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House Minority Leader has something she'd like to say: more than eight hours worth of things, to be specific.
Pelosi took to the House floor beginning at 10:04 am on Wednesday to advocate on behalf of young undocumented immigrants known as Dreamers. Republicans in the House are hoping to pass a spending bill before Friday. Pelosi is refusing to sign any bill that doesn't include a path to citizenship for this population.
Her #DACAbuster, clocking in at an epic 8 hours and 7 minutes, broke the record for the longest speech ever delivered in House history, not exactly a chamber known for its brevity. Unlike the Senate, filibustering is not allowed in the House. (Pelosi got around that as her speech wasn't obstructing the passage of specific legislation.)
"It appears that Leader Pelosi today set the record for the longest continuous speech in the House, going back to 1909 when Champ Clark of Missouri held the record for 5 hours and 15 minutes to speak against the tax overhaul that year," the House historian's office said.
House Speaker Ryan is so far unwilling to offer open debate on any immigration legislation.
Throughout her extended speech, Pelosi offered trenchant, poignant anecdotes about young dreamers, as well as some random tangents, because how can anyone go for 7 hours without occasionally drifting into incoherence?
Observers noted that Pelosi spoke without taking a bathroom break or taking anything more than a sip of water. And she did it in four-inch heels.
As someone who can barely stand on a stationary train in orthopedic sneakers for more than 5 minutes, considered me impressed.
The internet largely agreed:
I'm having a hard time remembering the last time a budget deal became law without at least the acquiescence if not support of Nancy Pelosi.
— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) February 7, 2018
Nancy Pelosi is a badass and you’ll never convince me otherwise. https://t.co/pc5sfQwERe
— Jon Favreau (@jonfavs) February 7, 2018
Actually listening to the dreamers stories that @NancyPelosi is reading (nearly) 8 hours running, is incredibly inspiring. It reconnects me to the lives of actual people. So humble. So real. So deserving of compassion from our great Nation. #GoNancyGo
— Sean Astin (@SeanAstin) February 7, 2018
Nancy Pelosi's in hour 7 of a filibuster to help some of our finest young friends and neighbors who contribute to our society, and the White House is scrambling to protect a wife beater. I'm pretty cool with whom I'm standing, thanks.
— John Rogers (@jonrog1) February 7, 2018
.@NancyPelosi reading the biographies of dreamers on the floor of the House for hour after hour is truly moving. These are Americans by every metric other than their papers. We must treat them accordingly.
Watch live here.https://t.co/6Echx5tRGl— Yascha Mounk (@Yascha_Mounk) February 7, 2018
7 hours! At 77! https://t.co/7yksw4bGCw
— Meredith Haggerty (@manymanywords) February 7, 2018
Nancy Pelosi is a 77-year-old wealthy white woman who could be sipping rosé on a beach anywhere in the world right now, but instead she has been on her feet for nearly 7 hours fighting for DREAMers. She is the best of the Democratic Party no matter what some might say. #GoNancyGo
— Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) February 7, 2018
Nancy Pelosi has been filibustering for over 5 hours in 4-inch heels with just a few sips of water and Donald Trump wants a dick-measuring parade.
Tell me again who's the weaker sex?— Celia (@_celia_marie_) February 7, 2018
The thing about high heels is they actually hurt more when you're standing still than when you're walking. What I'm saying is that Nancy Pelosi is Wonder Woman.
— Jenna Lowenstein (@just_jenna) February 7, 2018
Nancy Pelosi has now been standing up for DACA for 7 hours. It’s the longest speech in House history.
WOMEN TRIED TO WARN US IN 2016 AND NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO SAVE THE COUNTRY. #GoNancyGo— Angie 🌪 (@angiedam2) February 7, 2018
For those just getting here: House Minority Leader @NancyPelosi is staging a filibuster on the floor of the U.S. House in support of Dreamers.
It's been nearly 6.5 hours. No water. No restroom. Just standing and talking without any breaks. In heels.#GoNancyGo #DreamActNow— Charlotte Clymer🏳️🌈 (@cmclymer) February 7, 2018
Nancy Pelosi just passed the 7 hour mark in her #DACAbuster and still going.
For all those wondering if she's going anywhere, today or in general, this seems to be an answer.— Alex Seitz-Wald (@aseitzwald) February 7, 2018
Pelosi finally ceded the floor after 8 hours and 7 minutes. It's unclear whether she'll be able to whip her caucus into agreement, but either way we'll be watching, much more comfortably, from the comfort of our homes. (You can watch her entire speech here.)