STORY: Hakeem Jeffries the top Democrat in the House of Representatives on Thursday (July 3) blasted President Donald Trump's sweeping tax cut and spending bill in the longest speech in the chamber's history.

Jeffries' speech, at 8 hours and 46 minutes, marked Democrats' last chance to prosecute their case against the $3.4 trillion package.

Lacking the votes to defeat the measure in a chamber that Republicans control by a slim 220-212 margin, Jeffries, 54, railed against legislation that he characterized as a giveaway to the wealthy that would strip less affluent Americans of health and food safety net benefits.

"It's not the type of leadership that this country needs right now. But that's what we're getting Chaos. Cruelty. And corruption," he said.

Jeffries began speaking at 4:53 a.m. and wrapped up at 1:38 p.m.

That broke a 2021 House record sent by then-House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, who spent 8 hours and 32 minutes lambasting Democratic President Joe Biden's clean-energy and domestic-spending package.

Republicans were expected to hold a final vote on passage shortly after Jeffries wrapped up.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER, HAKEEM JEFFRIES, ON HOUSE FLOOR AS HE SETS RECORD FOR FLOOR SPEECH BEFORE VOTE ON TRUMP TAX BILL

SHOWS: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JULY 3, 2025) (HOUSE TV – Access all)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) HAKEEM JEFFRIES, HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER, SAYING:

"Press on for the American way of life. Press on for democracy. We're going to press on until victory is won. I yield back."/ LAWMAKERS CHEERING FOR JEFFRIES AFTER WRAPPING THE LONGEST SPEECH IN THE CHAMBER'S HISTORY