No designated survivor set for Biden's address before joint session of Congress By Caroline Linton What to expect in Biden's address to Congress White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that there will be no designated survivor during President Biden's address before the joint session of Congress, since most of the Cabinet won't attend. The "designated survivor" is a tradition that dates back to the Cold War, according to the Constitution Center. The term refers to a person who is chosen to not attend the president's address before the joint session of Congress so that they are able to take over the government if catastrophe strikes.