We will do so in several ways. First，we are creating a new lending fund that represents the largest effort ever to help provide auto loans，college loans，and small business loans to the consumers and entrepreneurs who keep this economy running.
Second，we have launched a housing plan that will help responsible families facing the threat of foreclosure lower their monthly payments and re-finance their mortgages. It’s a plan that won’t help speculators or that neighbor down the street who bought a house he could never hope to afford，but it will help millions of Americans who are struggling with declining home values - Americans who will now be able to take advantage of the lower interest rates that this plan has already helped bring about. In fact，the average family who re-finances today can save nearly 2000 per year on their mortgage.
Third，we will act with the full force of the federal government to ensure that the major banks that Americans depend on have enough confidence and enough money to lend even in more difficult times. And when we learn that a major bank has serious problems，we will hold accountable those responsible，force the necessary adjustments，provide the support to clean up their balance sheets，and assure the continuity of a strong，viable institution that can serve our people and our economy.
I understand that on any given day，Wall Street may be more comforted by an approach that gives banks bailouts with no strings attached，and that holds nobody accountable for their reckless decisions. But such an approach won’t solve the problem. And our goal is to quicken the day when we re-start lending to the American people and American business and end this crisis once and for all.
I intend to hold these banks fully accountable for the assistance they receive，and this time，they will have to clearly demonstrate how taxpayer dollars result in more lending for the American taxpayer. This time，CEOs won’t be able to use taxpayer money to pad their paychecks or buy fancy drapes or disappear on a private jet. Those days are over.
Still，this plan will require significant resources from the federal government - and yes，probably more than we’ve already set aside. But while the cost of action will be great，I can assure you that the cost of inaction will be far greater，for it could result in an economy that sputters along for not months or years，but perhaps a decade. That would be worse for our deficit，worse for business，worse for you，and worse for the next generation. And I refuse to let that happen.
I understand that when the last administration asked this Congress to provide assistance for struggling banks，Democrats and Republicans alike were infuriated by the mismanagement and results that followed. So were the American taxpayers. So was I.
So I know how unpopular it is to be seen as helping banks right now，especially when everyone is suffering in part from their bad decisions. I promise you - I get it.
But I also know that in a time of crisis，we cannot afford to govern out of anger，or yield to the politics of the moment. My job - our job - is to solve the problem. Our job is to govern with a sense of responsibility. I will not spend a single penny for the purpose of rewarding a single Wall Street executive，but I will do whatever it takes to help the small business that can’t pay its workers or the family that has saved and still can’t get a mortgage.
That’s what this is about. It’s not about helping banks - it’s about helping people. Because when credit is available again，that young family can finally buy a new home. And then some company will hire workers to build it. And then those workers will have money to spend，and if they can get a loan too，maybe they’ll finally buy that car，or open their own business. Investors will return to the market，and American families will see their retirement secured once more. Slowly，but surely，confidence will return，and our economy will recover.
So I ask this Congress to join me in doing whatever proves necessary. Because we cannot consign our nation to an open-ended recession. And to ensure that a crisis of this magnitude never happens again，I ask Congress to move quickly on legislation that will finally reform our outdated regulatory system. It is time to put in place tough，new common-sense rules of the road so that our financial market rewards drive and innovation，and punishes short-cuts and abuse.
The recovery plan and the financial stability plan are the immediate steps we’re taking to revive our economy in the short-term. But the only way to fully restore America’s economic strength is to make the long-term investments that will lead to new jobs，new industries，and a renewed ability to compete with the rest of the world. The only way this century will be another American century is if we confront at last the price of our dependence on oil and the high cost of health care；the schools that aren’t preparing our children and the mountain of debt they stand to inherit. That is our responsibility.
In the next few days，I will submit a budget to Congress. So often，we have come to view these documents as simply numbers on a page or laundry lists of programs. I see this document differently. I see it as a vision for America - as a blueprint for our future.
My budget does not attempt to solve every problem or address every issue. It reflects the stark reality of what we’ve inherited - a trillion dollar deficit，a financial crisis，and a costly recession.
