NEW YORK, July 22 (UPI) -- U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Jr. is pushing for increased regulation and support of the nation's government sponsored mortgage brokers.

Speaking at the Public Library in New York City Monday, Paulson said, securing support for the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (OTCPK:FREJO) and the Federal National Mortgage Association (OTCPK:FDRNP) is "critical."

"Investors … around the world need to know that we understand how important these institutions are to our capital markets," he said.

Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) holds $5 trillion in debt and mortgage backed security guarantees with over $3 trillion of these held by domestic institutions and $1.5 trillion held by institutions and central banks overseas, Paulson said.

The Treasury Department is urging Washington lawmakers to approve a bill giving Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae (NYSE:FNM) increased lines of credit and giving the federal government the ability to purchase equity in the companies.