The mail service Americans have known for generations is losing billions of dollars a year, as handwritten communication has all but disappeared - replaced by emails, text messages, and social-media - and billing and other commercial transactions are increasingly conducted over the Internet.
美国几代人都非常熟悉的邮政服务每年损失数十亿美元，因为书信已经差不多消失了，取而代之的是电子邮件、短信和社交媒体。收费的及其它商业交易也越来越多的通过互联网进行。
The changing technological landscape has left the regular mail service, what many Americans now refer to as "snail mail," in dire financial straits. U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe testified before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
一直在进步的技术使许多美国人现称为“蜗牛邮件”的常规邮件服务陷入严重的财政危机。美国邮政总局局长Patrick Donahoe在参议院国土安全及政府事务委员会面前证实了这一点。
"The Postal Service is at the brink of default," said Donahoe. "Without the enactment of comprehensive legislation by September 30, the Postal Service will default on a mandated $5.5 billion payment to the Treasury to pre-fund retirement retiree health benefits. Our situation is urgent."
“邮政服务已经濒临破产。”Donahoe说,“如果截至9月30日都还没有制定出综合立法的话，邮政服务将拖欠财政部55亿美元退休人员健康福利资金。我们的形势非常紧急。”
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