Booker’s Speech Makes History

Christopher Cox

Staff Writer

On Monday, March 31, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker took to the Senate floor and began criticizing the Trump administration. Booker has been serving in the Senate since 2013 and is one of five African-American senators to serve in the chamber.

Booker is 55 years-old, and according to NPR, he continued his speech through the night and into the following day – staying on the podium for 25 hours and 5 minutes. During this historic period, he did not once sit down, eat, or use the bathroom.

Booker surpassed the record for the longest speech on record for the chamber, previously set by Senator Strom Thurmond in 1957, with a time of 24 hours and 18 minutes.

Thurmond’s speech filibustered to oppose the Civil Rights Act, while Senator Booker’s speech comes at a time when many constituents are raising questions about the direction of the Democratic party after President Trump’s tumultuous first 71 days, according to NPR.

To this end, Booker told NPR, “I think we could not talk about the party and start talking about the people … I really think that we got to start having a bolder vision of who we are as a country, not just about who we’re against as the other party.”

During his speech, Booker highlighted many concerns about the current administration, stating at one point, “…the country is in crisis…,” according to CNN. The issues ranged from Elon Musk’s efforts to overhaul the federal government under Trump, to warning listeners about cuts to key health care programs for millions of American citizens. The specific potential healthcare cuts Booker was referring to were about how Republicans want to cut funding for Medicaid.

Additionally, throughout his time at the podium, Booker was supported by many of his Democratic colleagues, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. However, Booker never yielded his time, as doing so would have allowed for the presiding officer to move on with Senate business, according to CNN.

Booker’s speech was not a filibuster because he was not blocking any legislation or a nomination. He kept the Senate floor open for as long as he could speak.