In his first joint address to Congress on Wednesday, President Biden will tell America that “one day shy” of his 100th day in office, his administration is turning the nation’s “peril into possibility” and “setback into strength.”

Why it matters: Wednesday’s speech is one of the president’s most significant opportunities so far to sway members of Congress in favor of his administration’s agenda.

• Biden will touch on a number of policy priorities during his address, including police reform, gun control and COVID-19, White House press secretary Jen Psaki previewed on Tuesday.

The state of play: The address will look different than most previous speeches to Congress as the coronavirus pandemic remains ongoing.

• Only select members of Congress will be in attendance, versus the traditional full house present in most joint addresses.
• Only the secretary of state and secretary of defense will attend from Biden’s Cabinet, while all other members will watch remotely.
• Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts, first lady Dr. Biden, Vice President Harris and second gentleman Emhoff are permitted to attend.

Of note: The Capitol is also still dealing with heightened security since the Jan. 6 siege.

What he’s saying: Biden plans to market his American Jobs Plan as a “blue-collar blueprint to build America,” stating, “90% of the infrastructure jobs created in the American Jobs Plan don’t require a college degree,” per prepared remarks.

• “[I]t recognizes something I’ve always said: Wall Street didn’t build this country. The middle class built this country. And unions built the middle class,” the president plans to add.

He’ll also touch on COVID-19 recovery efforts, saying: “We’re vaccinating the nation. We’re creating hundreds of thousands of jobs. We’re delivering real results people can see and feel in their own lives.”

What to watch: The president’s address begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.