Pelosi gives longest speech in US House in more than a century
washington — Top US House Democrat Nancy Pelosi made history on Wednesday by delivering the longest address to the chamber in at least 108 years, speaking for more than eight hours about protecting young undocumented migrants from deportation.
The veteran California Democrat, who turns 78 next month, took the floor at 10:04am and began to speak.
And she kept speaking. And speaking. And speaking.
Eight hours and seven minutes later, at 6:11pm, she relinquished the floor — an entire work day standing at her desk in four-inch (10-cm) heels and consuming nothing but water, according to an aide.
It was a remarkable display of determination by the minority leader and former House speaker, which ended with her high-fiving Democratic colleagues who gave her a
Take note, @ realDonaldTrump: THIS is what true leadership looks like Gwen Moore, House Democrat
standing ovation. “I just got word that the House historian confirms that you have now set the record for the longest continuous speech in the House since at least 1909,” said Pelosi during her marathon, reading aloud from a clerk’s message. “I wonder what that was.” That honour belonged to congressman Champ Clark of Missouri, who spoke for five hours and 15 minutes. It was unclear if any House floor speeches before 1909 had gone longer. Pelosi was speaking against a compromise federal budget deal recently announced by Senate leaders that would lift spending caps and avert a looming government shutdown — but does not address immigration.
While the Republican side of the chamber was largely empty, dozens of Democrats trickled in to hear Pelosi, or sit behind their leader offering support.
“I’m proud to be here in solidarity with @NancyPelosi demanding action to #protectDreamers,” congresswoman Betty McCollum tweeted, using the hashtag #GoNancyGo.
“Take note, @realDonaldTrump: THIS is what true leadership looks like,” added House Democrat Gwen Moore.
Some Republicans signalled their displeasure with Pelosi eating up valuable floor time. “Once again, Democrats are threatening to hold government funding & pay for our troops hostage over an unrelated issue,” House Republican Steve Pearce tweeted. —