gutierrez said.

To remain competitive around the world, Gutierrez outlined a three point plan which includes: maintaining America's position as the best place to do business; opening up more overseas markets and developing the most-skilled and best-educated workers in the world.

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
• Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。

3 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

4 corporate   

adj.共同的，全体的；公司的，企业的

参考例句：

• This is our corporate responsibility.这是我们共同的责任。
• His corporate's life will be as short as a rabbit's tail.他的公司的寿命是兔子尾巴长不了。

5 payroll   

n.工资表，在职人员名单，工薪总额

参考例句：

• His yearly payroll is $1.2 million.他的年薪是120万美元。
• I can't wait to get my payroll check.我真等不及拿到我的工资单了。

6 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

7 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。