House passes Biden's massive spending bill

By Aditi Sangal, Adrienne Vogt, Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya and Melissa Mahtani, CNN

Updated 1929 GMT (0329 HKT) November 19, 2021
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10:09 a.m. ET, November 19, 2021

Here's what Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said about McCarthy's 8-hour speech

From CNN's Ali Zaslav and Lauren Fox

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ripped into Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s eight and a half hour speech on the House floor overnight, saying, “He couldn't stop talking but didn't have much to say.”

She added, “I think that really what he wanted to do was speak on end and hear his own voice and say that he spoke longer than the Speaker of the House,” referring to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s eight-hour long speech a few years ago.

“But frankly, since he didn't do it in stilettos, I don't think that really counts,” Ocasio-Cortez added.

House Democrats had to push back Thursday's vote on President Biden's plan to dramatically expand the social safety net after McCarthy stalled floor action with a record-breaking marathon speech that stretched into the early hours of Friday morning. 

McCarthy, a Republican from California, started his speech at 8:38 p.m. ET, and stopped speaking early Friday morning after eight hours and 32 minutes, making his remarks the longest House floor speech in history.

9:04 a.m. ET, November 19, 2021

What the scene is like on the House floor this morning as Democrats prepare to vote

From CNN's Daniella Diaz and Sam Fossum

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the Capitol on November 19.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the Capitol on November 19. (House TV)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was making the rounds on the floor of the House this morning, appearing to be in a good mood as she talks with various members of her caucus and embraces others. 

At one point she huddled with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Rep. Maxine Waters, a Democrat from California, motioning up at one point to the front of the chamber.

Earlier she spoke to House Ways and Means Chair Richard Neal. House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro, a Democrat from Connecticut, also came over to the speaker and she and Pelosi embraced. DeLauro then went over to progressives Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state and Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado. 

Other members can be seen exchanging positive hellos and thumbs up with each other as people chat amiably. 

Over on the GOP side of the House chamber, Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is holding court as members of his caucus come over to talk and others give him a thumbs up or handshake — likely in congratulations for his floor speech last night.

He appears in a good mood after his marathon speech last night that lasted into the wee hours of Friday morning.

8:25 a.m. ET, November 19, 2021

Pelosi touts benefits of Build Back Better Act before vote

From CNN's Adrienne Vogt

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke to members of Congress ahead of the vote on the Build Back Better Act, saying the legislation will be beneficial for all Americans.

"The facts are these: Following the vision of President Biden, guided by the expertise and energy of our chair's members and staff, we have the [Build Back Better] bill that is historic, transformative, and larger than anything we have ever done before. We are building back better — if you are a parent, a senior, a child, a worker, if you are an American, this bill, this bill is for you," Pelosi said.

She said that the act will reduce prescription costs for seniors, assist with child care costs, create jobs and address the climate crisis.

Pelosi also opened by making a not-so-veiled remark aimed at House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's record-breaking speech, that lasted from Thursday night into the early hours of Friday morning, saying, "With respect for those who work in this Capitol, and as a courtesy to my colleagues, I will be brief." She received laughs and applause from fellow members.

8:11 a.m. ET, November 19, 2021

Pelosi on spending bill vote today: "We’re going to have a great victory for the American people"

From CNN's Daniella Diaz 

When asked about the spending bill vote today, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “We’re going to have a great victory for the American people as we build back better, and I’m so proud of President Biden and his vision and his leadership and our members' hard work to make this process.”

Pelosi said, "I don’t think anything of it," when asked by CNN about Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy beating her record of the longest floor speech in House history and what he said about Democrats during his remarks. Pelosi laughed a bit as she finished answering. 

8:27 a.m. ET, November 19, 2021

Kevin McCarthy gave the longest House floor speech in history

From CNN’s Kristin Wilson, Annie Grayer Clare Foran, Manu Raju and Morgan Rimmer

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy speaks on the House floor at the Capitol on November 18.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy speaks on the House floor at the Capitol on November 18. (House Television/AP)

House Democrats pushed back a vote on President Biden's plan to dramatically expand the social safety net after House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy stalled floor action with a record-breaking marathon speech that stretched into the early hours of Friday morning. 

McCarthy, a Republican from California, started his speech at 8:38 p.m. ET, and stopped speaking early Friday morning after eight hours and 32 minutes, making his remarks the longest House floor speech in history.

The overnight, often rambling and repetitive comments, ranged from border security and the Israeli Iron Dome Defense system to Abraham Lincoln, World War Two, and how baby carrots are just regular carrots cut down to a small size. 

The House has gaveled out but will reconvene at 8 a.m. ET to bring the Build Back Better bill to the floor for final passage. 

Pelosi was expected to close out the debate. 

8:01 a.m. ET, November 19, 2021

Democrats to vote on spending bill but are "a little worried" after McCarthy's 8-hour speech, Rep. says

From CNN's Aditi Sangal

Democrats "may be a little perplexed, a little worried" about Kevin McCarthy after he delivered an eight-hour speech Thursday night, but they appear poised to vote on the spending bill this morning, Democratic Rep. Katherine Clark told CNN.

"Kevin McCarthy delivered an unhinged rant that really ranged in topics from baby carrots to Jimmy Carter's sweater," she said ahead of the vote. "But however deranged and kind of rambling it was, the message was clear. They are disconnected from helping the American family, and that was for an audience of one — Donald Trump." 

She added:

"I can tell you we may be a little perplexed, a little worried about Kevin McCarthy, but we are so excited to be able to deliver this today for families at home."

Clark said Democrats plan to bring the vote in the 8 a.m. ET hour on Friday.

"I think the Speaker [Nancy Pelosi] will address the House, and we will move promptly to the vote, barring any shenanigans by the Republicans."

Watch:

9:03 a.m. ET, November 19, 2021

The House is expected to reconvene this morning after McCarthy's marathon speech stalled floor action

From CNN's Clare Foran, Manu Raju and Morgan Rimmer

House Democrats are planning to pass President Biden's sweeping $1.9 trillion spending bill on Friday morning after House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy stalled an effort to vote Thursday evening by delivering a record-breaking marathon floor speech overnight.

His delay was not expected to affect the eventual outcome of the vote, as Democrats projected confidence that they had enough support to send the measure to the Senate, where significant hurdles remain. Moderate Senate Democrats are expected to demand changes to the bill, meaning the House will likely have to vote on it again in the coming weeks before it goes to Biden's desk.

McCarthy took to the House floor at 8:38 p.m. ET on Thursday to begin his speech railing against Democrats, and did not finish speaking until eight hours and 32 minutes later, the longest House floor speech in the chamber's history. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced shortly after midnight that the vote, which had been expected as soon as Thursday evening, would be postponed until later Friday.

The House is scheduled to return at 8 a.m. ET and vote soon after.

"He wants to do it in the dead of night," Hoyer said, referring to McCarthy. "We are going to do it in the day."

The sweeping economic legislation stands as a key pillar of Biden's domestic agenda. It would deliver on long-standing Democratic priorities by dramatically expanding social services for Americans, working to mitigate the climate crisis, increasing access to health care and delivering aid to families and children.

Some more background: McCarthy was able to hold the floor indefinitely under the procedures of the House, which say the majority leader and the minority leader get what's called a "magic minute" at the end of floor debate, meaning they can speak for as long as they want. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi used a similar tactic as minority leader in 2018, speaking for more than eight hours on the House floor in a speech about young undocumented immigrants, which then became the longest in House history.

Once the legislation passes the House, it will face key hurdles in the Senate, with a fight looming over a controversial tax provision and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia still not on board.

As a result, Democrats are working hard to keep their fragile coalition of moderates and progressives united behind the package. The legislation has already been the subject of intense disputes between warring party factions in the House, and Democrats have no margin for error in the Senate.

The legislation will likely have to be altered, potentially significantly, to get every member of the Senate Democratic caucus to vote for it as key members raise major concerns with the contents of the bill.