House Speaker Nancy Pelosi this morning sought to reassure the nation that the Democrat-led Congress is "working as quickly as possible" to jump-start the sputtering economy.

"Today's emergency rate cut by the Federal Reserve Board indicates a commitment across all levels of government to revitalize the economy, restore confidence in the markets, and help Americans struggling with soaring bills for gasoline, groceries, housing and home heating," the California Democat said.

"Congress is also taking action — working as quickly as possible in a bipartisan way with the Bush administration to stimulate the economy by putting money into the hands of people who will spend it," Mrs. Pelosi said. "Any stimulus package will be timely, targeted, and temporary, and we are working with great speed to get this done and get relief to Americans."

— S.A. Miller, Capitol Hill correspondent, The Washington Times