Congress has sent President Barack Obama a bill to clamp down on mortgage fraud. It will also set up a $5 million independent commission to investigate the cause of the worldwide financial meltdown.

The president is expected to sign the legislation, which received broad bipartisan support.

Obama and other supporters say the bill's estimated cost of some $265 million a year will more than pay for itself because of the fines and penalties that would result from increased government oversight.

Also this week, Democratic leaders hope to send Obama legislation on credit cards that would protect consumers from arbitrary rate hikes. Another measure that could make it to the president's desk would try to make it easier for homeowners with shaky credit to switch to a lower-cost mortgage backed by the government.