US President Barack Obama has said in his first State of the Union address that creating jobs must be the nation's number one focus.
Mr Obama accepted Americans were "hurting" and that his election pledge of change had not come quickly enough.
He defended his healthcare reform efforts and bank bailout policy, but said there would be a spending freeze from 2011 to tackle the budget deficit.
Bob McDonnell, for the Republicans, criticised the expansion of government.
The Virginia governor said the federal government was "simply trying to do too much".
'Devastation remains'
Mr Obama was given the traditional warm welcome by all sides of Congress and received several standing ovations.
He opened his address by saying the US had to "answer history's call".
On the issue of employment, Mr Obama said: "People are out of work. They are hurting. They need our help. And I want a jobs bill on my desk without delay.
"Jobs must be our number one focus in 2010."
Read a full transcript of Obama's speech here.
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