Thank you! Hello VFW! Thank you so much. Please, please, everybody have a seat. 谢谢大家！美国外国战争退伍军人协会（VFW）的朋友们，大家好！非常感谢你们。请，请，大家请就座。
Commander DeNoyer, thank you for your introduction, and your service in Vietnam and on behalf of America's veterans. I want to thank your executive director, Bob Wallace; your next commander, who I look forward to working with, John Hamilton. And to Gwen Rankin, Leanne Lemley, and the entire Ladies Auxiliary, thank you for your patriotic service to America. DeNoyer司令，感谢你的致辞，感谢你在越南的服役以及代表美国退伍军人所做的贡献。我要感谢你们的执行主任Bob Wallace；期待与之合作的下任司令John Hamilton。也要感谢Gwen Rankin、Leanne Lemley以及整个妇女辅助会，感谢你们为美国所做的爱国服务。
I stand before you as our hearts still ache over the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado. Yesterday I was in Aurora, with families whose loss is hard to imagine -- with the wounded, who are fighting to recover; with a community and a military base in the midst of their grief. And they told me of the loved ones they lost. And here today, it's fitting to recall those who wore our nation's uniform: 今天我站在这里，我们的心仍因科罗拉多州奥罗拉市的悲剧而悲痛。昨天我在奥罗拉，与那些失去难以想象的亲人的家庭在一起——与正在努力康复的伤者在一起；与处于悲痛中的社区和军事基地在一起。他们向我讲述了他们失去的挚爱亲人。今天在这里，我们应当缅怀那些穿过我国军装的人：
Staff Sergeant Jesse Childress -- an Air Force reservist, 29 years old, a cyber specialist who loved sports, the kind of guy, said a friend, who'd help anybody. Jesse Childress参谋军士——空军预备役军人，29岁，一名热爱体育的网络专家，朋友说他是那种愿意帮助任何人的人。
Petty Officer Third Class John Larimer -- 27 years old, who, like his father and grandfather before him, joined the Navy, and who is remembered as an outstanding shipmate. John Larimer海军三级士官——27岁，像他的父亲和祖父一样加入了海军，被铭记为一名出色的战友。
Rebecca Wingo -- 32 years old, a veteran of the Air Force, fluent in Chinese, who served as a translator; a mother, whose life will be an inspiration to her two little girls. Rebecca Wingo——32岁，空军退伍军人，精通中文，曾担任翻译；一位母亲，她的人生将成为她两个小女儿的榜样。
And Jonathan Blunk -- from Reno, just 26 years old, but a veteran of three Navy tours, whose family and friends will always know that in that theater he gave his own life to save another. 还有Jonathan Blunk——来自里诺，年仅26岁，却已是三次海军部署的退伍军人，他的家人和朋友将永远知道，在那家电影院里，他献出了自己的生命去拯救他人。
These young patriots were willing to serve in faraway lands, yet they were taken from us here at home. And yesterday I conveyed to their families a message on behalf of all Americans: We honor your loved ones. We salute their service. And as you summon the strength to carry on and keep bright their legacy, we stand with you as one united American family. 这些年轻的爱国者愿意远赴他乡服役，然而他们却在国内被从我们身边夺走。昨天我向他们的家人转达了全体美国人民的心声：我们敬重你们的挚爱亲人。我们向他们的服役致敬。当你们鼓起勇气继续前行、让他们的精神遗产继续闪耀时，我们作为一个团结的美国家庭与你们站在一起。
Veterans of Foreign Wars, in you I see the same shining values, the virtues that make America great. When our harbor was bombed and fascism was on the march, when the fighting raged in Korea and Vietnam, when our country was attacked on that clear September morning, when our forces were sent to Iraq -- you answered your country's call. Because you know what Americans must always remember -- our nation only endures because there are patriots who protect it. VFW的成员们，在你们身上我看到了同样闪耀的价值，那些使美国伟大的美德。当我们的港口遭到轰炸、法西斯主义肆虐时，当战火在朝鲜和越南蔓延时，当我们的国家在那个晴朗的九月早晨遭到袭击时，当我们的军队被派往伊拉克时——你们响应了国家的召唤。因为你们知道美国人必须永远铭记的事——我们的国家之所以能够延续，是因为有爱国者在守护它。
In the crucible of battle, you were tested in ways the rest of us will never know. You carry in your hearts the memory of the comrades you lost. For you understand that we must honor our fallen heroes not just on Memorial Day, but all days. And when an American goes missing, or is taken prisoner, we must do everything in our power to bring them home. 在战争的熔炉中，你们经受了其他人永远无法知晓的考验。你们心中承载着失去战友的记忆。因为你们懂得，我们不仅要在阵亡将士纪念日缅怀我们倒下的英雄，而且要在每一天都如此。当美国人失踪或被俘时，我们必须竭尽全力将他们带回家。
Even after you took off the uniform, you never stopped serving. You took care of each other -- fighting for the benefits and care you had earned. And you've taken care of the generations that followed, including our newest veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. On behalf of all our men and women in uniform, and on behalf of the American people, I want to thank you, VFW. Thank you for your outstanding work. 即使脱下军装后，你们也从未停止服务。你们相互照顾——为你们应得的福利和医疗而奋斗。你们也照顾了后来的一代代人，包括来自伊拉克和阿富汗的最新退伍军人。我代表所有身着军装的男女军人，代表美国人民，向你们表示感谢，VFW。感谢你们出色的工作。
Of course, some among you -- our Vietnam veterans -- didn't always receive that thanks, at least not on time. This past Memorial Day, I joined some of you at The Wall to begin the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. And it was another chance to say what should have been said all along: You did your duty, and you made us proud. And as this 50th anniversary continues, I'd ask all our Vietnam vets to stand, or raise your hand, as we say: Thank you and welcome home. 当然，你们当中的一些人——我们的越南战争退伍军人——并不总是得到那份感谢，至少没有及时得到。今年阵亡将士纪念日，我和你们中的一些人在越战纪念碑前开始了越南战争50周年纪念活动。这是又一个机会来说那些早该说的话：你们履行了职责，你们让我们感到骄傲。随着50周年纪念活动的继续，我请所有越战退伍军人站起来，或举起手，我们一起说：感谢你们，欢迎回家。
Every generation among you served to keep us strong and free. And it falls to us, those that follow, to preserve what you won. Four years ago, I stood before you at a time of great challenge for our nation. We were engaged in two wars. Al Qaeda was entrenched in their safe havens in Pakistan. Many of our alliances were frayed. Our standing in the world had suffered. We were in the worst recession of our lifetimes. Around the world, some questioned whether the United States still had the capacity to lead. 你们每一代人都通过服役来让我们保持强大和自由。现在轮到我们——后来者——来守护你们赢得的一切。四年前，我在国家面临巨大挑战的时刻站在你们面前。我们正陷入两场战争。基地组织盘踞在巴基斯坦的避难所中。我们的许多联盟出现了裂痕。我们在世界上的地位受到了损害。我们正处于一生中最严重的经济衰退中。在世界各地，有人质疑美国是否还有领导的能力。
So, four years ago, I made you a promise. I pledged to take the fight to our enemies, and renew our leadership in the world. As President, that's what I've done. And as you reflect on recent years, as we look ahead to the challenges we face as a nation and the leadership that's required, you don't just have my words, you have my deeds. You have my track record. You have the promises I've made and the promises that I've kept. 因此，四年前我向你们做出了承诺。我保证将战斗带给我们的敌人，并重建我们在世界的领导力。作为总统，这正是我所做的。当你们回顾近年来，当我们展望作为一个国家所面临的挑战和所需的领导力时，你们不仅有我的言辞，你们还有我的行动。你们有我的政绩记录。你们有我做出的承诺和我兑现的承诺。
I pledged to end the war in Iraq honorably, and that's what we've done. After I took office, we removed nearly 150,000 U.S. troops from Iraq. And some said that bringing our troops home last year was a mistake. They would have kept tens of thousands of our forces in Iraq -- indefinitely, without a clear mission. Well, when you're Commander-in-Chief, you owe the troops a plan, you owe the country a plan -- and that includes recognizing not just when to begin wars, but also how to end them. 我承诺体面地结束伊拉克战争，这就是我们已经做到的。我就任后，我们从伊拉克撤出了近150,000名美军。有人说去年将我们的军队撤回是个错误。他们本会让数万名美军无限期地留在伊拉克——没有明确的任务。作为三军统帅，你欠军队一个计划，你欠国家一个计划——这不仅意味着要知道何时开战，还要知道如何结束战争。
So we brought our troops home responsibly. They left with their heads held high, knowing they gave Iraqis a chance to forge their own future. And today, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq, and we are proud of all the Americans who served there. 因此我们负责任地将军队撤回。他们昂首离开，知道自己给了伊拉克人塑造自己未来的机会。而今天，没有美国人在伊拉克作战，我们为所有在那里服役过的美国人感到骄傲。
I pledged to make it a priority to take out the terrorists who had attacked us on 9/11. And as a candidate, I said that if we had Osama bin Laden in our sights, we would act to keep America safe -- even if it meant going into Pakistan. Some of you remember, at the time, that comment drew quite a bit of criticism. But since I took office, we've worked with our allies and our partners to take out more top al Qaeda leaders than any time since 9/11. And thanks to the courage and the skill of our forces, Osama bin Laden will never threaten America again, and al Qaeda is on the road to defeat. 我承诺将消灭在9月11日袭击我们的恐怖分子作为首要任务。作为候选人，我说过如果Osama bin Laden在我们的视线内，我们将采取行动保护美国安全——即使这意味着进入巴基斯坦。你们中有些人记得，当时那番话招致了不少批评。但我就任以来，我们与盟友和合作伙伴一起，消灭了自9·11以来最多的基地组织高层领导人。得益于我们军队的勇气和技能，Osama bin Laden再也不能威胁美国，基地组织正在走向失败。
I pledged to finish the job in Afghanistan. After years of drift, we had to break the momentum of the Taliban, and build up the capacity and the capability of Afghans. And so, working with our commanders, we came up with a new strategy, and we ordered additional forces to get the job done. This is still a tough fight. But thanks to the incredible services and sacrifices of our troops, we pushed the Taliban back; we're training Afghan forces; we've begun the transition to Afghan lead. 我承诺完成在阿富汗的任务。经过多年的松懈后，我们必须打破塔利班的势头，并建设阿富汗人的能力和实力。因此，我们与指挥官们一起制定了新战略，并增派了部队来完成任务。这仍然是一场艰苦的战斗。但得益于我们军队令人难以置信的服役和牺牲，我们击退了塔利班；我们正在训练阿富汗安全部队；我们已开始了向阿富汗主导的过渡。
Again, there are those who argued against a timeline for ending this war -- or against talking about it publicly. But you know what, that's not a plan for America's security either. After 10 years of war, and given the progress we've made, I felt it was important that the American people -- and our men and women in uniform -- know our plan to end this war responsibly. And so by the end of this summer, more than 30,000 of our troops will have come home. Next year, Afghans will take the lead for their own security. In 2014, the transition will be complete. 同样，有些人反对为结束这场战争设定时间表——或反对公开讨论此事。但你们知道，这同样不是保护美国安全的计划。经过10年的战争，鉴于我们取得的进展，我认为美国人民——以及我们的男女军人——了解我们负责任地结束这场战争的计划很重要。因此到今年夏天结束时，超过30,000名我们的军人将回到家乡。明年，阿富汗人将主导自己的安全。2014年，过渡将完成。
And even as our troops come home, we'll have a strong partnership with the Afghan people, and we will stay vigilant so Afghanistan is never again a source for attacks against America. 即使我们的军队撤回，我们仍将与阿富汗人民保持强有力的伙伴关系，我们将保持警惕，确保阿富汗再也不会成为对美国发动袭击的策源地。
We're not just ending these wars; we're doing it in a way that achieves our objectives. Moreover, it's allowed us to broaden our vision and begin a new era of American leadership. We're leading from Europe to the Asia Pacific, with alliances that have never been stronger. We're leading the fight against nuclear dangers. We've applied the strongest sanctions ever on Iran and North Korea -- nations that cannot be allowed to threaten the world with nuclear weapons. 我们不仅是在结束这些战争；我们是在以实现我们目标的方式来做这件事。此外，这使我们得以拓宽视野，开启美国领导力的新时代。我们从欧洲到亚太地区都在发挥领导作用，联盟比以往任何时候都更加牢固。我们在引领对抗核危险的斗争。我们对伊朗和朝鲜实施了有史以来最严厉的制裁——不能允许这些国家用核武器威胁世界。
We're leading on behalf of freedom -- standing with people in the Middle East and North Africa as they demand their rights; protecting the Libyan people as they rid the world of Muammar Qaddafi. 我们在为自由而发挥领导作用——与中东和北非争取权利的人民站在一起；在利比亚人民将Muammar Qaddafi从世界上铲除时保护他们。
Today, we're also working for a transition so the Syrian people can have a better future, free of the Assad regime. And given the regime's stockpiles of chemical weapons, we will continue to make it clear to Assad and those around him that the world is watching, and that they will be held accountable by the international community and the United States, should they make the tragic mistake of using those weapons. 今天，我们还在推动一项过渡，使叙利亚人民能够拥有一个更美好的未来，摆脱Assad政权。鉴于该政权囤积了化学武器，我们将继续向Assad及其周围的人明确表示，世界在注视着，如果他们犯下使用这些武器的悲剧性错误，将被国际社会和美国追究责任。
And we will continue to work with our friends and our allies and the Syrian opposition on behalf of the day when the Syrian people have a government that respects their basic rights to live in peace and freedom and dignity. 我们将继续与我们的朋友、盟友和叙利亚反对派合作，为了那一天——叙利亚人民拥有一个尊重其和平、自由和尊严生活的基本权利的政府。
Because we're leading around the world, people have a new attitude toward America. There's more confidence in our leadership. We see it everywhere we go. We saw it as grateful Libyans waved American flags. We see it across the globe -- when people are asked, which country do you admire the most, one nation comes out on top -- the United States of America. 因为我们在世界各地发挥领导作用，人们对美国有了新的态度。对我们的领导力有了更多信心。我们走到哪里都能看到这一点。我们看到了感恩的利比亚人挥舞美国国旗。我们在全球各地都看到这一点——当人们被问到最欣赏哪个国家时，一个国家名列榜首——美利坚合众国。
So this is the progress that we've made. Thanks to the extraordinary service of our men and women in uniform, we're winding down a decade of war; we're destroying the terrorist network that attacked us; we're strengthening the alliances that extend our values. And today, every American can be proud that the United States is safer and stronger and more respected in the world. 这就是我们取得的进展。得益于我们男女军人非凡的服役，我们正在结束十年的战争；我们正在摧毁袭击我们的恐怖网络；我们正在巩固延伸我们价值的联盟。而今天，每个美国人都可以为美国在世界上更安全、更强大、更受尊敬而自豪。
And all this allows us to fulfill another promise that I made to you four years ago -- strengthening our military. After 10 years of operations, our soldiers will now have fewer and shorter deployments, which means more time on the home front to keep their families strong; more time to heal from the wounds of war; more time to improve readiness and prepare for future threats. 所有这些使我们能够兑现四年前对你们做出的另一项承诺——加强我们的军事力量。经过10年的作战行动，我们的军人现在将拥有更少、更短的部署，这意味着在后方有更多时间让家庭保持稳固；有更多时间从战争创伤中恢复；有更多时间提高战备水平，为未来威胁做准备。
As President, I've continued to make historic investments to keep our armed forces strong. And guided by our new defense strategy, we will maintain our military superiority. It will be second to none as long as I am President and well into the future. We've got the best-trained, best-led, best-equipped military in history. And as Commander-in-Chief I am going to keep it that way. 作为总统，我持续进行历史性投资以保持我们武装力量的强大。在我们的新国防战略指引下，我们将保持我们的军事优势。只要我担任总统乃至更远的未来，它将首屈一指。我们拥有历史上训练最好、领导最好、装备最好的军队。作为三军统帅，我将保持这一状态。
And by the way, given all the rhetoric lately -- it is political season -- let's also set the record straight on the budget. Those big, across-the-board cuts, including defense, that Congress said would occur next year if they couldn't reach a deal to reduce the deficit? Let's understand, first of all, there's no reason that should happen, because people in Congress ought to be able to come together and agree on a plan, a balanced approach that reduces the deficit and keeps our military strong. It should be done. 顺便说一下，鉴于最近所有的政治言辞——现在是政治季——让我们也在预算问题上把事实说清楚。国会说如果明年无法达成削减赤字的协议就将实施的那些大规模、一刀切的削减，包括国防削减？首先我们要明白，这根本没有理由发生，因为国会中的人应该能够坐在一起，就一项计划达成一致——一种既能削减赤字又能保持军队强大的平衡方案。这应该做到。
And there are a number of Republicans in Congress who don't want you to know that most of them voted for these cuts. Now they're trying to wriggle out of what they agreed to. Instead of making tough choices to reduce the deficit, they'd rather protect tax cuts for some of the wealthiest Americans, even if it risks big cuts in our military. And I've got to tell you, VFW, I disagree. If the choice is between tax cuts that the wealthiest Americans don't need and funding our troops that they definitely need to keep our country strong, I will stand with our troops every single time. 国会中有不少共和党人不想让你们知道，他们中大多数人投票赞成过这些削减。现在他们试图从自己同意的事情中脱身。他们不愿做出艰难的选择来削减赤字，宁愿保护最富有美国人的减税优惠，即使这意味着军队面临大幅削减。我要告诉你们，VFW，我不赞同。如果要在最富有美国人并不需要的减税和我们的军队确实需要的经费之间做选择，以保持我国强大，我将每一次都站在我们的军队一边。
So let's stop playing politics with our military. Let's get serious and reduce our deficit and keep our military strong. Let's take some of the money that we're saving because we're not fighting in Iraq and because we're winding down in Afghanistan -- use half that money to pay down our deficit; let's use half of it to do some nation-building here in the United States of America. 让我们停止拿军队做政治文章。让我们认真对待，削减赤字，保持军队强大。让我们利用不再在伊拉克作战和在阿富汗逐步撤军所节省的一部分资金——用一半来削减赤字；用另一半在美国本土进行一些国家建设。
Let's keep taking care of our extraordinary military families. For the first time ever, we've made military families and veterans a top priority not just at DOD, not just at the VA, but across the government. As Richard mentioned, this has been a mission for my wife, Michelle, and Vice President Joe Biden's wife, Dr. Jill Biden. Today, more people across America in every segment of society are Joining Forces to give our military families the respect and the support that they deserve. 让我们继续照顾我们非凡的军人家庭。我们首次将军人家庭和退伍军人作为首要优先事项，不仅是在国防部（DOD），不仅是在退伍军人事务部（VA），而是在整个政府。正如Richard所提到的，这已成为我妻子Michelle和副总统Joe Biden的妻子Jill Biden博士的使命。今天，全美各地各个社会阶层的人们都在参与「Joining Forces」活动，给予我们的军人家庭应得的尊重和支持。
And there's another way we can honor those who serve. It may no longer be a crime for con artists to pass themselves off as heroes, but one thing is certain -- it is contemptible. So this week, we will launch a new website, a living memorial, so the American people can see who's been awarded our nation's highest honors. Because no American hero should ever have their valor stolen. 还有另一种方式可以致敬那些服役的人。骗子和冒名顶替者冒充英雄可能不再构成犯罪，但有一点是确定的——这是可鄙的。因此本周我们将推出一个新网站，一个活的纪念碑，让美国人民可以看到谁获得了我们国家的最高荣誉。因为没有哪位美国英雄应该被人窃取他们的英勇。
This leads me to another promise I made four years ago -- upholding America's sacred trust with our veterans. I promised to strengthen the VA, and that promise has been kept. In my first year, we achieved the largest percentage increase in the VA budget in 30 years. And we're going to keep making historic investments in our veterans. When Richard came to the Oval Office, we talked about what those automatic budget cuts -- sequestration -- could mean for the VA. So my Administration has made it clear: Your veteran's benefits are exempt from sequestration. They are exempt. 这引出了四年前我做出的另一项承诺——维护美国对退伍军人的神圣信约。我承诺加强VA，这个承诺已经兑现。在我任期的第一年，我们实现了30年来VA预算最大幅度的百分比增长。我们将继续对退伍军人进行历史性投资。当Richard来到椭圆形办公室时，我们讨论了那些自动预算削减——即「自动减赤」——对VA意味着什么。因此本届政府已明确表示：你们的退伍军人福利免受自动减赤的影响。它们是豁免的。
And because advance appropriations is now the law of the land, veterans' health care is protected from the budget battles in Washington. 由于预先拨款已成为法律，退伍军人的医疗得到了保护，不受华盛顿预算争斗的影响。
I promised you that I'd stand up for veterans' health care. As long as I'm President, I will not allow VA health care to be turned into a voucher system, subject to the whims of the insurance market. Some have argued for this plan. I could not disagree more. You don't need vouchers, you need the VA health care that you have earned and that you depend on. 我承诺过要为退伍军人的医疗发声。只要我担任总统，我就不会允许VA医疗变成一种医疗券系统，受保险市场波动的影响。有些人主张这一方案。我完全不能赞同。你们不需要医疗券，你们需要的是你们应得且依赖的VA医疗。
So we've made dramatic investments to help care for our veterans. For our Vietnam veterans, we declared that more illnesses are now presumed connected to your exposure to Agent Orange. As a result of our decision, Vietnam-era vets and your families received nearly 4 billion dollars in disability pay. You needed it; you fought for it. We heard you and we got it done. 因此我们对关爱退伍军人进行了大量投资。对于我们的越南战争退伍军人，我们宣布更多疾病现在被推定与你们接触橙剂有关。根据我们的决定，越战时代的退伍军人及你们的家人获得了近40亿美元的伤残补偿。你们需要它；你们为此争取过。我们听到了你们的声音，我们做到了。
We've added mobile clinics for our rural veterans; more tailored care for our women veterans; unprecedented support for veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury. All tolled, we've made VA health care available to nearly 800,000 veterans who didn't have it before. And we're now supporting caregivers and families with the skills and the stipends to help care for the veterans that they love. 我们为农村退伍军人增加了流动诊所；为女性退伍军人提供更有针对性的医疗；为患有创伤性脑损伤的退伍军人提供前所未有的支持。总计，我们使近800,000名此前没有VA医疗的退伍军人获得了这项服务。我们现在还为护理人员和家庭提供技能培训和津贴，帮助他们照顾他们所爱的退伍军人。
Of course, more veterans in the system means more claims. So we've hired thousands of claims processors. We're investing in paperless systems. To their credit, the dedicated folks at the VA are now completing one million claims a year. But there's been a tidal wave of new claims. And when I hear about veterans waiting months, or years, for your benefits -- it is unacceptable. And we are doing something about it. 当然，系统中退伍军人越多意味着申请越多。因此我们雇用了数千名申请处理人员。我们正在投资无纸化系统。值得称道的是，VA敬业的工作人员现在每年完成一百万份申请。但新的申请如潮水般涌来。当我听说退伍军人等待数月乃至数年才能拿到福利——这是不可接受的。我们正在采取行动解决这一问题。
We're taking all those folks who processed your Agent Orange claims -- more than 1,200 experts -- and giving them a new mission: Attack the backlog. We're prioritizing veterans with the most serious disabilities. And the VA and DOD will work harder towards a seamless transition so new veterans aren't just piled on to the backlog. And we will not rest -- I will not be satisfied until we get this right. And today, I'm also calling on all those who help our vets complete their claims -- state VAs, physicians and veteran groups like the VFW -- to join us. 我们将所有处理过你们橙剂申请的工作人员——超过1,200名专家——赋予新任务：攻克积压。我们正优先处理伤残最严重的退伍军人。VA和DOD将更努力地实现无缝衔接，使新退伍军人不会被简单地堆积在积压中。我们不会停歇——在解决这个问题之前我不会满意。今天，我也呼吁所有帮助退伍军人完成申请的人——各州VA、医生和VFW等退伍军人组织——加入我们。
You know how this can work better, so let's get it done, together. 你们知道怎样能让这个体系运作得更好，所以让我们一起来完成它。
We're also focused on the urgent needs of our veterans with PTSD. We've poured tremendous resources into this fight -- thousands of more counselors and more clinicians, more care and more treatment. And we've made it easier for veterans with PTSD to qualify for VA benefits. But after a decade of war, it's now an epidemic. We're losing more troops to suicide -- one every single day -- than we are in combat. According to some estimates, about 18 veterans are taking their lives each day -- more every year than all the troops killed in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. That's a tragedy. 我们还关注患有创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）的退伍军人的迫切需求。我们为这场斗争投入了巨大的资源——数千名额外的咨询师和临床医生，更多的护理和治疗。我们还降低了PTSD退伍军人获得VA福利的门槛。但经过十年的战争，这已成为一种流行病。我们因自杀失去的军人——每天一名——比在战斗中失去的还多。据一些估计，每天约有18名退伍军人自杀——每年比在伊拉克和阿富汗阵亡的所有军人总数还多。这是悲剧。
It's heartbreaking. It should not be happening in the United States of America. 令人心碎。这不应该在美利坚合众国发生。
So when I hear about servicemembers and veterans who had the courage to seek help but didn't get it, who died waiting, that's an outrage. And I've told Secretary Panetta, Chairman Dempsey and Secretary Shinseki we've got to do better. This has to be all hands on deck. 因此当我听说军人和退伍军人有勇气寻求帮助却得不到帮助、在等待中死去时，这是令人愤怒的。我已经告诉Panetta部长、Dempsey主席和Shinseki部长，我们必须做得更好。这需要全员出动。
So our message to everyone who's ever worn the uniform -- if you're hurting, it's not a sign of weakness to seek help, it's a sign of strength. And when you do, we'll be there and do more to help -- including more counselors and clinicians to help you heal. We need to end this tragedy, VFW. And we're going to work together to make it happen. 因此我们向每一位穿过军装的人传达这样的信息——如果你正在痛苦中，寻求帮助不是软弱的表现，而是力量的体现。当你这样做时，我们会在那里并给予更多帮助——包括更多的咨询师和临床医生来帮助你痊愈。我们需要终结这场悲剧，VFW。我们将共同努力使之实现。
So, too with our campaign to end homelessness among our veterans. We've now helped to bring tens of thousands of veterans off the streets and into permanent housing. This has to be a core mission, because every veteran who has fought for America ought to have a home in America. 我们结束退伍军人无家可归的运动也是如此。我们现已帮助数以万计的退伍军人离开街头，住进永久性住房。这必须成为一项核心任务，因为每一位为美国而战的退伍军人都应该在美国拥有一个家。
And this brings me to the last promise I want to discuss with you. Four years ago, I said that I'd do everything I could to help our veterans realize the American Dream, to enlist you in building a stronger America. After all, our veterans have the skills that America needs. So today, our economy is growing and creating jobs, but it's still too hard for too many folks to find work, especially our younger veterans, our veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan. 这引出了我想与你们讨论的最后一项承诺。四年前，我说过我会尽一切努力帮助退伍军人实现美国梦，让你们投身于建设一个更强大的美国。毕竟，我们的退伍军人拥有美国所需的技能。今天，我们的经济正在增长并创造就业，但对太多人来说找工作仍然太难，尤其是我们的年轻退伍军人，来自伊拉克和阿富汗的退伍军人。
And with a million more troops rejoining civilian life in the years ahead -- and looking for work -- we've got to step up our game, at every stage of their careers. 未来几年还将有一百万军人重新回归民间生活——寻找工作——我们必须在他们职业生涯的每个阶段加大力度。
So today, I'm announcing a major overhaul of our transition assistance program. We're going to set up a kind of "reverse boot camp" for our departing servicemembers. Starting this year, they'll get more personalized assistance as they plan their careers. We'll provide the training they need to find that job, or pursue that education, or start that business. And just as they've maintained their military readiness, we'll have new standards of "career readiness." 因此今天，我宣布对我们的过渡援助计划进行重大改革。我们将为即将退役的军人设立一种「逆向新兵训练营」。从今年开始，他们在规划职业时将获得更个性化的帮助。我们将提供他们找到工作、继续教育或创业所需的培训。正如他们保持了军事战备状态一样，我们将制定新的「职业准备」标准。
In addition, by making the Post-9/11 GI Bill a priority, we've helped more than 800,000 veterans and their families pursue their education. And I've issued an executive order to help put a stop to schools that are ripping off our veterans. 此外，通过将「9·11」后退伍军人教育援助法案作为优先事项，我们已帮助超过800,000名退伍军人及其家人接受教育。我还签署了一项行政命令，制止那些欺骗我们退伍军人的学校。
I've directed the federal government to step up on jobs. Since I took office, we've hired more than 200,000 veterans into the federal government. We made it a priority. And we're keeping track -- every agency, every department: What are you doing for our veterans? 我已指示联邦政府在就业方面加大力度。自我就任以来，我们已在联邦政府雇用了超过200,000名退伍军人。我们将其作为优先事项。我们还在跟踪——每个机构、每个部门：你们为退伍军人做了什么？
I've challenged community health centers to hire thousands of veterans as physicians and nurses. And as we help local communities hire new police officers and firefighters and first responders, we're giving a preference to veterans. 我向社区卫生中心提出挑战，要求他们雇用数千名退伍军人担任医生和护士。在我们帮助地方社区雇用新的警察、消防员和急救人员时，我们给予退伍军人优先权。
We're also fighting to get more vets hired in the private sector. With new tools like our online Veterans Jobs Bank, we're connecting veterans directly to jobs. We're helping thousands of veterans get certified for good-paying jobs in manufacturing. We succeeded in passing tax credits for businesses that hire our veterans and our wounded warriors. And this morning, I signed into law the Veteran Skills to Jobs Act -- making it easier for veterans to transfer their outstanding military skills into the licenses and credentials they need to get civilian jobs. 我们还在努力让更多退伍军人在私营部门就业。借助退伍军人就业银行等新工具，我们正将退伍军人与工作直接对接。我们正帮助数千名退伍军人获得制造业高薪工作的认证。我们成功通过了为雇用退伍军人和伤残军人的企业提供税收抵免的法案。今天上午，我签署了《退伍军人技能转化为就业法案》——使退伍军人更容易将其出色的军事技能转化为获得民间工作所需的执照和证书。
If you are a young man that is in charge of a platoon or millions of dollars of equipment and are taking responsibility, or you're a medic out in the field who is saving lives every single day -- when you come home, you need to be credentialed and certified quickly so you can get on the job. People should understand how skilled you are. And there shouldn't be bureaucrats or runarounds. We've got to put those folks to work. 如果你是一个负责一个排或价值数百万美元装备并承担责任的年轻人，或是一个在野外每天救人的医疗兵——当你回到家乡时，你需要迅速获得资格认证和证书，以便开始工作。人们应该了解你的技能有多出色。不应该有官僚主义或推诿扯皮。我们必须让这些人就业。
Last summer, I also challenged the private sector to hire or train 100,000 veterans or their spouses. Michelle and Jill Biden have been leading the effort, through Joining Forces. And so far, thousands of patriotic businesses have hired or trained more than 90,000 veterans and spouses. And our message to companies is simple: If you want somebody who gets the job done, then hire a vet. Hire a vet. Hire a vet and they will make you proud just like they've made America proud. 去年夏天，我还向私营部门提出挑战，要求雇用或培训100,000名退伍军人或其配偶。Michelle和Jill Biden通过「Joining Forces」活动一直在领导这项工作。到目前为止，数千家爱国企业已雇用或培训了超过90,000名退伍军人及配偶。我们向企业传达的信息很简单：如果你想找一个能把事情办好的人，那就雇用退伍军人。雇用退伍军人。雇用退伍军人，他们会让你感到骄傲，就像他们让美国感到骄傲一样。
And we're fighting for veterans who want to start their own businesses, including more training in entrepreneurship. It's one of the reasons we've cut taxes -- 18 times for small businesses, including veteran-owned businesses. And the effects ripple out, because vets are more likely to hire vets. 我们还在为想要创业的退伍军人而奋斗，包括提供更多创业培训。这是我们18次为小企业减税的原因之一，包括退伍军人拥有的企业。其效果会扩散开来，因为退伍军人更倾向于雇用退伍军人。
So today, we can point to progress. More veterans are finding jobs; the unemployment rate for veterans has come down. Yes, it's still too high, but it's coming down. And now we've got to sustain that momentum. It's one of the reasons I've proposed to Congress a Veterans Jobs Corps to put our veterans back to work protecting and rebuilding America. And today, I am again calling on Congress: Pass this Veterans Jobs Corps and extend the tax credits for businesses that hire veterans so we can give these American heroes the jobs and opportunities that they deserve. 因此今天，我们可以指出所取得的进展。更多退伍军人找到了工作；退伍军人的失业率已经下降。是的，它仍然太高，但正在下降。现在我们必须保持这一势头。这也是我向国会提出设立退伍军人就业队的原因之一，让我们的退伍军人重新就业，保护和重建美国。今天，我再次呼吁国会：通过这项退伍军人就业队法案，延长雇用退伍军人的企业的税收抵免，以便我们能给予这些美国英雄应得的工作和机会。
So, VFW, these are the promises that I made. These are the promises that I've kept. Where we still have more to do, we will not rest. That's my vow to you. I've got your back. I've got your six. Because we have a solemn obligation to all who serve -- not just for the years you're in uniform, but for all the decades that follow, and because even though today's wars are ending, the hard work of taking care of our newest veterans has only just begun. 因此，VFW，这些就是我做出的承诺。这些就是我兑现的承诺。在仍需努力的地方，我们不会停歇。这是我对你们的誓言。我支持你们。我守护你们的后方。因为我们对所有服役者负有庄严的义务——不仅是在你们穿军装的岁月里，而是在之后的数十年中，因为尽管今天的战争即将结束，照顾我们最新退伍军人的艰巨工作才刚刚开始。
Just as you protected America, we're going to pass our country to the next generation, stronger and safer and more respected in the world. So if anyone tries to tell you that our greatness has passed, that America is in decline, you tell them this: Just like the 20th century, the 21st is going to be another great American Century. For we are Americans, blessed with the greatest form of government ever devised by man, a democracy dedicated to freedom and committed to the ideals that still light the world. We will never apologize for our way of life; we will never waver in its defense. 正如你们守护了美国，我们将把我们的国家交给下一代，更强大、更安全、在世界上更受尊敬。因此如果有人试图告诉你我们的伟大已经过去、美国正在衰落，你告诉他们：就像20世纪一样，21世纪也将是又一个伟大的美国世纪。因为我们是美国人，享有人类有史以来最伟大的政府形式——一个致力于自由、献身于仍然照亮世界的理想的民主制度。我们永远不会为我们的生活方式道歉；我们永远不会在捍卫它时动摇。
We are a nation that freed millions and turned adversaries into allies. We are the Americans who defended the peace and turned back aggression. We are Americans who welcome our global responsibilities and our global leadership. The United States has been, and will remain, the one indispensable nation in world affairs. 我们是一个解放了数百万人并将对手变为盟友的国家。我们是捍卫和平、击退侵略的美国人。我们是欢迎全球责任和全球领导力的美国人。美国一直是、并将继续是世界事务中不可或缺的国家。
And you, you are the soldiers, the sailors, the airmen, the Marines and the Coast Guardsmen who have kept us strong. We will honor your legacy. And we will ensure that the military you served, and the America that we love, remains the greatest force for freedom that the world has ever known. 而你们，你们是让我们保持强大的陆军、海军士兵、空军、海军陆战队员和海岸警卫队员。我们将铭记你们的精神遗产。我们将确保你们服役过的军队和我们热爱的美国，仍然是世界所知的捍卫自由的最伟大力量。
God bless you. 愿上帝保佑你们。
God bless all of our veterans. 愿上帝保佑我们所有的退伍军人。
And God bless the United States of America. 愿上帝保佑美利坚合众国。