2007-3-11标准VOA

Bill Gates expressed concern about the U.S. immigration system, saying limits on the number of visas for high-skilled workers, bureaucratic delays in processing them and exhaustive security checks following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks are deterring talented foreign workers from seeking jobs in the United States.

比尔 . 盖茨表达了对美国移民体系的关注，他说，对高技术人员签证数量的限制，处理时的官僚搁置，以及由于 2001 年 9 月 11 日的恐怖袭击而进行的彻底的安全检查都在阻止有才能的国外人员来美国找工作。

In testimony before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee , Gates warned that the United States could risk losing its competitive edge to other countries if Congress does not reform the immigration system.

在参议院健康，教育，劳动，养老金委员会前的宣言里，盖茨警告说，如果国会不改革移民系统，美国将会面临着把他的竞争优势让给别的国家的风险。

（在参议院健康、教育、劳工和养老委员会举行听证会之前，盖茨警告说，如果国会不对移民体系进行改革，美国很可能丧失对其他国家的竞争优势。）

"Countries like Canada and Australia have been beneficiaries of our system, discouraging these people with both the limits and the long waits, and what the process feels like as they go through the security checks."

阻止这些人的限制和长时间等待以及所有这些感觉像通过安全检查一样的过程，这些体系都使像加拿大，澳大利亚这样的国家受益。

（ “ 像加拿大和澳大利亚这样的国家已经从我们体系中受益，他们向那些想去美国的人宣扬签证的限制、职后漫长的等待以及像安检一样复杂的程序。 ” ）

Congress is expected to consider immigration reform legislation , including efforts to attract more high-skilled workers and streamline the visa application process in the coming weeks. Gates said he believes it is possible to do background security checks without having the process become too burdensome. He also called for ways to make it easier for more high-skilled workers to become permanent residents to help retain talent, particularly in the information technology, or IT, field.

人们期望国会考虑移民法改革，并努力吸引更多高技术人才，在后面几周里把签证申请周期流水化、高效化。盖茨相信不需要繁重的检查程序而仅仅做背景安全检查就可以了。他同样也希望可以找到办法，让更多高技术人才成为美国长期居住者来挽留这些人才，尤其是在信息技术行业。

生词

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee 美国参议院卫生，教育，劳工及退休金委员会
deter v. 阻止
edge n. 优势
beneficiary n. 受惠者，受益人
streamline n. 流水线
retain v. 保持，保留