According to the report, Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said he is open to supporting a revised, narrow version of the legislation.
The moderate Democrat made the comments during a closed-door dinner with climate activists and energy executives held by the American Clean Power Association on Monday, saying he could support a plan that focuses on climate change, prescription drug prices, and deficit reduction.
Manchin said he might return to the bargaining table to settle on a smaller version of the $2 trillion proposal he rejected late last year. The stance he shared Monday is similar to conversations he has had with other senators.
According to the report, Manchin has an informal proposal that includes $500 billion for climate and $1 trillion in new revenue, as well as new corporate taxes that would help reduce the deficit. Allowing Medicare to negotiate the cost of prescription drugs directly would bring down the deficit.
The senator's plan does not include any support for universal preschool or other tenets of the original package.
In February, Manchin told reporters that the agenda was dead and that his office was considering new legislative proposals.
Sam Runyon, a spokesman for Manchin, told Insider that the senator is always willing to engage in discussions about the best way to move the country forward.
He has made clear that we can protect energy independence and respond to climate change at the same time.
He continues to believe that we can and must lower the cost of prescription drugs for working Americans to ensure that no family has to choose between life-saving medications and putting food on the table.
The centerpiece of Biden's economic agenda was passed by the House in November, but the package has been stuck in the Senate for months. The legislation would face an uphill battle even with Manchin's support.
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