Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) expressed frustration on Newsmax’s The National Report Thursday regarding his and fellow Republican colleagues’ potential inability to catch their flights home amidst House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ ongoing efforts to stall consideration of President Donald Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ Newsmax Host Shaun Kraisman reported Burchett’s sentiments during an interview conducted from Washington, D.C. "Hakeem’s going for the record, everybody knows it, he’ll finish up after 1 p.m. or 1:30 p.m., we might make our flights," Burchett stated, highlighting the perceived disregard for Republican lawmakers’ schedules. He further emphasized, "It’s always amazing to me, leadership always does this stuff and they never take into consideration the rest of us because we don't live here, they do, a lot of the Democrats live here in this town. They need to get home to their districts."

As of early Thursday afternoon, House Minority Leader Jeffries was already more than seven hours into his filibuster – a strategic tactic aimed at delaying the vote on the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act,’ a budget reconciliation package encompassing corporate tax cut extensions and proposed cuts to social safety net programs such as Medicaid. Jeffries’ actions are explicitly designed to challenge the previous record for the longest House floor speech, previously held by then-House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy in 2021, which lasted approximately eight and a half hours. Jeffries is leveraging a specific loophole within House floor rules, often referred to as the ‘magic minute,’ which grants him the ability to continue speaking indefinitely, effectively halting legislative proceedings.

Given that the House has already passed a measure to advance the bill toward a final vote, the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ is now poised for rapid consideration following Jeffries’ prolonged speech. Recent concerns about Republican support for the bill have largely subsided, largely due to the apparent influence of House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), who has successfully persuaded several dissenting Republican lawmakers to shift their votes in favor of moving the bill forward. This shift in sentiment is further underscored by comments from Vice President JD Vance, who shared a text message from a GOP lawmaker who initially opposed the bill but subsequently changed their vote due to the extended debate.

The strategic use of the ‘magic minute’ by Jeffries underscores a deliberate attempt to disrupt the legislative process and potentially force a compromise or delay the passage of the controversial ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act.’ With the bill now moving ahead, the focus remains on whether a majority of Republicans will ultimately support its passage before it reaches President Trump’s desk for final approval. The ongoing situation highlights the dynamic interplay between party leadership, legislative strategy, and the practical considerations faced by individual lawmakers. The rapid pace of events surrounding the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ reflects the high stakes involved in this particular legislative effort, particularly concerning the future of corporate tax policy and social safety net programs. The debate is expected to continue as lawmakers grapple with the implications of this bill and its potential impact on the American economy and social welfare systems. The strategic use of the ‘magic minute’ by Jeffries serves as a key component of this ongoing legislative battle, demanding careful attention to the evolving dynamics within the House of Representatives.