WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama, who failed to attract much bipartisan support in his first year in office, has agreed to meet with U.S. Republican lawmakers as he starts his second year, a party leader said on Tuesday.

House Republicans are grateful that the president of the United States has accepted our invitation for a meeting this month, said House Republican Conference chairman Mike Pence.

House Republicans look forward to presenting the president with our proposals to protect our nation, create jobs, control federal spending, lower the cost of health care, achieve energy independence and strengthen families, Pence said in a statement.

Obama will speak at the House Republican retreat, set to be held in Baltimore, on January 28-30, a Pence aide said.

A White House aide confirmed that the Democratic president had agreed to meet with opposition Republicans.

Republicans have complained that Obama has failed to reach out to them; Democrats in Congress accuse Republicans of being members of The Party of No and refusing to cooperate.

(Reporting by Thomas Ferraro; editing by Matthew Bigg)

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