Bush assures world Congress will act quickly

By Jon Ward (Contact) | Tuesday, September 23, 2008

• Print
• [-][+] Font Size
• E-Mail Alerts
• Tell a Friend
• Got a Question?
• You Report
• Click-2-Listen

President Bush told world leaders at the United Nations on Tuesday that he is taking bold steps to prevent economic meltdown in the U.S., and that he is working with Congress to enact his $700 billion plan quickly.

"I can assure you that my administration and our Congress are working together to quickly pass legislation," Mr. Bush said. "I'm confident we will act in the urgent time frame required."

In his final address as president to the U.N. general assembly, Mr. Bush told the delegates that he is aware that an economic collapse in the U.S. would ripple around the world.

"In recent weeks we have taken bold steps to prevent a severe disruption of the U.S. economy, which would have a devastating effect on other economies around the world," he said.

Mr. Bush's speech, however, touched only briefly on the economic crisis,

• LIVE AP FEED:IE users only: Bush speaks at the United Nations

• Congress slows on plan; markets wince

• Student, car debt quietly added to bailout plan

In speeches bookending Mr. Bush's address, Brazilian President Luiz Lula da Silva and French President Nicolas Sarkozy both voiced grave concerns about the problems in U.S. and global markets.

Mr. Sarkozy called the current situation "the most serious economic crisis that the world has experienced since that of the 1930's."

Do you have another point of view, photos, audio, video or more information about a story?