Biden wants Congress to take action on gun reform

In a brief pool spray in the Oval Office during Biden and Harris’ meeting with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Democratic chairs of the committees most involved in the drafting of the American Rescue Plan, the president expressed confidence that he would get bipartisan support for COVID-19 relief.

Asked if he would “go it alone, without Republicans," Biden said confidently, “Oh we’ll get Republican support.”

"I think we’ll get some Republicans," Biden added.

Biden also said he welcomed “home” the Democratic Senators in the meeting.

“This is their new home, for a while anyway. And with -- with a little bit of luck, the grace of God, the goodwill of the neighbor, and the creek not rising, it’s gonna be longer than just four years, so,” Biden said, prompting Schumer to knock twice on a wooden table.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

The Justice Department on Wednesday filed notice with the District Court in Connecticut that it is voluntarily dropping its discrimination lawsuit against Yale University that was brought under the Trump administration.

Back in October, the Justice Department sued, alleging that Yale used illegal discrimination practices to decide who gets admitted to the university.

Specifically, the department alleged Yale discriminated against Asian American and white students. Its complaint accused Yale of injuring applicants and students based on their race and alleged that the university engaged in "racial balancing."

-ABC News' Alexander Mallin and Luke Barr

Biden is meeting with Senate Majority Leader Chuck  Schumer and Senate Democratic chairs of the committees most involved in the drafting budget reconciliation to make way for his COVID-19 "American Rescue Plan" in the Oval Office on Wednesday.

Along with Schumer, Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., Pat Leahy, D-Vt., Bob Menendez, D-.N.J., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., are also in attendance.

Sens. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Ben Cardin, D-Md., are overseeing confirmations hearings and were not able to attend, the White House said.

The meeting with Democrats comes after Biden met with 10 Republican senators on their COVID-19 relief plan -- which costs about a third of Biden's -- in the Oval Office Monday night.

About an hour ahead of hosting Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and 10 other Democratic committee chairs in the Oval Office, Biden also had his home state Senate delegation -- Delaware Democratic Sens. Chris Coons and Tom Carper -- in the Oval Office Wednesday morning to discuss the COVID-19 relief negotiations.

"The centerpiece of our conversation was giving him insight and feedback on what we've heard from our Republican colleagues, and what's possible, while still keeping an eye on the urgency of relief in the midst of a raging pandemic where literally thousands of Americans will die today," Coons said outside the Oval Office after the meeting.

Asked whether Biden indicated any deal-breakers, Coons replied "Speaking for myself, if there is zero for state and local aid, I think that's a non-starter."

Coons also divulged the three Delawareans discussed how to potentially increase the targeting of relief payments.

"He will do his best, but unity doesn't mean unanimity, and unity doesn't mean letting the minority party block progress in the Senate," Coons added.

In terms of timing, Coons said his view is that relief should come in "weeks, not months." Carper noted the $900 billion package passed last year mostly expires in the middle of March and expressed a desire for a smooth transition to new aid. 

Notably, Carper and Coons said the looming Senate impeachment trial did not come up at all.

-ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky