"The predominant risk at this point is that the softening in the labor market gains momentum and the economy tips into an unnecessary and unwanted recession."

"The press conference today basically tells you that September [rate cuts are] going to happen unless the economic outlook changes materially."

"The odds of us raising rates are quite low, but I don't want to take anything off the table."

"If inflation started to tick back down or we saw some marked weakening in the labor market, then that might cause us to cut back on interest rates. Or, if we get convinced that inflation is entrenched at 3 percent and we need to go higher, we will do that."

Fed officials are increasingly voicing concern that high borrowing costs may not rein in demand, increasing anxiety that the central bank may raise rates further.

In his semiannual testimony before Congress, the Fed chair will hear from Democrats who want interest rate cuts to keep the economy humming and Republicans who want him to scrap capital requirement increases for big banks.

Minutes from late January show most FOMC members are more concerned about easing too soon than about damaging the economy through high rates.

The odds of a March interest rate cut have ebbed significantly, as Fed officials push back against market expectations for imminent and deep reductions this year.