By Sahil Kapur, Kristen Welker, Leigh Ann Caldwell and Dartunorro Clark -
NBC News
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden told progressive lawmakers Tuesday that the final social spending bill is expected to eliminate free community college tuition and reduce the children's tax credit program, according to two sources familiar with the meeting. .
Sources said the popular children's tax credit is likely to be extended for another year.
Many Democrats had pushed for proposals to reduce poverty and remove financial barriers to higher education and vocational training.
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Biden and the Democratic leaders of Congress are working feverishly to reach an agreement.
But talks remain fluid as the party works to reduce the bill to a version that can become law.
Another high priority, a far-reaching climate measure known as the Clean Energy Performance Program, is also likely to be lowered in the bill.
However, congressional sources said Tuesday that while the climate proposals will be scaled down, the emphasis will be on clean renewables.
Two sources familiar with the negotiations also said lawmakers are considering reducing paid leave in the bill, potentially from 12 weeks to four.
President Joe Biden addresses the recipients of the 2020 and 2021 State and National Teacher of the Year Awards during an event on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. Susan Walsh / AP
On Tuesday, Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said her members had a "really good and productive meeting" with Biden, who is working on the bill with moderates and progressives.
"I think we are all even more optimistic about the possibility of reaching an agreement on a really transformative bill that fundamentally lifts the people up," he told reporters.
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Rep. Jared Huffman, D-California, who was also at the meeting, told reporters that Biden believes the only reason a climate program is not in the bill is opposition from Joe Manchin, a Democratic senator for West Virginia.
Huffman said one idea is to allow West Virginia to do what it wants while the rest of the country "can move forward."
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The social spending package, which Democrats are trying to pass without Republican support through a procedure known as reconciliation, started at $ 3.5 trillion.
Last month, Biden told House Democrats that the range was likely to be $ 1.9 to $ 2.2 trillion.
On Tuesday night he told progressives that the range he is working on is $ 1.75 trillion to $ 1.9 trillion, three sources familiar with the meeting said.
Sources cautioned, however, that there is no final agreement.
Biden met separately Tuesday at the White House with Manchin and Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema, both at the center of disagreement over the bill's price and proposals.
The Administration has been pushing Congress to agree on the social spending package and the $ 1 trillion infrastructure bill by the end of the month.
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Manchin, who has said he is proceeding cautiously on any additional spending, told reporters Monday that he was skeptical that Congress could meet the self-imposed October 31 deadline to pass both bills.
But the White House took a more optimistic tone.
"After a day of constructive meetings, the president feels more confident about the way forward to deliver strong and sustained economic growth to the American people that benefits all," Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement Tuesday. the night.
"There was broad agreement on the urgency of moving forward in the coming days and on the fact that the window to finalize a package is closing," he added.