Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
                    
                    
                
                
             
         
        
            On Friday afternoon, October 3, 2008, the United States House of Representatives passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which the United States Senate had passed on October 1. The Act authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase up to $700 billion in distressed mortgage-related assets from financial institutions. The President signed the Act shortly after it was passed by the House of Representatives.