Biden says that a guest invited tonight by his wife is someone whose 20-year-old daughter died after a drugs overdose.

"Fentanyl is killing more than 70,000 Americans a year," he says.

The line leads Republicans to shout "border" in reference to what they say are his weak border policies. The majority of fentanyl, an powerful synthetic opioid blamed for many overdose deaths, comes from Mexico, according to US law enforcement.

"It's your fault," shouts one congresswoman.

Biden, ignoring her remark, continues: "Let’s launch a major surge to stop fentanyl production, sale, and trafficking, with more drug detection machines to inspect cargo and stop pills and powder at the border."

Biden has used his speech tonight to make a strong statement in support of abortion rights: vowing to veto any national abortion ban that hits his desk.

The conservative-leaning Supreme Court struck down the landmark Roe v Wade ruling last summer, which had guaranteed women in the US the right to an abortion until the age of foetal viability, or about 23 weeks of pregnancy. Since then, several states have moved to outlaw or severely restrict abortion.

Biden called on Congress to "restore the right the Supreme Court took away last year and codify Roe v. Wade to protect every woman’s constitutional right to choose".

Democrats in Congress unsuccessfully attempted to pass federal abortion protections last year.

Now for a moment we were expecting.

Biden says he has made clear to Chinese President Xi Jinping that America seeks competition, not conflict - after a Chinese balloon travelled across the continental US.

He makes no direct mention of the Chinese balloon that strained diplomatic relations between the two countries over the course of last week - but says his administration will always protect its sovereignty.

"I am committed to work with China where it can advance American interests and benefit the world. But make no mistake: as we made clear last week, if China’s threatens our sovereignty, we will act to protect our country. And we did."

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," he says.

"We united Nato and built a global coalition. We stood against Putin’s aggression. We stood with the Ukrainian people."

He notes that the Ukrainian ambassador to the US, who attended his speech last year, is once again in the audience.

"Ambassador, America is united in our support for your country," he says.

"We will stand with you as long as it takes."

Some of the fiercest criticism of the Biden administration has come on its handling of immigration.

Republicans claim the government's move away from Trump-era polices have led to a surge of migrants at the border over the past two years.

Biden says he now has a record number of personnel working to secure the border and, with the launch of a recent policy, has cut unlawful migration from four Central American countries - Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela - by 97%.

But he puts the onus on Congress to act if America's border issue is to be resolved.

He appears to blame Republicans in the chamber for not working with Democrats to provide the resources needed to secure the border - which draws a smattering of jeers, and derision from Texas Republican Ted Cruz.

Image source, Getty Images

How much does pre-school help students?published at 03:09 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2023

03:09 GMT 8 February 2023

Mike Wendling
BBC News

President Biden was eager to promote his education policies.

"Studies show that children who go to pre-school are nearly 50% more likely to finish high school and go on to earn a 2 or 4-year degree, no matter their background," the president said.

Early years education definitely gives children an advantage, but exactly how much of one is not entirely clear.

The president might have been citing this 2018 long-term study from the University of Minnesota, external - but it was looking at more comprehensive pre-school and early-years education programmes.

A number of other studies have found more modest - yet still statistically significant - effects.

After praising Brandon Tsay, a 26-year-old who saved lives in California last month by halting a mass gunman, Biden tells lawmakers: "He saved lives. It’s time we do the same as well."

"Ban assault weapons once and for all. We did it before."

"In the 10 years the ban was law, mass shootings went down," he continues.

"After Republicans let it expire, mass shootings tripled. Let’s finish the job and ban assault weapons again."

Read more about Tsay and his unexpected call with the president here.

Image source, Getty Images

Isaiah Reeves describes himself as a progressive.

Chelsea Bailey
BBC News, Washington

President Biden now turns to conversations around police reform which have been front and centre across the nation after the death of Tyre Nichols, the Memphis man who was severely beaten by police officers and later died from his injuries.

Tyre Nichols' mother and stepfather, RowVaughn Wells and Rodney Wells, are attending the State of the Union. They stand to applause from both sides of the aisle.

Biden has once again called on Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, external.

The bill was first proposed in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder but failed to pass through Congress.

If passed, the law would implement a range of reforms aimed at making police departments and officers more accountable for their actions.

But some critics of the bill say it doesn’t go far enough to create lasting reform, and have been critical of Biden’s push to hire more police officers.

"Equal protection under the law is a covenant we have with each other in America," Biden says in his speech.

He reminds the audience that Nichols' mother said "something good will come" from her son's death.

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

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

"Lets finish the job," he continues, repeating a line he has said a few other times in this speech.

"Let’s offer every American the path to a good career whether they go to college or not."

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

The proposal is part of the president's economic agenda, as he notes in the speech.

"Thirty million workers had to sign non-compete agreements when they took a job" until now, Biden says.

"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."

He says banning such agreements, as his regulators have done, will allow companies to "compete for workers and pay them what they’re worth".

Kathleen is a Republican, but thinks Democrats might want to choose a younger candidate for the 2024 presidential race.

Biden asks Congress to pass a bill his office wrote called the Junk Fee Prevention Act, which he says will eliminate hidden fees in business contracts.

He says the bill would ban "resort fees" at hotels, and ban stop cable internet and cell phone companies from charging when you change provider.

The bill would also cap service fees at concerts and sporting events, he says.

"And we’ll prohibit airlines from charging up to $50 roundtrip for families just to sit together."

"Baggage fees are bad enough - they can’t just treat your child like a piece of luggage.

"Americans are tired of being played for suckers.

"Pass the Junk Fee Prevention Act so companies stop ripping us off.

"For too long, workers have been getting stiffed."

But despite the earlier boos, Biden soon hits a note of unity.

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

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

"So tonight let's all agree, and apparently we are. Let's stand up for seniors."

"Stand up and show them we will not cut Social Security, we will not cut Medicare."

Are gas prices plunging?published at 02:50 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2023

02:50 GMT 8 February 2023

Mike Wendling
BBC News

The president presented the fact that inflation has been easing somewhat recently and noted that "gas prices are down $1.50 a gallon since their peak."

Those gas prices - petrol for those reading in British English - are indeed down from their peak of just over five dollars last summer.

But taking a longer view, they're still high by American standards, even when adjusted for inflation, external. And there are signs that prices are creeping up again, external.

In pointed remarks, Biden criticises the Trump administration for adding more to the national debt in any four years than any other presidency.

"Nearly 25% of the entire national debt, a debt that took 200 years to accumulate, was added by that administration alone," he says.

Biden is currently negotiating with congressional Republicans, who hold the majority in the House of Representatives as of January, over raising the federal debt limit.

He draws boos from inside the chamber when suggesting that some opposition lawmakers would prefer to "take the economy hostage unless I agree to their economic plans".

But the crowd rises to applaud him as he calls for listening to each other and working together to resolve the issue.

Anthony Zurcher
BBC North America correspondent

On the topic of the debt limit, Biden and House Republicans are engaging in a high-stakes game of chicken.

And the president, in his speech, showed no sign of blinking - and may have even poked his Republican counterparts in the eyes.

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

Republicans responded loudly to that line with hoots of derision.

Image source, Getty Images

Largest deficit reduction in history?published at 02:44 Greenwich Mean Time 8 February 2023

02:44 GMT 8 February 2023

Natalie Sherman
New York business reporter

President Biden has claimed credit for reducing the budget deficit before – and just as it does now, the argument rings pretty hollow.

It’s true that the government’s budget shortfall shrank significantly last year.

But that was due to the end of the spending programmes that were in put in place to help people and businesses affected by pandemic shutdowns.

The US still spent nearly $1.4tn more than it raised last year.

And the president had actually proposed bigger spending programmes – though those failed to make it through Congress, due to opposition from Republicans and some Democrats.