Washington  - US lawmakers were close to a compromise deal Wednesday on a record economic recovery package, which could allow the plan to pass both houses of Congress before the end of the week.

The Senate and House of Representatives have approved competing versions of the stimulus bill - both totalling more than 800 billion dollars - that include a mixture of tax cuts and government spending projects to pull the US out of its worst recession in decades.

Both chambers were in conference Wednesday to iron out their differences. Senator Ben Nelson, a moderate Democrat and a key architect of a shaky compromise reached in the Senate this week, said negotiators were "getting closer" to a deal.

Democratic leaders, who have had a difficult time shepherding the bill through Congress despite majorities in both chambers, have apparently agreed to cut the package's total cost to 789.5 billion dollars, US media reported.

President Barack Obama, who views the stimulus as the cornerstone of his efforts to revive the US economy, continued to urge its quick passage during a visit to a construction site in Springfield, Virginia.

"We're at the doorstep of getting this plan through the Congress," Obama said, calling the stimulus package "both urgent and essential to our recovery."

About 3.6 million jobs have been lost and the unemployment rate has crept to 7.6 per cent since the US recession began in December 2007. Obama has promised his stimulus will save or create up to 4 million new jobs. (dpa)