Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Richard J. Durbin

Democrat on Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 1689 (Executive Calendar) 2026-07-22

511 words · 26 sentences · 38 clauses

Statement grade

A–

Average 89 / 100

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

Claims 79%Thanks 4%The ask 5%Reasoning 2%Procedure 5%Positioning 2%Anecdote 4%

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

Mr. President, Claims · 20 wordsI rise in support of H.R. 1689, a bill to designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status through March 20, 2029.¹ Thanks · 18 wordsI thank my colleagues Senator Markey and Senator Blunt Rochester for their leadership on this important humanitarian issue.Thanks Claims · 10 wordsThis bill passed the House on a strong bipartisan vote, ²The ask · 8 wordsand the Senate should pass it as well. Reasoning · 9 wordsSupporting this legislation is the right thing to do; Claims · 68 wordsnationals of Haiti cannot safely return to their home country. The Department of State has issued a level 4 travel advisory, telling Americans that it is unsafe to travel to Haiti due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, civil unrest, ³and limited healthcare. The Federal Aviation Administration prohibits U.S. carriers from flying to Haiti because of the danger to planes of being shot at by the gangs.⁴ Procedure · 9 wordsBut this bill is not just a humanitarian action.Procedure Claims · 192 wordsHaitian TPS holders have become integral parts of their communities. In fact, our former Senate colleague Mike Dewine--now the Republican Governor of Ohio--called the Trump administration’s decision to terminate Haiti’s TPS ``a mistake’’ and a ``job killer’’ that is ``not in the best interest of the United States nor Ohio.’’⁵ He noted that Haitian TPS holders are opening small businesses, working, and raising families in Ohio communities. Illinois is no different; hundreds of Haitian families in Illinois will be impacted by the terminations of TPS.⁶ In fact, there are 350,000 Haitian TPS holders nationwide, with 50,000 U.S. citizen children who will be harmed by the administration’s decision to terminate Haiti’s TPS.⁷ They work in critical industries, providing essential care to our elderly and harvesting the food that we rely on each day. Business organizations and labor unions have warned that the decision to end work authorization for many TPS holders could have sweeping consequences for both workers and the U.S. economy. DHS Secretary Mullin has tried to deflect, saying, ``Either try to fill out the paperwork and be here underneath a permanent status, ⁸or we’ll help you get back to your country.’’ Procedure · 7 wordsBut he leaves out the important part: ProcedureClaims · 58 wordsThe Trump-Mullin Department of Homeland Security has indefinitely banned processing for any immigration application from a Haitian national.⁹ So there is no way for Haitians TPS holders to apply for permanent status. The administration’s goal is clear: Logical leapUnearned certaintyto force Haitian TPS holders to go back to a country where they are at risk of violence, kidnapping, or death. Positioning · 9 wordsThat should tell you everything you need to know.PositioningUnearned certainty Procedure · 8 wordsBut the President showed his hand long ago; ProcedureAnecdote · 20 wordsI was at the meeting in 2018 where he used the term ``s-hole’’ nations to describe Haiti and African countries.¹⁰Anecdote Claims · 56 wordsI will never forget it--it was an embarrassment to the White House, to the Oval Office, and to the Presidency. At the time, President Trump denied making this statement, but now, he proudly proclaims his bigotry toward the Haitian people. I happen to disagree with the President. Haitian TPS holders make our country better every day. The ask · 19 wordsI urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this live unanimous consent request to extend TPS for Haiti.

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 82

6 of 9 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 and tributes.What the tags mean “I thank my colleagues Senator Markey and Senator Blunt Rochester for their leadership on this important humanitarian 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 “But this bill is not just a humanitarian action.”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 “But he leaves out the important part:”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 should tell you everything you need to know.”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 “But the President showed his hand long ago;”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I was at the meeting in 2018 where he used the term ``s-hole’’ nations to describe Haiti and African countries.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · no score

Not applicable: nothing to answer. Excluded from the average.

Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue.

Reasoning · 90

1 of 9 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 “The administration’s goal is clear:”The statement moves from the processing ban to a claimed intent to force return, asserting a goal the described actions do not establish.

Conclusions found · 5

Conclusion“and the Senate should pass it as well.”

Because“This bill passed the House on a strong bipartisan vote,”

Reason given
Conclusion“Supporting this legislation is the right thing to do;”

Because“nationals of Haiti cannot safely return to their home country.”

“The Department of State has issued a level 4 travel advisory, telling Americans that it is unsafe to travel to Haiti due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, civil unrest,”

“and limited healthcare.”

“The Federal Aviation Administration prohibits U.S. carriers from flying to Haiti because of the danger to planes of being shot at by the gangs.”

Reason given
Conclusion“So there is no way for Haitians TPS holders to apply for permanent status.”

Because“DHS Secretary Mullin has tried to deflect, saying, ``Either try to fill out the paperwork and be here underneath a permanent status,”

“or we’ll help you get back to your country.’’”

“But he leaves out the important part:”

“The Trump-Mullin Department of Homeland Security has indefinitely banned processing for any immigration application from a Haitian national.”

Reason given
Conclusion“or death.”

Because“DHS Secretary Mullin has tried to deflect, saying, ``Either try to fill out the paperwork and be here underneath a permanent status,”

“or we’ll help you get back to your country.’’”

“The Trump-Mullin Department of Homeland Security has indefinitely banned processing for any immigration application from a Haitian national.”

“So there is no way for Haitians TPS holders to apply for permanent status.”

Reason flawedThe statement moves from the processing ban to a claimed intent to force return, asserting a goal the described actions do not establish.
Conclusion“I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this live unanimous consent request to extend TPS for Haiti.”

Because“nationals of Haiti cannot safely return to their home country.”

“The Department of State has issued a level 4 travel advisory, telling Americans that it is unsafe to travel to Haiti due to the risk of crime, kidnapping, terrorism, civil unrest,”

“and limited healthcare.”

“The Federal Aviation Administration prohibits U.S. carriers from flying to Haiti because of the danger to planes of being shot at by the gangs.”

“Haitian TPS holders have become integral parts of their communities.”

“He noted that Haitian TPS holders are opening small businesses, working,”

“and raising families in Ohio communities.”

Reason given

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 · 96

2 of 9 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 “The administration’s goal is clear”Asserts certainty about a motive with no source offered for what the goal is.
Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “That should tell you everything you need to know”A certainty formula that presents the prior argument as complete proof without a source.

Claims · 10

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“a bill to designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status through March 20, 2029”H.R. 1689 is a bill to designate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status through March 20, 2029.search
2“This bill passed the House on a strong bipartisan vote”H.R. 1689 passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a bipartisan vote.search
3“The Department of State has issued a level 4 travel advisory”The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 4 travel advisory for Haiti.search
4“The Federal Aviation Administration prohibits U.S. carriers from flying to Haiti”The Federal Aviation Administration prohibits U.S. carriers from flying to Haiti.search
5“Mike Dewine--now the Republican Governor of Ohio--called the Trump administration’s decision to terminate Haiti’s TPS ``a mistake’’”Ohio Governor Mike DeWine called the Trump administration’s decision to terminate Haiti’s TPS ‘a mistake,’ a ‘job killer,’ and ‘not in the best interest of the United States nor Ohio.’search
6“hundreds of Haitian families in Illinois will be impacted by the terminations of TPS”Hundreds of Haitian families in Illinois will be impacted by the terminations of TPS.search
7“there are 350,000 Haitian TPS holders nationwide, with 50,000 U.S. citizen children”There are 350,000 Haitian TPS holders nationwide, with 50,000 U.S. citizen children who will be affected by termination of Haiti’s TPS.search
8“DHS Secretary Mullin has tried to deflect, saying, ``Either try to fill out the paperwork and be here underneath a permanent status, ”DHS Secretary Mullin said, ‘Either try to fill out the paperwork and be here underneath a permanent status, or we’ll help you get back to your country.’search
9“The Trump-Mullin Department of Homeland Security has indefinitely banned processing for any immigration application from a Haitian national”The Department of Homeland Security has indefinitely banned processing of any immigration application from a Haitian national.search
10“I was at the meeting in 2018 where he used the term ``s-hole’’ nations to describe Haiti and African countries”At a 2018 meeting, President Trump used the term ‘s-hole’ to describe Haiti and African countries.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-16