Biden wants Congress to take action on gun reform

With control of both chambers of Congress, Democrats are now moving to advance Biden's COVID-19 relief package through a budget reconciliation process that would allow Democrats to pass the measure with a simple majority vote. 

On Capitol Hill Thursday afternoon, a "vote-a-rama" is underway in the Senate -- part of the reconciliation process that allows nonstop consideration of amendments to the annual budget. There’s no limit to how many amendments can be considered.

The Senate conducts about three 20-minute votes per hour, which would mean about 36 amendments will be voted on by 1 a.m. Friday.

-ABC News' Trish Turner

Trump's legal team has responded to a letter from lead House impeachment manager Jamie Raskin, R-Md., requesting former President Donald Trump to testify before or during his Senate impeachment trial next week and rejected the idea of Trump appearing.

In a short response, Trump's attorneys called the request a "public relations stunt."

"The use of our Constitution to bring a purported impeachment proceeding is much too serious to play these games," wrote Trump attorneys Bruce Castor and David Schoen.

While the letter did not answer directly the question of whether Trump will testify, Trump spokesman Jason Miller told ABC News' Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl, "The president will not testify in an unconstitutional proceeding."

-ABC News' Chief Washington Correspondent Jonathan Karl and Katherine Faulders

Biden gave his first major foreign policy address at the State Department on Thursday and made several announcements marking a stark shift from his predecessor's "America First" policy.

Biden said he approved an executive order to begin the process to raise the maximum number of refugees allowed into the U.S. every year to 125,000, beginning in fiscal year 2022, which for the U.S. government begins Oct. 1, 2021. Former President Donald Trump had slashed it to 15,000.

"It's going to take time to rebuild what has been so badly damaged, but that's precisely what we're going to do," he said.

Biden announced the U.S. is "ending all support" for the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen, saying, "This war has to end." The halt would not include U.S. action against al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula. Biden said he's also naming a special envoy for Yemen.

Unlike his predecessor, Biden established a tough relationship with Russia and called on the Kremlin to release Alexey Navalny.

"I made it clear to President Putin in a manner very different from my predecessor, that the days of the United States rolling over in the face of Russia's aggressive actions, interfering with our elections, cyber-attacks, poisoning its citizens, are over," he said. 

Biden also called on an end to the coup in Myanmar, adding he and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell have discussed "shared concerns" and are "united in our resolve." 

"The Burmese military should relinquish power they have sieged, release the advocates and activists and officials they have detained, lift the restrictions on telecommunications, and refrain from violence," he said. 

Biden made several references to the Trump administration but did not name his predecessor by name. 

"America cannot afford to be absent any longer on the world stage," he said to conclude.

-ABC News' Conor Finnegan and Ben Gittleson

Biden addressed State Department employees with a public speech at the department Thursday afternoon, his first time doing so since taking office and ahead of a second speech on foreign policy later in the afternoon.

Speaking directly to employees at home and abroad, Biden said, "I promise I'm going to have your back," insisting also that, "America is back."

"The main message that I want to communicate to you all is that, whether you're part of the newest class of foreign service officers and you’ve worked for decades in the civil service or foreign service, or your locally employed staff, your vital and success, the strength of our nation depends in no small part on you," he said.

"America is back. America is back. Diplomacy is back. You are the center of all that I intend to do. You are the heart of it. We're going to rebuild our alliances. We're gonna re-engage the world and take on the enormous challenges we face dealing with the pandemic, dealing with global warming, and again standing up for democracy and human rights around the world," he said.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken delivered opening remarks before introducing Harris, who spoke ahead of Biden. Harris spoke about the administration's commitment to State Department staff and to setting an example on the global stage.

"Today, we are here in person to tell you that we are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability, inclusivity and diplomacy on the global stage as a partner and a leader," Harris said.