Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries made history on Thursday by delivering the longest-ever speech on the floor of the House of Representatives. Starting at the early hour of 4:52 a.m., Jeffries spoke for a staggering eight hours and 45 minutes, surpassing the previous record set by Republican Kevin McCarthy in 2021. This extraordinary feat was part of a strategic effort to delay the passage of a sweeping Republican domestic policy bill.

Jeffries utilized his "magic minute" — a procedural privilege that grants party leaders unlimited speaking time — to full effect. His marathon discourse was aimed at drawing attention to the potential impacts of the GOP's legislation on social safety-net programs. Throughout his speech, he read heartfelt letters from constituents who expressed concerns about how the proposed cuts could adversely affect their lives.

The Democratic leader also took the opportunity to spotlight Republicans from competitive districts who support the bill, signaling the Democrats' intent to challenge these seats in the upcoming midterm elections. Jeffries stated, “I'm here today to make it clear that I’m going to take my time and ensure that the American people fully understand how damaging this bill will be to their quality of life.”

Despite the gravity and duration of his speech, Republican leaders, including Speaker Mike Johnson, dismissed the effort as “an utter waste of everyone's time.” However, the speech did serve its purpose of slowing down the legislative process, even if only temporarily. The megabill is expected to pass later in the day, meeting the GOP's goal before the July 4 deadline.

Jeffries' historic speech came against the backdrop of significant Republican efforts to push the bill through, including a procedural vote that was left open for over nine hours — another record-setting event. This was part of a tumultuous series of negotiations and delays that have marked the bill's progression through the House.

The use of extended debate time by party leaders, while rare in the typically time-restricted House, highlights the significant procedural tools available to minority leaders to influence legislative proceedings and public discourse. Jeffries’ record-setting speech underscores the deep divisions and high stakes involved in the current legislative battles in Congress.

Cassandra Dumay contributed to this report.