WASHINGTON — The National Association of Home Builders on Jan. 18 applauded President Bush for laying out a set of guidelines to help boost the sluggish economy and urged the Congress and White House to work together in a bipartisan fashion to swiftly implement a stimulus package.

“President Bush and the Democratic and Republican leadership in Congress recognize the need to act now to enact a short-term stimulus plan that will help to avert a recession,” said NAHB President Brian Catalde, a homebuilder from El Segundo, CA. “We believe that any final package should address housing as a key component to help strengthen the economy.”

Catalde said that Washington policymakers must also take other actions to spur economic growth and stabilize the housing market. Specifically, he called on the Federal Reserve to move aggressively to cut interest rates when members of the Federal Open Market Committee meet on Jan. 29-30.