奥巴马国情咨文演说（中英文对照）

And four years ago, we started Race to the Top -- a competition that convinced almost every state to develop smarter curricula and higher standards, all for about 1 percent of what we spend on education each year. Tonight, I’m announcing a new challenge to redesign America’s high schools so they better equip graduates for the demands of a high-tech economy. And we’ll reward schools that develop new partnerships with colleges and employers, and create classes that focus on science, technology, engineering and math -- the skills today’s employers are looking for to fill the jobs that are there right now and will be there in the future.

四年前，我们开始了通往巅峰之竞赛——一种让每个州都确信可以发展智能课程表和高标准的竞赛，这大约花费我们每年用于教育领域投入的1%。今 晚，我宣布一个新的挑战，用以重新设计美国的高中，让他们能更好地提供给毕业生一种满足高科技经济需求的机会。我们将奖励和新大学及新雇主建立伙伴关系的 高中——这些技能是当今和未来的雇主正在寻找的。

Now, even with better high schools, most young people will need some higher education. It’s a simple fact the more education you’ve got, the more likely you are to have a good job and work your way into the middle class. But today, skyrocketing costs price too many young people out of a higher education, or saddle them with unsustainable debt.

现在，即便拥有更好的高中，很多年轻人还是需要些高等教育。很简单的事实，如果你接受的教育越多，你拥有好工作且成为中产阶级的几率就越大。但是当今我们看到，飙升的学费让太多的年轻人上不起大学，或者让他们欠有不可持续的债务。

Through tax credits, grants and better loans, we’ve made college more affordable for millions of students and families over the last few years. But taxpayers can’t keep on subsidizing higher and higher and higher costs for higher education. Colleges must do their part to keep costs down, and it’s our job to make sure that they do. (Applause.)

通过税款减免、补助及更好的贷款，我们在过去几年已经让大学变得让数百万的学生和家庭能够承担得起。但是纳税人不可能继续自助越来越高的高等教育的经费。大学必须想办法控制自己的经费，而这也是我们的职责以确保他们这样做。(掌声)

So tonight, I ask Congress to change the Higher Education Act so that affordability and value are included in determining which colleges receive certain types of federal aid. (Applause.) And tomorrow, my administration will release a new “College Scorecard” that parents and students can use to compare schools based on a simple criteria -- where you can get the most bang for your educational buck.

因此今晚，我向国会提议，修改高等教育法案。这样，哪些大学的可支付学费以及它们各自的价值就能被包含在联邦资助中。(掌声)明天我的政府班子 将会发布一个新的“大学记分卡”，这样家长和学生就能拿它用简单的标准来比较学校了。而这简单标准是——在哪个学校你用学费可以得到最多的快乐。

Now, to grow our middle class, our citizens have to have access to the education and training that today’s jobs require. But we also have to make sure that America remains a place where everyone who’s willing to work -- everybody who’s willing to work hard has the chance to get ahead.

现在，为了扩大我们的中产阶层，我们的公民必须接受教育和当今从事工作所必备的技能培训。同时我们也要确保，在美国的每一个人只要辛勤肯干，就能获得出人头地的机会。

Our economy is stronger when we harness the talents and ingenuity of striving, hopeful immigrants. (Applause.) And right now, leaders from the business, labor, law enforcement, faith communities -- they all agree that the time has come to pass comprehensive immigration reform. (Applause.) Now is the time to do it. Now is the time to get it done. Now is the time to get it done. (Applause.)

当我们充分发挥了人才和创新的作用，我们的经济才能更加强大，外来移民在这方面是大有希望的。(掌声)如今，来自商业、劳工、执法、宗教等领域的领导者，他们都认为是进行移民制度全面改革的时候了。(掌声)是时候做这件事了。是时候去完成这件事了。是时候去完成了。(掌声)

Real reform means strong border security, and we can build on the progress my administration has already made -- putting more boots on the Southern border than at any time in our history and reducing illegal crossings to their lowest levels in 40 years.

真正的改革意味着需要更强有力的边境安全保障，我们能够继续推进这项政府早已在做的工作——史无前例地增加南部边境的安保力量，将非法越境事件降到40年来最低。

Real reform means establishing a responsible pathway to earned citizenship -- a path that includes passing a background check, paying taxes and a meaningful penalty, learning English, and going to the back of the line behind the folks trying to come here legally. (Applause.)

真正的改革意味着需要建立一个负责人的公民权获取途径，包括身份背景审核、纳税及受罚情况、英语言学习情况，还要先来后到、依序依法等候。(掌声)

And real reform means fixing the legal immigration system to cut waiting periods and attract the highly-skilled entrepreneurs and engineers that will help create jobs and grow our economy. (Applause.)

真正的改革还意味着修正移民法律体系，以便缩短申请等候的时间，以及吸引那些能够创造就业岗位、带来经济增长的高技能创业家和工程技术人员。(掌声)