Top US House Democrat Nancy Pelosi made history 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 6:11 pm, she relinquished the floor -- an entire work day standing at her desk in four-inch (10-centimeter) heels and consuming nothing but water, according to an aide.
The previous honor 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.
Pelosi said she would oppose the deal unless House Speaker Paul Ryan gave assurances he would bring immigration legislation to the floor for a vote.
