Yellen Will Urge Lawmakers to ‘Act Big’ to Avert a Protracted Downturn

Janet Yellen, President-elect Joe Biden’s choice for Treasury secretary, will urge lawmakers in her confirmation hearing Tuesday to “act big” to avert a protracted economic downturn and put aside concerns about the mounting national debt.

“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,” Ms. Yellen says in the text of remarks to the Senate Finance Committee as reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Mr. Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief...