Republicans press Biden to scale back $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan

FILE PHOTO: Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Susan Collins (R-ME) walk to the office of the Majority Leader from the Senate Chamber ahead of a meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., December 3, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ten moderate Republican U.S. senators urged President Joe Biden on Sunday to significantly downsize his sweeping $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package to win bipartisan support as Democrats in Congress prepared to push ahead with his plan this week.

Biden responded by inviting the Republican lawmakers to the White House this week for talks, spokeswoman Jen Psaki said, even as he continues to seek a comprehensive, large-scale measure.