TARP was created more than four years ago by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA) as part of a broad-based federal response to the financial crisis. Thanks to TARP and the other emergency actions taken by the government, as well as the financial reforms that are being put in place, our economy is stronger, banks are better capitalized, the weakest parts of the financial system no longer exist, struggling homeowners have seen relief, and credit is more available to consumers and small businesses.