WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) — United States House of Representatives Democratic Leader Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday held the floor of the House for over eight hours advocating for Caribbean and other “Dreamers.”

Her marathon monologue — highly unusual for the House, which has no equivalent to the Senate filibuster — appears to have set the record for the longest continuous speech in the chamber, dating to at least 1909, according to the New York Times.

The report said her marathon speech tied up the House into the evening, delaying debate on a bill intended to spur competition in the mortgage market.

It also demonstrated, yet again, why  Pelosi, 77, of California, remains one of the most enduring — and to many, infuriating — figures in Washington, the Times said.

It said Pelosi’s speech came as Republicans were scrambling to pass legislation to keep the government open. A short-term funding bill expires at midnight Thursday.

About 800,000 young unauthorised immigrants are protected under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme that President Barack Obama instituted and President Donald J Trump plans to end in March.

Pelosi said she was protesting lack of protection for the Dreamers, who were brought to the US as children and have been shielded from deportation by DACA.