Biden, GOP senators to discuss slimmed-down Covid relief bill pitch

President Joe Biden has agreed to meet a group of 10 Republican senators who have proposed a slimmed-down coronavirus relief plan that they say can win bipartisan support.

The Republicans' proposed package is much smaller than Biden's $1.9 trillion proposal, and includes $160 billion for vaccines, $4 billion for health and substance abuse services, the continuation of current unemployment aid and unspecified "targeted" economic assistance and help for schools.

The invitation came late Sunday after the senators requested the meeting.

"We appreciate the president’s quick response to our letter, and we are pleased to accept his invitation to the White House tomorrow afternoon to discuss the path forward for the sixth bipartisan Covid-19 relief package," read the letter, led by Sen. Susan Collins of Maine.

The other signatories are Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Rob Portman of Ohio, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Todd Young of Indiana, Jerry Moran of Kansas, Mike Rounds of South Dakota, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Mitt Romney of Utah.

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It is a Republican-only proposal at a time when Democrats control the White House and Congress. But it will test Biden's calls for unity and bipartisanship while promising lofty policy goals.

Brian Deese, the director of the National Economic Council, said Sunday on NBC News' "Meet The Press" that Biden "is open to ideas wherever they come."