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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, 9:47 PM EDT

Biden tasks Harris to lead infrastructure push

Biden asked Vice President Kamala Harris to take the lead on his infrastructure, saying that if she does he knows, "it will get done."

Harris, who already has the monumental task of addressing the root causes of migration on her plate, nodded in the background.

Biden cast his infrastructure bill as a jobs plan, calling it the biggest jobs plan since World War II.

"Look, think about it. There is simply no reason why the blades for wind turbines can't be built in Pittsburgh instead of Beijing. No reason, none. No reason," Biden said in another strong line that elicited loud cheers.

-ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky

Apr 28, 2021, 9:39 PM EDT

Emotional Biden calls for end to cancer

Biden grew emotional as he discussed research to fight diseases like Alzheimer's, diabetes and cancer. He talked about his moonshot proposal and mentioned his son Beau, who lost his battle to brain cancer in 2015.

"I know of nothing that is more bipartisan, so let's end cancer as we know it," Biden said. "It is within our power. It's within our power to do it."

Apr 28, 2021, 9:37 PM EDT

Biden asks Congress to support right to unionize

Biden called on Congress to pass Protect the Right to Organize Act "so we can support the right to unionize."

"Wall Street didn't build this country. The middle class built the country—and unions built the middle class!"

Apr 28, 2021, 9:28 PM EDT

'Jobs, jobs, jobs': Biden makes big pitch to address climate

While Biden made the pitch to lawmakers and Americans for his infrastructure legislation, he said that the first thing he thinks about when it comes to climate change is jobs.

President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of congress in the House chamber of the U.S. Capitol, April 28, 2021, in Washington, D.C.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

"For too long, we failed to use the most important word when it comes to meeting the climate crisis: jobs. Jobs. Jobs," Biden said to a round of applause.

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