A conservative Republican senator has ended a marathon Senate speech opposing President Barack Obama's health care law after talking for 21 hours and 19 minutes.
Weary after a day and night on his feet, Senator Ted Cruz simply sat down at midday on Wednesday, the predetermined time for the Senate to adjourn, as several of his colleagues applauded.
He began talking on Tuesday afternoon, seeking the urgent defunding of the three-year-old health system overhaul, as fellow conservatives helped out with the occasional remarks.
Cruz wants to derail the spending bill to deny Democrats the ability to strip a "defund Obamacare" provision out, a strategy that has put him at odds with other Republicans who fear the move could spark a shutdown.
His hours of speaking now stands as the fourth-longest filibuster in the US.
