Congress has just hours to reach a budget deal and prevent automatic spending cuts.

The Federal Reserve chairman spent days warning Congress what the cuts could do to the economy.

Ben Bernanke gave a firm warning to lawmakers during two days of hearings, saying the cuts won't fare well for the nation. He has been giving his semi-annual testimony before Congress.

Bernanke said the automatic spending cuts set to take effect at midnight would be a significant burden to an already sluggish economy.

He also said the nation must bring to a close the "extraordinary measures" still in place since the economic collapse of 2008.

North Carolina Congressman Robert Pittenger, a member of the House Financial Services committee, agreed with Bernanke in a new statement: "The continued expansion of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy puts us at greater risk for inflation and limits purchasing power of North Carolina's families and seniors."