VOA标准英语2009年-Obama: Economic Stimulus Plan First Step Toward

As U.S. lawmakers were voting on a giant economic recovery plan, President Barack Obama again emphasized the many challenges facing the nation's economy.
　
President Barack Obama makes remarks to business leaders at the White House, 13 Feb 2009

President Obama said 3.6 million jobs have been lost since the recession began, and many big companies are under pressure from falling revenues and unavailable credit.

But he said the $789 billion economic stimulus¹ plan should help, and he praised the "spirited debate" about the bill in Congress.

"Not everybody has shared the same view of how we should move forward, and at times our discussions have been contentious². But that is a good thing from my perspective," he said.

Mr. Obama told the leaders of some of America's biggest companies that the recovery plan is only the first step, and that more patience will be needed.
　
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, fourth from left, speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill, 13 Feb 2009, after the House passed the stimulus legislation

"Now, passing this plan is a critical step, but as important as it is, it is only the beginning of what, I think all of you understand, is going to be a long and difficult process of turning our economy around," he said.

The president said the next steps should include implementing³ the restructured $700 billion financial industry bailout program, reforming financial industry regulation and writing what he called a "responsible" federal budget. He is scheduled to unveil a housing initiative next week.

Mr. Obama said the economic crisis is also an opportunity to take strong action to set the nation's economic course for decades to come.

"We have a once-in-a-generation chance to act boldly and turn adversity into opportunity, and to use this crisis as a chance to transform our economy for the 21st century," he said.

Underscoring Mr. Obama's concerns, a new study found U.S. consumers are becoming more worried about their economic situation. The University of Michigan's index of consumer sentiment approached a record low this month, dropping five percentage points. Consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of the U.S. economy.

The president said the massive economic recovery legislation will help increase consumer spending, make necessary investments for lasting⁴ growth and prosperity, and save or create more than 3.5 million jobs.

The compromise plan includes more than $311 billion in spending on infrastructure⁵, health care, energy and aid for low-income Americans.

1 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

2 contentious   

adj.好辩的，善争吵的

参考例句：

• She was really not of the contentious fighting sort.她委实不是好吵好闹的人。
• Since then they have tended to steer clear of contentious issues.从那时起，他们总想方设法避开有争议的问题。

3 implementing   

v.实现( implement的现在分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效

参考例句：

• -- Implementing a comprehensive drug control strategy. ――实行综合治理的禁毒战略。 来自汉英非文学 - 白皮书
• He was in no hurry about implementing his unshakable principle. 他并不急于实行他那不可动摇的原则。 来自辞典例句

4 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

5 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。