Biden to meet with bipartisan mayors, governors on COVID-19 relief

President Biden will meet with a bipartisan group of mayors and governors at the White House on Friday as he advocates for his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief proposal.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced plans for the meeting at a briefing Wednesday, saying the group would “discuss the vital need to get more support to their communities and to those on the front lines of this fight.” The participants were not immediately disclosed.

While no congressional Republicans have backed Biden’s coronavirus relief proposal, Republican governors and mayors across the country have expressed support. The rescue plan contains $350 billion in direct aid for state, local and tribal governments to blunt the impact of the virus.

A group of more than 400 mayors wrote to leaders in Congress earlier this month to urge them to pass the relief package. The White House has highlighted the letter as well as other statements of support from Republican figures as Democrats push forward with the budget reconciliation process, which allows them to pass the bill without any GOP support in Congress.

Biden and Vice President Harris have held a handful of meetings with lawmakers and others related to the coronavirus relief package. Along with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, they met with the CEOs of JPMorgan Chase, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Walmart and Gap Inc. on Tuesday afternoon.

Psaki on Wednesday called that meeting “productive and substantive” and said the group agreed to work together going forward.

“The group discussed the importance of getting direct assistance to families who are suffering and there was consensus that getting immediate help to the American people is paramount,” Psaki said. “The president also raised his priority to increase wages and ensure no one who makes [minimum] wage is living below the poverty line.” 

Last week, Biden separately hosted Republican senators, Democratic senators and House Democrats to discuss his plan.