House Session, Part 1

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) gave an uninterrupted speech of over eight hours, saying she would not leave the floor until Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) agreed to allow a vote on a bill that addresses the plight of undocumented migrants who arrived in the U.S. as children, also known as “Dreamers.” The Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) executive order permitting Dreamers to remain the U.S. was rescinded by President Trump and set to expire on March 5, 2018. Leader Pelosi throughout her monologue read testimonies written by Dreamers about their lives and sent to their members of Congress. The House since 1841 has not allowed filibusters, but custom allows the speaker and majority and minority leaders unlimited speech time. According to the House historian, Leader Pelosi’s was the longest-ever House floor speech. After Leader Pelosi’s speech, members completed work on a mortgage bill dealing with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regulations. close