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Biden lays out plan for America 'on the move again' in address to Congress

Sen. Tim Scott delivered the Republican response to Biden's address.

ByMichelle Stoddart and Lauren King
Last Updated: April 29, 2021, 6:21 AM EDT

On his 99th day in office, Biden made the case for his policy agenda and updated the nation in his first address to a joint session of Congress.

Biden finished his speech with a great message of hope for Americans who overcame a year of tumult, saying that he is "more confident or optimistic about America."

"Folks, as I told every world leader I ever met with over the years, it's never ever, ever been a good bet to bet against America and it still isn't," Biden said, to a great round of applause. "There is not a single thing, nothing, nothing beyond our capacity. We can do whatever we set our minds to if we do it together. So let's begin to get together."

Sen. Tim Scott’s Republican response followed.

"Our president seems like a good man. His speech was full of good words," Scott said. "But three months in, the actions of the president and his party are pulling us further and further apart."

Following Biden's first address to a joint session of Congress, Vice President Kamala Harris will sit down for an exclusive interview on ABC's "Good Morning America" Thursday.

The latest:

This is a developing story. Please check for updates.
Apr 28, 2021, 5:13 PM EDT

First lady holds virtual reception in lieu of traditional box of guests

While there will be no invited guests in the 'First Lady’s Box' in the House gallery tonight because of pandemic restrictions, first lady Jill Biden hosted a virtual version this afternoon with five invited guests that the White House said "personify some of the issues or policies that will be addressed by the president in his speech."

PHOTO: First Lady Dr. Jill Biden hosts a virtual reception with this year’s guests, each of whom personify some of the issues or policies that will be addressed by the President in his speech.
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden hosts a virtual reception with this year’s guests, each of whom personify some of the issues or policies that will be addressed by the President in his speech. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the guests will view the speech remotely.
whitehouse.gov

The guests, included a DACA recipient, the first transgender teen to testify before Congress and a gun violence prevention advocate, highlighting a sharp contrast with former President Donald Trump, who awarded Rush Limbaugh the Presidential Medal of Freedom at his final State of the Union address.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

Apr 28, 2021, 4:58 PM EDT

Biden in 'really good mood' ahead of address, WH press secretary Psaki says

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that Biden "feels good" ahead of his speech tonight. Psaki, speaking to reporters outside the White House this afternoon, added that Biden was in "a really good mood and is looking forward" to the address.

Psaki said that Biden has been focusing today on fine-tuning his remarks and noted he has been working on the speech every day this week and over the last few weeks.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

Apr 28, 2021, 3:56 PM EDT

Biden to deliver address amid heightened security at Capitol

Security on Capitol Hill is tight in anticipation of Biden's joint address, especially following the violent assault on the Capitol Jan. 6 and the driver who struck and killed a U.S. Capitol Police officer before ramming a barricade outside the Capitol less than a month ago. High fencing remains in place and National Guard troops are on standby.

A tall security fence surrounds the US Capitol ahead of President Joe Biden's address to a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C., April 28, 2021.
Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman in February warned of threats to disrupt Biden's speech during a House committee hearing, but officials have not disclosed any specific warnings or details since then. The U.S.Secret Service is coordinating security among multiple law enforcement agencies with the address designated a National Special Security Event.

-ABC News' Luke Barr

Apr 28, 2021, 3:30 PM EDT

Biden to urge Congress to act on immigration, gun reform legislation

Biden tonight will call on lawmakers to pass key elements of his policy agenda, including an immigration reform bill he sent to Congress earlier this year and three gun reform bills that have passed the House, according to White House officials.

Biden's immigration reform bill includes a pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants. He'll also urge lawmakers to bring relief to undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, holders of "Temporary Protected Status" and farmworkers. Biden will urge Congress to pass three bills already passed by the House that strengthen background checks, ban assault weapons and ban high capacity magazines, according to a different White House official.

However, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, the Democrat who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, has already thrown cold water on the notion of passing the immigration reform bill this year, although other immigration issues have some hope of moving through the evenly-split Senate. Moderate Democrat and key Senate vote, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has opposed the gun reform bills, leaving little hope for a passage.

-ABC News' Benjamin Gittleson and Trish Turner

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