President Donald Trump's speech to a joint session of Congress had a more optimistic tone than his inaugural address. Washington bureau reporter Alberto Pimienta filed the following report.
In his first address to Congress, President Donald Trump said once more that his number one priority is creating better opportunities for those who were forgotten.
"Dying industries will come roaring back to life. Heroic veterans will get the care they so desperately need. Our military will be given the resources its brave warriors so richly deserve," Trump said.
Trump spoke about the repeal and replace of Obamacare, a promise that goes back to his campaign days.
“Obamacare is collapsing, and we must act decisively to protect all Americans," Trump said. "Action is not a choice. It is a necessity.”
After a travel ban aimed at seven Muslim-majority countries was halted by a court, Trump hinted that a new executive order could be announced soon.
"It is not compassionate but reckless to allow uncontrolled entry from places where proper vetting cannot occur," Trump said. "We cannot allow a beachhead of terrorism to form inside America. We cannot allow our nation to become a sanctuary for extremists."
As it is tradition, the opposition party responded to the president's address. This time, it was Steve Beshear, the former governor of Kentucky. Beshear led the effort to put Obamacare in place in that state.
Democrats describe Kentucky as "one of the great success stories of the Affordable Care Act."
Beshear said it is troubling that, according to Democrats, the president and Republicans want to "rip affordable health insurance away from millions."
"Before the Affordable Care Act, they woke up every morning and went to work, praying they wouldn’t get sick, knowing they were just one bad diagnosis away from bankruptcy," Beshear said.
Back on Capitol Hill, the president also talked about immigration.
"As we speak, we are removing gang members, drug dealers and criminals that threaten our communities and prey on our citizens. Bad ones are going out as I speak tonight and as I have promised," Trump said.
Trump also said his administration will soon begin the construction of a wall along the border with Mexico.