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.
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:
'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.
"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.
Biden sets tone of opportunity, encourages vaccinations
With Democrats working hard in the chamber to match the applause usually generated by 1,600, Biden strode to the podium, turning to Speaker Nancy Pelosi to ask if he could remove his mask, revealing a smile.
Biden turned to the pandemic, acknowledging the unusual surroundings, but setting the theme for the address: Opportunity.
"Tonight, I come to talk about crisis and opportunity. About rebuilding a nation, revitalizing our democracy and winning the future for America," he said. "After 100 Days of rescue and renewal, America is ready for takeoff. We are working again. Dreaming again. Discovering again. Leading the world again. We have shown each other and the world: There is no quit in America."
Biden touted the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan and the ongoing vaccinations across the country. He then urged Americans to immediately to take advantage of those shots.
"Go get vaccinated, America!" Biden shouted. "Go and get the vaccination. They're available. You're eligible now," he said to a loud round of applause.
-ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky
Biden touts economic recovery
Biden boasted about the economic record of his tenure so far, saying that his administration has created, "more jobs than the first 100 days than any president on record."
Biden also discussed the economic benefits of his $1.9 trillion dollar COVID-19 relief bill.
"And, maybe most importantly, thanks to the American Rescue Plan, we are on track to cut child poverty in America in half this year."
'America is on the move again': Biden
Biden began his speech by saying that when he took office, "America's house was on fire," citing the COVID-19 pandemic and the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
"One hundred days since I took the oath of office and lifted my hand off our family bible and inherited a nation -- we all did -- that was in crisis," Biden said. "The worst pandemic in a century, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War. Now, after just 100 days, I can report to the nation America is on the move again."
Scott to criticize Biden economy in GOP response
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., tapped to deliver the GOP response to Biden's address, is set to tout the success of the economy before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to excerpts released Wednesday night.
Scott will say that the best future from America will not come from "socialist dreams," but from the American people.
"Just before COVID, we had the most inclusive economy in my lifetime," Scott said in the excerpt. "The lowest unemployment ever recorded for African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans. The lowest for women in nearly 70 years. Wages were growing faster for the bottom 25% than the top 25%. That happened because Republicans focused on expanding opportunity for all Americans. We passed Opportunity Zones, criminal justice reform, and permanent funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities for the first time ever. We fought the drug epidemic, rebuilt our military, and cut taxes for working families and single moms like mine."