Bush urges Congress to pass housing legislation

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Monday, before leaving for a NATO summit in Europe, again urged Congress to pass legislation to modernize the Federal Housing Administration.

The administration has been looking at ways to help homeowners hit by a credit crisis that has put pressure on the U.S. economy.

"They have a lot of work to do," Bush said, referring to Congress. "Congress needs to pass legislation to modernize the Federal Housing Administration. Struggling homeowners are waiting on Congress to act."

Bush also called on Congress to approve a free trade agreement with Colombia and pass legislation to protect telecommunications firms from lawsuits after they helped the administration in its domestic spying program following the September 11 attacks.

"These are all vital priorities," Bush said. He urged Congress to pass the legislation and send it to him to sign into law "as soon as possible."

(Reporting by Tabassum Zakaria; editing by Todd Eastham)