Joe Biden’s Treasury Sec. Pick Janet Yellen Defends Pandemic Relief: ‘More Must Be Done’ 

Joe Biden’s Treasury Sec. Pick Janet Yellen Defends Pandemic Relief: ‘More Must Be Done’ 

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Joe Biden's Treasury Sec. Pick Janet Yellen Defends Pandemic Relief: 'More Must Be Done'

The former Fed boss eschewed GOP critique of Biden's massive relief proposal, which includes $440 billion in new aid for small businesses and communities.

Janet Yellen, President-elect Joe Biden's choice as Treasury secretary.

 Alex Wong/Getty Images

When it comes to making big deals, there's no smoother operator than President-elect Joe Biden . Not only did he serve two terms as vice president under Barack Obama, he spent 36 years in Congress. But in these polarized times, he'll need all the help he can get with his "American Resue Plan"--that is, a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package he outlined last week.  

For that, Biden will look to Janet Yellen, his choice as Treasury secretary and former Federal Reserve chairperson. In a Tuesday confirmation hearing, Yellen underscored the import of winning quick passage of the plan, which holds $440 billion for small businesses and communities . And she rejected Republican arguments that the measure is too big given the size of U.S. budget deficits.

"More must be done," Yellen told the Senate Finance Committee during her confirmation hearing. "Without further action, we risk a longer, more painful recession now -- and long-term scarring of the economy later."

Democrats voiced support for the