A Democrat lawmaker was quietly shuffled out of view early Thursday morning after appearing to fall asleep behind House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries during his lengthy overnight speech intended to delay a vote on President Trump’s sweeping legislative package, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, as reported by The New York Post.

Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), 79, was seated two rows behind Jeffries and was clearly visible on C-SPAN’s live broadcast as she nodded off during the prolonged floor speech.

Image Credit: © Jack Gruber-USA TODAY
Dec. 7, 2023; Washington, D.C., USA; House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaking at a press conference on Dec. 7, 2023 in Washington, D.C.. Mandatory Credit: Jack Gruber-USA TODAY

Around 6:30 a.m., a fellow Democrat tapped her on the shoulder, and Rep. Sarah McBride (D-Del.) took her seat.

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The incident took place as Jeffries launched into what is known in Congress as the “magic minute,” which allows party leaders to speak for as long as they wish.

Jeffries began his remarks at 4:53 a.m., using the opportunity to read letters from constituents expressing concerns over reforms to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) included in the bill.

The speech, which stretched over an hour, was part of a last-ditch effort by House Democrats to delay the final passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

The bill represents President Trump’s top domestic legislative priority and covers sweeping reforms on spending, entitlements, and government efficiency.

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Image Credit: © Danny Wild-Imagn Images
Dec 8, 2018; Philadelphia, PA, USA; President Donald Trump stands with West Point cadets during the 119th Army-Navy game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Most House Republicans had cleared the chamber by the time Jeffries began his remarks, after a marathon overnight session that saw multiple failed procedural votes and ongoing negotiations within the GOP’s narrow majority.

Around 3 a.m., four Republican holdouts flipped their votes, breaking a procedural impasse and clearing the way for a final vote.

Throughout the night, members from both parties were seen attempting to stay awake, with some lawmakers reportedly retreating to their offices to rest. Others remained on the floor or in nearby rooms as the session stretched into the early morning hours.

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Democrats had arranged members in the camera frame behind Jeffries in an effort to show a unified presence on television, but the optics backfired when Rep. Kaptur was seen visibly dozing during the speech.

The brief swap to Rep. McBride appeared to be an attempt to control the visuals being broadcast to the public.

The Senate had pulled similar late-night hours earlier in the week as Republicans worked through their internal differences to finalize amendments to the megabill.

GOP leadership has been pushing to get the legislation to President Trump’s desk by July 4, leveraging the holiday deadline to increase pressure on their conference.

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