US President George W Bush has urged the US Congress to act quickly on a plan to support housing finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
President Bush said that the government must continue to provide access to mortgage credit.
A plan was announced last Sunday which would give the firms access to Federal Reserve credit and, pending congressional approval, a temporary increase in their credit from the US Treasury.
The US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said that rescue measures were needed to increase public confidence in government-sponsored firms.
Mr Paulson did not suggest a specific dollar amount when boosting the credit line for the two firms, but urged lawmakers to give swift approval to the proposed rescue plan.
