Joe Biden talks on US unemployment, gun violence, abortion and China: Highlights

Joe Biden continues by praising the Nato alliance, and the strength it has shown in the face of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

"Together, we did what America always does at our best. We led. We united Nato and built a global coalition. We stood against Putin’s aggression. We stood with the Ukrainian people."

President Biden criticized the fiscal management of former President Donald Trump’s administration — saying that “nearly 25% of the entire national debt, a debt that took 200 years to accumulate, was added by just one administration alone – the last one.”

US President Joe Biden emphasized the United States' support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's invasion as the war approaches its one-year anniversary.

“Together, we did what America always does at our best. We led. We united NATO. We built a global coalition. We stood against Putin’s aggression. We stood with the Ukrainian people. Tonight, we are once again joined by Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States. She represents not just her nation, but the courage of her people,” Joe Biden said. 

US President Joe Biden said discussions of policing differ along racial lines in America, admitting he's never had to have "the talk" – how to conduct oneself around police – that many Black and brown families have to have with their children.

"If a police officer pulls you over, turn on your interior lights. Don’t reach for your license. Keep your hands on the steering wheel. Imagine having to worry like that every single time your kid got in a car," he said.

Quoting his wife Jill, a teacher, Joe Biden says: “Any nation that out-educates us will out-compete us.”

"Let’s give public school teachers a raise," he says.

The Biden administration recently announced it would regulate non-compete clauses in employment agreements.

"Thirty million workers had to sign non-compete agreements when they took a job" until now, Joe Biden says, adding, "So a cashier at a burger place can’t go across town and take the same job at another burger place to make a couple bucks more."

"Social Security and Medicare are a lifeline for millions of seniors," says Joe Biden triggering the biggest applause of the night, coming from lawmakers of both parties.

"We have unanimity," Biden said with a chuckle as lawmakers rise for a standing ovation.

President Joe Biden said, “In the last two years, my administration has cut the deficit by more than $1.7 trillion — the largest deficit reduction in American history.”

Referencing Republican demands to link a debt-limit increase to spending cuts, Joe Biden noted that no president added more to the national debt than his predecessor, Donald Trump.

Republicans responded with boos in the chamber. 

Joe Biden says Americans must face up to the reality of the dangers posed by climate change.

"The climate crisis doesn't care if your state is red or blue," he says, in reference to Republican-controlled and Democrat-controlled states, adding, "It is an existential threat."

He claims the country is "at last stepping up to the challenge" but "there's so much more to do".

Joe Biden says that the US is giving Medicare. 

"It will cut the federal deficit, saving tax payers hundreds of billions of dollars on the prescription drugs the government buys for Medicare," he says.

“Make no mistake, if you try to do anything to raise the cost of prescription drugs, I will veto it,” he adds.

US President Joe Biden announced a new standard that would require all construction material used in federal infrastructure projects be made in America.

"Lumber, glass, drywall, fiber optic cable. And on my watch, American roads, bridges, and American highways will be made with American products as well," Joe Biden said.

Democracy remains "unbroken" despite hardships and challenges in the past two years, President Joe Biden said in his State of the Union address.

"Two years ago, democracy faced its greatest threat to the civil war, and today, though bruised, our democracy remains unbowed and unbroken," he said, referring to the events of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the US Capitol.

"To maintain the strongest economy in the world, we also need the best infrastructure in the world," says Joe Biden, adding, "We used to be #1 in the world in infrastructure, then we fell to #13th. Now we’re coming back."

President Joe Biden said in his State of the Union address that his administration has "created, with the help of many people in this room, 12 million new jobs — more jobs created in two years than any president has ever created in four years.”

US President Biden claims he ran for the job "to make sure the economy works for everyone so we can all feel pride in what we do".

He says that means building an economy "from the bottom up and the middle out, not from the top down".

"Because when the middle class does well, the poor have a ladder up and the wealthy still do very well," he says.

US President Biden says that the US has emerged stronger from the pandemic.

"Two years ago, Covid had shut down our businesses, closed our schools, and robbed us of so much," he says.

"Today, Covid no longer controls our lives."

US President Joe Biden touts economic progress made under his administration.

"We are the only country that has emerged from every crisis stronger than when we entered it," he says.

"Two years ago, our economy was reeling. As I stand here tonight, we have created, with the help of many people in this room, 12 million new jobs, more jobs created in two years than any president has ever created in four years."

US President Joe Biden kicks off his speech with shout outs to lawmakers of both parties. He says that he starting his speech by congratulating Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who is seated behind him. He also congratulates Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, who took over as House minority leader from Nancy Pelosi. J

He also congratulates Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell and Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer, and Nancy Pelosi, who he calls the "greatest speaker in the history of the House of Representatives".

Speaker McCarthy introduces US President Joe Biden.

US President Joe Biden has entered the House chamber to applause.

He's greeting lawmakers as he walks to the podium.

Members of the president's cabinet enter the House chamber ahead of the speech. 

US First Lady Jill Biden enters viewing box overlooking the chamber ahead of Joe Biden's speech.

Lawmakers can now be seen streaming into the chamber of Congress.

Vice-President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have taken their places behind the president's podium.

President Joe Biden arrives on Capitol Hill ahead of his second State of the Union speech.