US President Joe Biden addressed a joint session of Congress on the eve of his 100th day in the office. With solid approval ratings and a Democratic congressional majority — albeit razor thin — Biden is riding that momentum to promote an economic program he says will raise millions of blue collar Americans into the middle class.

Here are the highlights from Joe Biden’s address:

– US will maintain a strong military presence in the Indo-Pacific. It’s not to start conflict, but to prevent one: President Biden

– US corporations, wealthy must ‘pay their fair share’, says Joe Biden.

– America has to do more than just build back. We have to build back better: President Biden says on economy.

– We have shown each other and the world. There is no quit in America, says President Biden.

– “Because of you, the American people, our progress these past 100 days against one of the worst pandemics in history is one of the greatest logistical achievements our country has ever seen,” Biden said.

– Biden hailed the success in vaccinating Americans as the ‘greatest logistical achievement’ US has ever seen.

The US has already vaccinated 220 million people, surpassing Biden’s target of 100m by that deadline. The national effort has transformed the country from coronavirus catastrophe to leader in global recovery.

– When US President Joe Biden addressed a joint session of Congress for the first time, history will be made behind him, with two powerful women taking their places on the rostrum for the first time. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has been in the position before during presidential speeches. Biden acknowledged Kamala Harris, addressing her as ‘Madam Vice President’ and said that “No president has ever said these words from behind this podium. And it’s about time.”

The setting for Biden’s maiden address to Congress as president will reflect the crisis times in which he took office.

Security has been at top level around the Capitol building since the January 6 riot when Trump supporters rampaged against what the Republican falsely claims was a stolen election.

Although Covid-19 is on the back foot — vaccinated Americans were told Tuesday they can now do most things outside without wearing a mask — the pandemic will also loom heavily.