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:
'And it's about time,' Biden says about female vice president, House speaker
Biden began his speech by greeting Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and then noting the historic nature of having two women seated behind him by saying that it's "about time."
"Madam speaker, madam vice president," Biden said. "No president has ever said those words from this podium."
Biden arrives, fist bumps lawmakers ahead of address
Biden arrived to the House chamber and fist bumped lawmakers as he made his way to the dais to deliver his speech.
Gen. Milley, Chief Justice Roberts among those attending address
The guest list for lawmakers and other Washington VIPs was scaled back in keeping with COVID-19 social distancing protocols.
Among those on the guest list is the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, and Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts -- though none of the other military chiefs of Supreme Court justices are in attendance.
Biden's full Cabinet is also not in attendance, so there is not a designated survivor for the event -- another change to the event.
Biden escorted into chamber by 1st Black House sergeant at arms
As Biden enters the House chamber to deliver his joint address, the person who is escorting him in and announced his arrival is a newly minted House sergeant at arms, Major General William Walker.
Walker is the first Black man to serve as the House sergeant at arms and is now the top security official of the chamber. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi administered the oath of office to Walker during a pro forma session in the House on Monday.
Walker, the former commander of the D.C. National Guard, is the 38th sergeant-at-arms for the House and it's now his responsibility to keep the chamber and its members safe.
His appointment came in the wake of the Jan. 6 riot attack at the U.S. Capitol. Pelosi noted in a March statement at the time of his appointment, that "his experience will be an important asset to the House, particularly in light of the January 6 insurrection."
-ABC News' Mariam Khan
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."