Reclaiming my time

Phrase used in congressional hearings when politicians are allotted a specific amount of time to speak and/or question those called to testify at such hearings. If during their allotted time they deem a person who is testifying to be lying, misleading, or drawing out the time by not answering the questions directly, the congressperson may reclaim their time. This is allowed within the United States House of Representatives rules and procedures. Most often attributed to Congresswoman Rep. Maxine Waters (Democrat, California) from a hearing in 2017 when she was questioning Secretary of Finance Steven Mnuchin.

"I'm reclaiming my time...Please, will you respond to the question of why I did not get a response, me and my colleagues, to the May 23rd letter?" ~ Maxine Waters

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