The news conference Tuesday comes amid troubling developments in Afghanistan, where U.S. deaths have exceeded casualties in Iraq over the last two months. There also is turmoil in the financial markets where the government has been forced to throw a lifeline to mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

White House press secretary Dana Perino said Bush would open with a statement about steps to help stabilize the housing and financial markets and his lifting of the executive ban on offshore oil drilling. He'll also call on lawmakers to pass long-stalled spending bills.
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