Biden's Treasury pick Janet Yellen urges Congress that now is the time to 'act big' on a stimulus package - and warns of a more painful recession without it

• Yellen told lawmakers during her Senate confirmation hearing that now is the time to pass a massive relief package, warning of another recession without sufficient fiscal aid.
• "The smartest thing we can do is act big," Yellen said.
• Biden is poised to inherit a divided Congress once he is sworn in on January 20, and Yellen will play a key role negotiating with lawmakers on a relief package.

Janet Yellen, President-elect Joe Biden's pick to head the Treasury, urged lawmakers at her Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday morning that now is the time to "act big" on another massive rescue package to combat the pandemic.

"Neither the President-elect, nor I, propose this relief package without an appreciation for the country's debt burden," Yellen said in introductory remarks during a Senate Finance Committee hearing. "But right now, with interest rates at historic lows, the smartest thing we can do is act big."

Yellen also laid out the extent of the economic and human devastation the virus has inflicted on the US over the past year - and warn of deeper recession without a set of fiscal policies to address it.

"Economists don't always agree, but I think there is a consensus now: Without further action, we risk a longer, more painful recession now - and long-term scarring of the economy later," she said.

Yellen added it heightens the need for Congress to act swiftly on Biden's $1.9 trillion economic aid plan, which he rolled out last week.

"Over the next few months, we are going to need more aid to distribute the vaccine; to reopen schools; to help states keep firefighters and teachers on the job," Yellen said. "We'll need more funding to make sure unemployment insurance checks still go out; and to help families who are at risk of going hungry or losing the roof over their heads."

Yellen is expected to face questions on a range of issues including trade and tax policy. Democrats opened the hearing by calling for additional economic aid for individuals and businesses.

"This Biden administration is not going to begin with inaugural balls, it's going to begin with all out triage," Sen. Ron Wyden, the incoming chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said in his initial remarks.

Biden's proposal for another large relief package will build on the $900 billion aid bill that Congress and President Trump enacted in late December. It contains provisions for new stimulus checks, unemployment insurance, expanded tax credits and aid to state and local governments among others.

As treasury secretary, Yellen will play a pivotal role in guiding the Biden administration's negotiations with a deeply divided Congress once Biden is sworn in on January 20. Democrats will have very slim majorities in both chambers.

Republicans are starting to oppose to the relief package, citing the growing budget deficit which hit $3 trillion last year after a surge of pandemic relief spending. It dampens its odds of a smooth passage in both chambers. Democrats will also likely attempt to modify aspects of the plan during the negotiation process.