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.


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Republicans respond to Biden's address

Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., is delivering the GOP response to Biden's address to the nation.


Biden ends speech with message of hope

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."


Biden says insurrection was 'test' of democracy

Biden said that the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6 was an "existential crisis" and a "test" to democracy, and he said that America's enemies were betting that Americans could not overcome divisions.

"They believe we’re too full of anger and division and rage," Biden said. "They look at the images of the mob that assaulted the Capitol as proof that the sun is setting on American democracy. But they're wrong. You know it. I know it."


Biden takes credit for vaccine rollout, but supply always expected to expand

Biden is correct that his administration has made great strides in the vaccine rollout, but the credit isn’t entirely his. While his numbers are accurate, they miss critical context.

“When I was sworn in on Jan. 20, less than 1% of the seniors in America were fully vaccinated against COVID-19,” he said. “One hundred days later, 70% of seniors in America over 65 are protected.”


When Biden took office on Jan. 20, only two vaccines -- Pfizer and Moderna -- had been authorized for a little more than a month. Supply was low early on, but always expected to ramp up through spring.

The Trump administration had initiated government contracts with the vaccine makers, and tapped the military to help oversee distribution. Trump aides also set up the program for some 40,000 pharmacies to deliver the vaccinations -- a program Biden referenced in his speech.

Biden has since relied on those Trump-era contracts and pharmacy program to expand vaccinations to Americans.

Where Biden can take credit: Expanding government contracts with vaccine makers to buy more doses. He also set up federally run mass vaccination sites, as well as mobile clinics, with a focus on hard-hit areas. And he’s partnered with community centers to help deliver the vaccine in disadvantaged communities.

-ABC News' Anne Flaherty


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."