Democratic Leader Jeffries Sets New House Speech Record at 8 Hours 44 Minutes

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered an unprecedented marathon speech on the House floor, setting a new record for the longest speech in the history of the House of Representatives. The speech, which lasted eight hours and 44 minutes, was a strategic move to delay the passage of the "Build Back Better Act," a significant piece of legislation proposed by the Republican Party.

Jeffries' speech surpassed the previous record set by then-Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy in 2021, who spoke for eight hours and 32 minutes in opposition to Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act. Before that, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held the record with an eight-hour-and-seven-minute speech in 2019.

The speech began just before 3:30 a.m. EDT on Thursday, following a key procedural vote to begin debate on the budget framework. Jeffries was recognized to offer what is known as a “magic minute”—a special privilege reserved for top party leaders to speak as long as they want. Initially, Jeffries planned to delay the final vote by about an hour, but his plans changed as he decided to hold the vote in the daylight rather than in the middle of the night.

Jeffries used his speech to highlight the potential negative impacts of the proposed legislation on various sectors, including healthcare, food assistance, and energy costs. He shared stories from constituents who expressed concerns about the proposed spending cuts, particularly in relation to Medicaid and other welfare programs. Jeffries was backed by a stack of binders filled with these stories, emphasizing the importance of including the voices of the American people in the debate.

Throughout his speech, Jeffries' voice became noticeably raspy, but he continued to speak with determination. Members of his party cheered him on, while several Republicans left the House floor, lamenting what they called “wasted time.” House Speaker Mike Johnson commented that the speech was an “utter waste of everyone’s time,” but acknowledged that it was part of the system.

Jeffries' marathon speech is the second time this year that a Democratic leader has broken a speaking record. Earlier in April, Sen. Cory Booker made history by completing the longest Senate speech in history after speaking for 25 hours without interruption.

The strategic use of the “magic minute” by Jeffries underscores the intense political maneuvering surrounding the "Build Back Better Act." The speech not only delayed the passage of the legislation but also brought attention to the concerns and stories of the American people, highlighting the potential impacts of the proposed bill on their quality of life.