WASHINGTON - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Wednesday a House Republicans plan to cut $61 billion in federal spending this year would reduce economic growth and cause job losses.

Bernanke, speaking to the House Financial Services Committee Wednesday, said the economic impact of the cuts would come over the next two years. The cuts are in a proposed spending bill to fund the government through the end of September.

The Fed chief said they would reduce growth by as much as two-tenths of a percentage point.

"That would translate into a couple hundred thousand jobs. So, it's not trivial," he said.

Unemployment is at 9 percent and isn't expected to fall back to more normal levels for four or five years.

Bernanke's remarks suggest that the economic impact would be limited, compared with some private forecasts. Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, has estimated the GOP plan could reduce the number of jobs created by 700,000 by the end of next year.

"I think those numbers are a little high," Bernanke said.