America 'ready for takeoff,' Biden tells Congress

(VOVWORLD) - “After 100 days of rescue and renewal, America is ready for takeoff, turning peril into possibility, crisis to opportunity, and setbacks into strength,” US President Joe Biden told a joint session of Congress on Wednesday as he touted his overall performance in coping with a set of historic crises since taking office in January.  

Biden praised the American people for progress in the past 100 days against one of the worst pandemics in history. When it came to vaccination, he said, 70% of seniors in America over 65 are fully protected and senior deaths from COVID-19 are down 80% since January. Over 50% of of adults have got at least one shot, Biden added. Vaccines have been supplied to nearly 40,000 pharmacies and over 700 community health centers where the poorest of the poor can be reached. Community vaccination sites and mobile units have been set up to get to hard-to-reach communities. He urged all Americans over 16 to go get vaccinated.

Biden described the 1.9 billion USD relief package as one of the most effective in US history. He urged Congress to pass a police reform bill in the name of George Floyd - a black man killed under the knee of a white police officer - by the anniversary of his death on May 25.

Biden said he has made it very clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he does not seek escalation. He told Chinese President Xi Jinping that the US welcomes competition but is not looking for conflict.

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