In a speech today, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Congress needs to quickly approve a support package for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which guarantee or own nearly half of the home mortgages in the United States, the Associated Press reported.

Making sure the two companies continue operations would be “central to the speed with which we emerge from this housing correction,” Paulson said in the speech that sought to reassure Americans that the nation’s banking system is fundamentally sound despite recent turmoil.

Earlier this month, officials revealed a plan to provide unlimited government loans to the two mortgage companies and purchase stock in them if needed as a backup effort that would last for 18 months. Bank examiners from the Federal Reserve System and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency are currently inspecting both companies’ books.

Later today, the Congressional Budget Office is expected to release an estimate of the impact of the administration’s request for new authority to provide aid for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on its budget. Critics claim the support will expose taxpayers to billions of dollars of losses.

The administration and House and Senate leaders have been in negations over the plan and Paulson predicted in his speech that Congress will complete work on this legislation this week. The House is expected to vote on the support plan as part of a larger housing rescue package on Wednesday or Thursday.