Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Jason Smith

Republican on Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act 2026-07-23

403 words · 18 sentences · 20 clauses

Statement grade

B+

Average 82 / 100

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

Procedure 6%Claims 32%Reasoning 24%Anecdote 16%Positioning 16%Thanks 5%The ask 2%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 9 wordsI yield myself such time as I may consume.Procedure Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 6 wordsI rise in support of H.R.Procedure Claims · 76 words8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, introduced by our colleague from Georgia, Representative Austin Scott.¹ Many Americans that are living with disabilities want to enter the workforce and seek gainful employment. In fact, an estimated 60 percent of Americans who receive benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance program have stated a desire to return to work.² Yet less than 1 percent leave the disability insurance program each year for a job.³ Reasoning · 62 wordsThat is a gigantic gap between the number of disabled Americans who want to work and the number who successfully return to work. The Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act seeks to shrink that gap by simply restoring the Social Security Administration’s authority to test drive solutions that can empower more of our fellow Americans to get back to work. Claims · 16 wordsUp until 2022, the SSA had such authority to run demonstration projects on improving work outcomes.⁴ Reasoning · 26 wordsWith that authority expired and with so many disabled Americans still unable to successfully navigate the current program, we have to find a better way forward.Vague promise Claims · 35 wordsIn fact, some of the challenges cited for why so few SSDI beneficiaries successfully return to the workforce are confusing rules of the road for eligibility, that and a fear of overpayments and benefit cliffs. Anecdote · 63 wordsJust so we do not forget why we should be focused on this issue, at a hearing of the Ways and Means Social Security and Work and Welfare Subcommittees in September, we heard from a witness, a former beneficiary, about how the work he found helped give his life real purpose and a different outlook.⁵ He was talking about the dignity of work, AnecdoteReasoning · 9 wordsand that is what this bill will help deliver. Positioning · 35 wordsRepresentative Scott has been a long-time--and I would say long-time, tireless champion for Purple Heart veterans. Many of them wish to return to work but cannot afford the severe restrictions placed on their work status.Positioning Thanks · 22 wordsI commend Mr. Scott for expanding his bill to allow the SSA’s demonstration authority for so many impacted individuals, including blind Americans.Thanks Positioning · 28 wordsHe has identified a commonsense solution and is fighting to see it come to pass, just as it did through the Ways and Means Committee with bipartisan support.⁶Positioning Mr. Speaker, The ask · 8 wordsI urge my colleagues to support this bill, Procedure · 8 wordsand I reserve the balance of my time.Procedure

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 55

9 of 10 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.

Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “I yield myself such time as I may consume.”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 rise in support of H.R.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “Just so we do not forget why we should be focused on this issue, at a hearing of the Ways and Means Social Security and Work and Welfare Subcommittees in September, we heard from a witness, a former beneficiary, about how the work he found helped give his life real purpose and a different outlook.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “He was talking about the dignity of work,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “Representative Scott has been a long-time--and I would say long-time, tireless champion for Purple Heart veterans.”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 “Many of them wish to return to work but cannot afford the severe restrictions placed on their work status.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I commend Mr. Scott for expanding his bill to allow the SSA’s demonstration authority for so many impacted individuals, including blind Americans.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “He has identified a commonsense solution and is fighting to see it come to pass, just as it did through the Ways and Means Committee with bipartisan support.”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 “and I reserve the balance of my time.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

0 of 10 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.

Nothing lost points.

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 · 90

1 of 10 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.

A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “we have to find a better way forward”A commitment with no actor, date, measure, or success condition.

Claims · 6

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“8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, introduced by our colleague from Georgia, Representative Austin Scott”H.R. 8884, the Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act, was introduced by Representative Austin Scott of Georgia.search
2“an estimated 60 percent of Americans who receive benefits under the Social Security Disability Insurance program have stated a desire to return to work”An estimated 60 percent of Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries have stated a desire to return to work.search
3“less than 1 percent leave the disability insurance program each year for a job”Less than 1 percent of SSDI beneficiaries leave the program each year for a job.search
4“Up until 2022, the SSA had such authority to run demonstration projects on improving work outcomes”The SSA’s authority to run SSDI demonstration projects expired in 2022.search
5“at a hearing of the Ways and Means Social Security and Work and Welfare Subcommittees in September, we heard from a witness, a former beneficiary”In September, the Ways and Means Social Security and Work and Welfare Subcommittees held a hearing at which a former SSDI beneficiary testified.search
6“just as it did through the Ways and Means Committee with bipartisan support”The Removing Barriers to Work for Disabled Americans Act advanced through the House Ways and Means Committee with bipartisan support.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15