华盛顿邮报3月3日阅读

Biden joins Democrats’ huddle(挤成一团，人群) on relief bill(excerpt 节选)

President Biden launched a lobbying(游说) effort targeting fellow(同类的) Democrats on Monday to unify(联合，统一) them behind his $1.9 trillion coronavirus(冠状病毒) relief bill as the Senate prepares to move forward on the massive legislation this week.

Democrats dont have a vote to spare in the Senate(参议院), but several moderate(中等的)-leaning senators have raised concerns about the structure of unemployment insurance benefits and Biden’s plan to send $350 billion to state and local governments, among other issues.

Biden convened(召集) a group of these Democrats on a conference(会议，参加会议) call Monday afternoon, the first in a days-long outreach(超出……的范围) campaign that will also include calling into the weekly Senate Democratic lunch on Tuesday and addressing the House Democratic caucus on Wednesday evening.

Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who participated in Monday’s call, said the conversation focused on “targeting the dollars . . . it wasn’t talking about reducing it, just targeting” the money that was included.

Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) made similar comments, saying, “We’re just looking for a targeted bill; [we] want it to be very targeted, helping the people that need help the most.”

Tester said Biden was receptive but did not agree to specific changes.