House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries took control of the House floor early Thursday morning and hasn’t let go. For more than four hours — and counting — Jeffries has been hammering Republicans for pushing through a massive bill that includes deep, historic cuts to Medicaid.
Speaking under the “magic minute” rule — a loophole that gives party leaders unlimited floor time — Jeffries launched into a marathon speech slamming what he called a rushed and reckless process.
“It had been my hope, Mr. Speaker, that we’d be able to have a robust debate,” Jeffries said. “That hundreds of members on both sides of the aisle could participate in, and instead we have a limited debate where the relevant committees of jurisdiction have been given 15 minutes each on a bill of such significant magnitude as it relates to the health, the safety, and the well-being of the American people.”
He added, “Because that debate was so limited I feel the obligation, Mr. Speaker, to stand on this House floor and take my sweet time to tell the stories of the American people. And that’s exactly what I intend to do — take my sweet time.”
Jeffries is using that time to read directly from a thick binder filled with stories from Americans who would suffer under the GOP-backed legislation. One story came from a farmer in Missouri — the district of Rep. Jason Smith, who chairs the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Smith stood silently in the back as Jeffries read the account.
The Republican bill is nearly 900 pages long and packed with priorities from President Donald Trump. Yet, the House GOP gave just one hour of debate before pushing it toward a final vote — split into two half-hour blocks for the main committees. Jeffries called it an insult to the American people.
The chamber isn’t full, but there’s a clear divide. Democrats sit behind Jeffries, applauding at key moments. Many Republicans sit quietly, some looking at their phones, others talking in hushed tones.
Top GOP leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson, hasn’t stuck around. Johnson was seen earlier chatting with members, but he left as Jeffries’ speech dragged on. He’s expected to speak briefly once Jeffries yields before the vote moves forward.
