Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Chip Roy

Republican on Stop Insider Trading Act 2026-07-22

784 words · 48 sentences · 60 clauses

Statement grade

Average 77 / 100

A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.

Greeting 11%Procedure 9%Claims 36%Thanks 12%Reasoning 16%The ask 12%Positioning 3%Promise 2%

This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.

Mr. Speaker, Greeting · 85 wordsI want to thank my friend from Wisconsin, Chairman Steil, for his incredible work on this, his leadership, his friendship, and making sure that we are here today and getting this done. It has been a partnership I have been happy to engage in. I am proud of the legislation that we put forward. Let me say that again to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle: I am proud of the legislation that we put forward. It is, in fact, good legislation.Greeting Procedure · 10 wordsLet’s back up 1 minute and talk about the problem.Procedure Claims · 72 wordsRight here, according to data I have got right now, 11,000 trades totaling between $600 million and $900 million of legislators over the last year.¹Logical leap We have got one Member, a Democrat, $79 million of 406 trades; ²one man, a Republican, $75 million on 1,000 trades.³ A Democrat, $55 million on 3,923 trades.⁴ I could keep going on a bipartisan basis. I want to make clear that it is a bipartisan problem. Thanks · 80 wordsI want to take a minute to say that we should recognize the bipartisan nature of the work that it took to get here, even though there is some disagreement here now. I have got friends on the other side of the aisle, Mr. Morelle, Seth Magaziner, and others I have been working with closely to try to advance this cause, and I want to thank them because they have worked in good faith to try to address this issue.Thanks Procedure · 40 wordsI want to be clear to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle. I have often heard excuses. It says: I have a right to trade equities. I have a right to trade stocks. Let me be very clear: ProcedureClaims · 15 wordsYou do not have that right. There is no such right guaranteed in the Constitution.⁵ Reasoning · 54 wordsIt is a privilege to serve in the United States Congress. When you come to Congress, you are supposed to set that aside. You are supposed to come here and serve. You come here for 2 years, 4 years, 6 years, 8 years--preferably not 40. You set down your personal interests, and you serve. Claims · 12 wordsUnfortunately, a lot of Members have been violating the spirit of that. Reasoning · 7 wordsThat is why we are here today. Claims · 82 wordsWe passed legislation in 2012 that made a lot of this transparent.⁶ Today, we have legislation on the floor that I am proud of, that would stop the ability of Members of Congress to acquire equities and would have significant transparency and presale requirements before you can sell equities you hold.⁷ Yes, I had legislation that would have required divestiture. I prefer that approach, but you have to build a coalition in a body. I think this is a giant step forward.Unearned certainty The ask · 26 wordsI wish my colleagues on the other side of the aisle and my colleagues on this side of the aisle would recognize that and praise it. Reasoning · 64 wordsIf we did that, it would be night and day in this body if people were not allowed to acquire Microsoft while you are voting on technology; Unearned certaintyacquire Lockheed when you are voting on Defense; acquire pharma or Big Insurance when you are voting on healthcare policies when you are supposed to be focusing on the American people and not focusing on your portfolio. Positioning · 9 wordsThat is where we should be as a body.Positioning Claims · 11 wordsI am proud that we are bringing this legislation forward today. The ask · 17 wordsI hope that everybody will support it, regardless of which side of the aisle you are on. Claims · 23 wordsObviously, I am the lead author also of the SAVE America Act.⁸ That legislation has been offered on the back of this bill.⁹ The ask · 14 wordsI think my colleagues on the other side of the aisle should support it. Positioning · 13 wordsI don’t think they are supporting it for a lot of political reasons.PositioningOff point Procedure · 20 wordsI am not going to debate that here because right now we are talking about this bill addressing stock trading.Procedure Claims · 65 wordsI will say one thing that I think merits being said: I think we should be having a straight up-or-down vote on this stock trading bill.No reason given That is what I think. I think my friends who worked in good faith to do that deserve that on both sides of the aisle. I am going to end up voting for this because I support both measures. Promise · 17 wordsI am not done this year demanding that we have a straight up-or-down vote on stock trading. The ask · 35 wordsYou can’t, whether you are on this or that side of the aisle, hide behind the SAVE America Act for your opposition to what we need to do to change the culture of this institution.No reason given Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 13 wordsI thank Chairman Steil and my friends who I worked with on this.Thanks

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 61

22 of 30 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.

Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “I want to thank my friend from Wisconsin, Chairman Steil, for his incredible work on this, his leadership, his friendship,”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “and making sure that we are here today and getting this done.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “It has been a partnership I have been happy to engage in.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “I am proud of the legislation that we put forward.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “Let me say that again to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle:”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “I am proud of the legislation that we put forward.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “It is, in fact, good legislation.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “Let’s back up 1 minute and talk about the problem.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I want to take a minute to say that we should recognize the bipartisan nature of the work that it took to get here, even though there is some disagreement here now.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I have got friends on the other side of the aisle, Mr. Morelle, Seth Magaziner,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “and others I have been working with closely to try to advance this cause,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “and I want to thank them because they have worked in good faith to try to address this issue.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I want to be clear to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I have often heard excuses.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “It says:”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I have a right to trade equities.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I have a right to trade stocks.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “Let me be very clear:”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “That is where we should be as a body.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “I don’t think they are supporting it for a lot of political reasons.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I am not going to debate that here because right now we are talking about this bill addressing stock trading.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I thank Chairman Steil and my friends who I worked with on this.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 92

3 of 30 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.

Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “That legislation has been offered on the back of this bill.”Describes a different bill, the SAVE America Act, rather than the one under debate.
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 think my colleagues on the other side of the aisle should support it.”Urges support for the SAVE America Act, a separate measure not under debate.
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 don’t think they are supporting it for a lot of political reasons.”Makes a political point about opponents of the SAVE America Act instead of addressing the bill at issue.

Reasoning · 64

3 of 30 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.

A conclusion that does not follow from the reasons given for it.What the tags mean “Right here, according to data I have got right now, 11,000 trades totaling between $600 million and $900 million of legislators over the last year.”The trade totals are offered as evidence of violating the duty, but volume of trading alone does not show personal interests were placed ahead of service.
A conclusion stated with no reason given for it.What the tags mean “I think we should be having a straight up-or-down vote on this stock trading bill.”The demand is asserted without any supporting reason for why such a vote is required.
A conclusion stated with no reason given for it.What the tags mean “You can’t, whether you are on this or that side of the aisle, hide behind the SAVE America Act for your opposition to what we need to do to change the culture of this institution.”The claim is asserted without a reason beyond the speaker’s assertion that opposition cannot be hidden behind that bill.

Conclusions found · 7

Conclusion“You do not have that right.”

Because“There is no such right guaranteed in the Constitution.”

“It is a privilege to serve in the United States Congress.”

“When you come to Congress, you are supposed to set that aside.”

Reason given
Conclusion“Unfortunately, a lot of Members have been violating the spirit of that.”

Because“Right here, according to data I have got right now, 11,000 trades totaling between $600 million and $900 million of legislators over the last year.”

“We have got one Member, a Democrat, $79 million of 406 trades;”

“one man, a Republican, $75 million on 1,000 trades.”

“A Democrat, $55 million on 3,923 trades.”

Reason flawedThe trade totals are offered as evidence of violating the duty, but volume of trading alone does not show personal interests were placed ahead of service.
Conclusion“I think this is a giant step forward.”

Because“Today, we have legislation on the floor that I am proud of, that would stop the ability of Members of Congress to acquire equities and would have significant transparency and presale requirements before you can sell equities you hold.”

Reason given
Conclusion“I hope that everybody will support it, regardless of which side of the aisle you are on.”

Because“Today, we have legislation on the floor that I am proud of, that would stop the ability of Members of Congress to acquire equities and would have significant transparency and presale requirements before you can sell equities you hold.”

“If we did that, it would be night and day in this body if people were not allowed to acquire Microsoft while you are voting on technology;”

“acquire Lockheed when you are voting on Defense;”

“acquire pharma or Big Insurance when you are voting on healthcare policies when you are supposed to be focusing on the American people and not focusing on your portfolio.”

Reason given
Conclusion“I think we should be having a straight up-or-down vote on this stock trading bill.”

BecauseNo reason given

No reason givenThe demand is asserted without any supporting reason for why such a vote is required.
Conclusion“I am not done this year demanding that we have a straight up-or-down vote on stock trading.”

BecauseGiven in the same sentence

Reason given
Conclusion“You can’t, whether you are on this or that side of the aisle, hide behind the SAVE America Act for your opposition to what we need to do to change the culture of this institution.”

BecauseNo reason given

No reason givenThe claim is asserted without a reason beyond the speaker’s assertion that opposition cannot be hidden behind that bill.

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 30 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.

Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “I think this is a giant step forward”Asserts a large-scale judgment without any source or measure.
Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “it would be night and day”Asserts a dramatic outcome with no evidence or basis offered.

Claims · 9

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“11,000 trades totaling between $600 million and $900 million of legislators over the last year”Over the last year, legislators made 11,000 trades totaling between $600 million and $900 million.search
2“one Member, a Democrat, $79 million of 406 trades”One Democratic Member of Congress made 406 trades totaling $79 million over the last year.search
3“one man, a Republican, $75 million on 1,000 trades”One Republican Member of Congress made 1,000 trades totaling $75 million over the last year.search
4“A Democrat, $55 million on 3,923 trades”One Democratic Member of Congress made 3,923 trades totaling $55 million over the last year.search
5“There is no such right guaranteed in the Constitution.”The U.S. Constitution does not guarantee a right for members of Congress to trade stocks.search
6“We passed legislation in 2012 that made a lot of this transparent.”Congress passed legislation in 2012 that made members’ stock trading transparent.search
7“legislation on the floor that I am proud of, that would stop the ability of Members of Congress to acquire equities and would have significant transparency and presale requirements before you can sell equities you hold”The Stop Insider Trading Act would prohibit Members of Congress from purchasing stocks and would impose public notice requirements before selling equities.search
8“I am the lead author also of the SAVE America Act.”Chip Roy is the lead author of the SAVE America Act.search
9“That legislation has been offered on the back of this bill.”The SAVE America Act was offered as an amendment to the Stop Insider Trading Act.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15