"Members of Congress, I have the high privilege and the distinct honour of presenting to you the president of the United States."
The address to the US Senate and House of Representatives is the first major speech for President Donald Trump since his inauguration in January.
The official theme was "renewal of the American spirit," with Mr Trump saying he wanted to deliver a message of unity and strength.
He started by listing what he sees as his administration's achievements.
That included changes to lobbying rules for former politicians and US withdrawal from the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.
Mr Trump highlighted the reversal of other energy decisions made by the previous government.
"We're going to stop the regulations that threaten the future and the livelihood of our great coalminers. We have cleared the way for the construction of the Keystone and Dakota Access pipelines."
Among the key policy mentions was a promise to take an aggressive approach to crime reduction and to overhaul immigration rules in a bid to improve wages and create jobs.
That comes amid widespread opposition and numerous legal challenges to one of the administration's first moves, to ban entry for nationals of some Muslim-majority countries.
Mr Trump also promised a border wall at the centre of diplomatic disagreement with Mexico would be built.
"We want all Americans to succeed, but that can't happen in an environment of lawless chaos. We must restore integrity and the rule of law at our borders. For that reason, we will soon begin the construction of a great, great wall along our southern border."
Urging a restart of what he called the engine of the economy, Mr Trump flagged changes to make it easier for businesses to operate and tax reform to boost US competitiveness overseas.
And he promised considerable infrastructure investment.
"To launch our national rebuilding, I will be asking Congress to approve legislation that produces a $1 trillion investment in infrastructure of the United States, financed through both public and private capital, creating millions of new jobs. This effort will be guided by two core principles: Buy American and hire American."
Mr Trump confirmed his Government's desire to significantly increase defence spending with a budget he said would be designed to build the military.
He said engagement overseas would be based on national-security interests.
And for the first time, he articulated support for the NATO alliance, while reiterating conditions for the country's allies.
"We expect our partners -- whether in NATO, the Middle East or in the Pacific -- to take a direct and meaningful role in both strategic and military operations and pay their fair share of the cost. (We) have to do that. We will respect historic institutions, but we will respect the foreign rights of all nations, and they have to respect our rights as a nation, also."
Mr Trump also called on Congress to repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act, commonly known as Obamacare.
The policy introduced under President Barack Obama gave healthcare insurance to millions of previously uninsured or uninsurable people.
Mr Trump says Obamacare is failing and his Government has an alternative plan.
"We should ensure that Americans with pre-existing conditions have access to coverage and that we have a stable transition for Americans currently enrolled in the healthcare exchanges. Secondly, we should help Americans purchase their own coverage through the use of tax credits and expanded health-savings accounts, but it must be the plan they want, not the plan forced on them by our government."
Obamacare was at the heart of the Democratic Party's response to the President's speech.
It was delivered by former Kentucky governor Steven Bashear.
"These ideas promise access to care but deny the importance of making care affordable and effective. They would charge families more for fewer benefits and put the insurance companies back in control. Behind these ideas is the belief that folks at the lower end of the economic ladder just don't deserve healthcare, that it's somehow their fault that their employer doesn't offer insurance or that they can't afford to buy expensive health plans."
Mr Bashear also reflected on Donald Trump's personal conduct as president.
"When the President attacks the loyalty and credibility of our intelligence agencies, the court system, the military, the free press, individual Americans, simply because he doesn't like what they say, he's eroding our democracy. And that's reckless. Real leaders don't spread derision and division. Real leaders strengthen, they unify, they partner, and they offer real solutions instead of ultimatums and blame."
Share
