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Statement grade
The average of Signal, Relevance, Reasoning and Clarity. Average 88 / 100
Signal
60 / 100
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Relevance
100 / 100
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Reasoning
100 / 100
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Respect
–
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Clarity
92 / 100
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A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.
Thanks 4% Reasoning 25% Claims 32% Procedure 4% The ask 6% Anecdote 27% Positioning 2%
Structure · 23 steps
Claims · 4
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 19 words I thank Chairman Steil for his dedicated hard work on getting this bill to the floor. It wasn’t easy. Thanks Mr. Speaker, Reasoning · 13 words public service is a privilege. It is not a pathway to personal profit. Claims · 25 words Yet, too many Americans look at us here in Congress and wonder if that line has been blurred, not proven, not assumed, but simply questioned. Reasoning · 6 words That question alone is a problem. Mr. Speaker, Reasoning · 22 words that is because when lawmakers consistently outperform Wall Street, then people start asking questions. They start doubting. They stop trusting in us. Claims · 38 words For example, Mr. Speaker, there is even a Member here in our body who entered Congress years ago with a net worth in the thousands, and yet now has a net worth of well more than $200 million.1 Reasoning · 8 words That is exactly why this matters, Mr. Speaker. Procedure · 10 words When I came to Congress, I made it quite clear: Procedure Reasoning · 16 words We should not be trading individual stocks while we are making decisions that shape our economy. Claims · 83 words That is why I introduced the PELOSI Act to draw a bright, unmistakable line, no stock trading, no gray area, 2 and no doubt, to be above the appearance of impropriety as Chairman Steil said. The very legislation we are debating today from my friend, Chairman Steil, advances that same principle. It says that if you have the privilege of serving in this body and serving your constituents, Mr. Speaker, then you don’t get to personally profit from the markets that you help influence. Procedure · 3 words This isn’t complicated. Procedure Reasoning · 27 words The American people shouldn’t have to wonder if their Representative is working for them or watching their stock portfolio on their phones here on the House Chamber. The ask · 26 words Let’s remove that doubt. Let’s restore trust to this body. Vague promise Let’s raise the standard of each and every one of us here in this body today. Vague promise Anecdote · 55 words If I wanted to, I could have made a lot of money in the last 3\1/2\ years I was here trading stock and probably would be able to afford an apartment somewhere in D.C.4 However, I don’t, and like a lot of Members who don’t trade stocks, I sleep on my couch in my office. Anecdote Procedure · 6 words Do you know what, Mr. Speaker? Procedure Anecdote · 3 words I sleep well. Anecdote Positioning · 11 words I sleep well knowing that I am doing the right thing. Positioning Anecdote · 67 words In closing, I grew up in the Church of Christ down in Baytown, Texas.3 I worked for a while in West Palm Beach. There was a preacher there named Dan Jenkins who used to say all the time: It is always right to do right. It is always wrong to do wrong. It is never right to do wrong, and it is never wrong to do right. Anecdote Off point Mr. Speaker, Reasoning · 23 words this bill is the right thing to do, not just for the American people, but for our body to restore trust to us.
At a glance
Lost points for Anecdote ×11 Off point ×7 Procedure ×3 Thanks ×2 Vague promise ×2 Positioning Reasons given This statement drew 4 conclusions and gave a reason for each one.
Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.
What the tags mean →
Signal · 60
17 of 26 deductions are Signal
Signal checks whether every part makes a point, gives a reason, or asks for action. A low score means the speaker filled time with fluff, pleasantries, or attacks.
Thanks Thanks and tributes. What the tags mean → “I thank Chairman Steil for his dedicated hard work on getting this bill to the floor.” Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks Thanks and tributes. What the tags mean → “It wasn’t easy.” Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “When I came to Congress, I made it quite clear:” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “This isn’t complicated.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “If I wanted to, I could have made a lot of money in the last 3\1/2\ years I was here trading stock and probably would be able to afford an apartment somewhere in D.C.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “However, I don’t,” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “and like a lot of Members who don’t trade stocks, I sleep on my couch in my office.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “Do you know what, Mr. Speaker?” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “I sleep well.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “I sleep well knowing that I am doing the right thing.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “In closing, I grew up in the Church of Christ down in Baytown, Texas.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “I worked for a while in West Palm Beach.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “There was a preacher there named Dan Jenkins who used to say all the time:” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “It is always right to do right.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “It is always wrong to do wrong.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “It is never right to do wrong,” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Anecdote A story that illustrates instead of making a point. What the tags mean → “and it is never wrong to do right.” An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Relevance · 100
7 of 26 deductions are Relevance
Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue. Measured against the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “In closing, I grew up in the Church of Christ down in Baytown, Texas.” Shifts to a personal story about growing up in Texas rather than the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “I worked for a while in West Palm Beach.” Personal background about working in West Palm Beach, unrelated to the legislation.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “There was a preacher there named Dan Jenkins who used to say all the time:” Continues the anecdote about a preacher instead of addressing the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “It is always right to do right.” A preacher’s saying quoted as part of the anecdote, not a point about the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “It is always wrong to do wrong.” Continuation of the quoted saying rather than the legislation under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “It is never right to do wrong,” Continuation of the quoted saying rather than the legislation under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “and it is never wrong to do right.” Continuation of the quoted saying rather than the legislation under debate.
Reasoning · 100
0 of 26 deductions are Reasoning
Reasoning checks for sound logic and solid support for any conclusion. A low score means the speaker made unsupported leaps or used weak arguments.
Nothing lost points.
Conclusions found · 4
Conclusion “Let’s remove that doubt.”
Because “that is because when lawmakers consistently outperform Wall Street, then people start asking questions.”
“We should not be trading individual stocks while we are making decisions that shape our economy.”
“It says that if you have the privilege of serving in this body and serving your constituents, Mr. Speaker, then you don’t get to personally profit from the markets that you help influence.”
“The American people shouldn’t have to wonder if their Representative is working for them or watching their stock portfolio on their phones here on the House Chamber.”
Conclusion “Let’s restore trust to this body.”
Because “They stop trusting in us.”
“The American people shouldn’t have to wonder if their Representative is working for them or watching their stock portfolio on their phones here on the House Chamber.”
Conclusion “Let’s raise the standard of each and every one of us here in this body today.”
Because “public service is a privilege.”
“It is not a pathway to personal profit.”
“We should not be trading individual stocks while we are making decisions that shape our economy.”
Conclusion “this bill is the right thing to do, not just for the American people,”
Because “They stop trusting in us.”
“We should not be trading individual stocks while we are making decisions that shape our economy.”
“The very legislation we are debating today from my friend, Chairman Steil, advances that same principle.”
“It says that if you have the privilege of serving in this body and serving your constituents, Mr. Speaker, then you don’t get to personally profit from the markets that you help influence.”
“The American people shouldn’t have to wonder if their Representative is working for them or watching their stock portfolio on their phones here on the House Chamber.”
Respect · no score
Not checked: graded before this measurement existed. Excluded from the average.
Respect checks whether the speaker argued with people’s positions and records rather than attacking the people: insults, mockery, or bad motives assigned to them. Criticism of what someone did, however strong, is not marked.
Clarity · 92
2 of 26 deductions are Clarity
Clarity checks for plain speaking, clear ownership of actions, and honest limits on certainty. A low score means vague promises or evasive language.
Vague promise A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible. What the tags mean → “Let’s restore trust to this body” Names no actor, measure, or way of knowing trust has been restored.
Vague promise A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible. What the tags mean → “Let’s raise the standard of each and every one of us” States no concrete step, actor, or success condition.
Claims · 4
This list shows the factual statements you can check for yourself: the words as said, and the claim restated to stand on its own.
1 “has a net worth of well more than $200 million” A current Member of the House of Representatives who entered Congress with a net worth in the thousands now has a net worth of well more than $200 million. search 2 “I introduced the PELOSI Act” Mark Alford introduced a bill called the PELOSI Act, which would ban Members of Congress from trading individual stocks. search 3 “I grew up in the Church of Christ down in Baytown, Texas” Mark Alford grew up attending the Church of Christ in Baytown, Texas. search 4 “the last 3\1/2\ years I was here” Mark Alford had been serving in Congress for about three and a half years as of July 2026. search
