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Hakeem Jeffries talked. And talked. And talked, arsenic the apical Democrat successful the House of Representatives connected Thursday (July 3, 2025) blasted President Donald Trump's sweeping taxation chopped and spending measure successful the longest code successful the chamber's history.
Mr. Jeffries' speech, astatine 8 hours and 46 minutes, marked Democrats' past accidental to prosecute their lawsuit against the $3.4 trillion package. Lacking the votes to decision the measurement successful a enclosure that Republicans power by a slim 220-212 margin, Mr. Jeffries, 54, railed against authorities that helium characterized arsenic a giveaway to the affluent that would portion low-income Americans of federally-back wellness security and nutrient assistance benefits.
"It's not the benignant of enactment that this state needs close now. But that's what we're getting. Chaos. Cruelty. And corruption," helium said.
Mr. Jeffries began speaking astatine 4:53 a.m. and wrapped up astatine 1:38 p.m.
That broke a 2021 House grounds sent by then-House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, who spent 8 hours and 32 minutes lambasting Democratic President Joe Biden's clean-energy and domestic-spending package. Shortly aft Mr. Jeffries concluded his speech, the House voted 218-214 to walk the bill. Every Democrat and 2 Republicans opposed it.
His code recalled that of different Democratic lawmaker, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, who broke the grounds for the longest Senate code successful April with a 25-hour, five-minute onslaught connected Trump's unilateral firings of national workers.
Booker's show drew cheers from Democratic voters who person been frustrated by their party's powerlessness successful Washington and person accused the party's leaders of being excessively meek.
Mr. Jeffries utilized his presumption arsenic Democratic person to agelong his customary 60-second speaking time, known arsenic a "magic minute," for hours. Jeffries made wide helium besides had his oculus connected a prize further down the road. Voters, Jeffries said, "will get even" successful the November 2026 midterm elections "because of these cuts being unleashed connected the American people."
If Democrats triumph power of the House, Mr. Jeffries would beryllium positioned to marque past again by becoming the archetypal Black House talker successful the Congress that convenes astatine the commencement of 2027.
Early into his speech, Mr. Jeffries showcased sick children successful Republicans' location districts who mightiness yet suffer Medicaid sum nether the legislation. It was a maneuver that could summation sum of his code successful section media crossed the country.
Mr. Jeffries pulled nary punches.
He said the measure was "ripping healthcare" from Americans and called it "shameful," "disgusting" and "reckless."
"This is simply a transgression country and House Democrats privation nary portion of it," helium said.
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