US president Barack Obama this week will announce a series of actions to help the economy that will not require congressional approval, including an initiative to make it easier for homeowners to refinance their mortgages, according to a White House official.
The actions come as Mr Obama is facing resistance from Republicans to a $447 billion jobs package he has urged Congress to pass.
The first of the initiatives will be unveiled during Mr Obama's three-day trip to western states beginning today.
Mr Obama will discuss the changes on mortgage rules at a stop in Nevada, which has one of the hardest-hit housing markets in the country.
In Denver on Wednesday, he will announce a student loan initiative.
"The only way we can truly attack our economic challenges is with bold, bipartisan action in Congress," White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer told The New York Times.
"The president will continue to pressure Congressional Republicans to put country before party and pass the American Jobs Act, but he believes we cannot wait, so he will act where they won't."
