Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Lisa Murkowski

Republican on Recognizing the 1960 University of Missouri Tigers Football Team 2026-08-06

982 words · 57 sentences · 74 clauses

Statement grade

B–

Average 70 / 100

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

Positioning 13%Claims 39%Procedure 6%Thanks 21%Reasoning 8%Anecdote 12%Aside 2%Promise 1%

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

Mr. President, Positioning · 52 wordswe go through periods here in the U.S. Senate where there are frustrating issues that we deal with. There are hours of unknown as to what is going to happen. Are we going to be able to make something happen? Are we making a difference? And some days can be particularly discouraging.Positioning Claims · 12 wordsWe have a long way to go before this day is through, Procedure · 15 wordsbut to be here at the midpoint of this day and to be able to, ProcedureThanks · 24 wordsas my colleague and friend from Delaware has stated, to be able to celebrate an accomplishment is a reminder that we do good here.Thanks Reasoning · 19 wordsAnd we don’t do good on our own. It takes teamwork. It takes cooperation and collaboration. It takes advocacy. Positioning · 30 wordsThis is really what makes me just filled with a level of optimism and hope as we are talking about where we are at this moment for the ALS community.Positioning Claims · 68 wordsThe House passed the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act.¹ We call it ACT for ALS. They passed it a few weeks ago, and then the Senate was able to pass it in wrapup. Yes, that means it passed by unanimous consent here yesterday.² We are now in the final step of reauthorizing a program that is making a real difference for people living with ALS. Reasoning · 41 wordsI think it is so important to just take a step back and say ``What does that mean?’’ because we have not found the cure, unfortunately, for ALS. This legislation is not about this magical treatment that has come to be. Claims · 27 wordsBut what we were able to do working together now 5 years ago when we passed the ACT for ALS Act, we created this pathway for individuals.³ Positioning · 6 wordsIt is kind of a roadmap.Positioning Procedure · 2 wordsWe said: ProcedureClaims · 72 wordsIf you are not eligible to participate in clinical trials to access investigational treatments, there is another way here for you. We provided some pretty important funding to NIH and to FDA to accelerate the research, to improve the data sharing, to help speed up the development of new therapies.⁴ But what really comes about with ACT for ALS is it gives people who are living with ALS the opportunity to try. Anecdote · 5 wordsJust let me try something.Anecdote Reasoning · 20 wordsIt might not work, but let me try because right now, the diagnosis I am living with offers no hope. Claims · 76 wordsSo this is something that gives those living with ALS some hope. This is a program that works.Unearned certainty So we passed it 5 years ago. What we have now done is a reauthorization that allows us to build on this progress that we have made to ensure that individuals that are living with ALS can continue to access these clinical trials and the programs that continue to meet the needs of the patients and the researchers. Procedure · 6 wordsSenator Coons has mentioned the advocacy.Procedure Thanks · 39 wordsThose caregivers, those who stand with and are wrapping their arms and their hearts around their loved ones who are dealing with ALS--this is about hope for them as much as those who are living with this dread disease.Thanks Procedure · 11 wordsMy friend has acknowledged the names of those he calls friends.Procedure Anecdote · 24 wordsDan Tate--I was able to receive a text message on passage of the reauthorization here saying, you know, ``Go dudes’’ or something like that.Anecdote Aside · 15 wordsI don’t know that I am a dude, but I loved the enthusiasm he had.Aside Thanks · 10 wordsBrian Wallach has been an extraordinary partner over the years.Thanks Procedure · 5 wordsYou mentioned Sandra Abrevaya. Absolutely.Procedure Thanks · 10 wordsThen there is my personal advocate, my cousin Jenny Dwyer.Thanks Anecdote · 66 wordsIt was through Jenny’s husband Pat that our family learned of ALS, as Pat lived with ALS for 8 years; ⁵and as a family, we came to not only understand the disease and the awful progression, but it allowed us to understand some of what families go through who live with the almost daily heartbreak as you are watching your loved one progress through this diagnosis.Anecdote Procedure · 4 wordsSo to the advocates: ProcedureThanks · 17 wordsKnow that your work matters. Know that your stories matter. Know that you have made a difference.Thanks Claims · 38 wordsSo we are pleased to be able to be at this place where we can move to finally get this reauthorization into law. We have to work things through the two bodies here and get it signed in. Promise · 8 wordsThere is more that we have to do. Claims · 19 wordsWe are working on some good things as the cochairs of the ALS Caucus--the Justice for ALS Veterans Act, Positioning · 6 wordswhich is a really good one, PositioningClaims · 41 wordsand the ALS Better Care Act. Again, these address some of the challenges that face individuals with ALS as well as their families when they are trying to access the care and access the benefits after a loved one has passed. Positioning · 17 wordsWe know that for those that are living with ALS, every day matters, every day is precious, PositioningClaims · 29 wordsand we cannot afford to lose momentum when promising therapies are being studied. I am reminded if not weekly, maybe daily sometimes that people are waiting. People are waiting, Positioning · 11 wordsand they are counting on us to show up for them.Positioning Procedure · 8 wordsSo to all those in the ALS community: ProcedureThanks · 50 wordsThank you for your advocacy. Thank you for your heart and your passion and your persistence but also your willingness to open your hearts and to share your stories so that we can also become motivated and tenacious on your behalf. I am very grateful for my friend from Delaware.Thanks Positioning · 3 wordsIt is hard, PositioningAnecdote · 18 wordsas I hear stories of your dear friend and as he goes through these stages of this disease.Anecdote Thanks · 54 wordsAnd know that even though I have not met Jack, he is in my heart as well, as well as the many, many whom we are advocating for. With that, I thank again not only Senator Coons but all Members here in the Senate that have joined us in this effort to end ALS.Thanks Procedure · 4 wordsI yield the floor.Procedure

At a glance

Lost points for
Little substanceMuch of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 40

42 of 43 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.

Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “we go through periods here in the U.S. Senate where there are frustrating issues that we deal with.”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 “There are hours of unknown as to what is going to happen.”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 “Are we going to be able to make something happen?”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 “Are we making a difference?”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 “And some days can be particularly discouraging.”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 to be here at the midpoint of this day and to be able to,”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “as my colleague and friend from Delaware has stated, to be able to celebrate an accomplishment is a reminder that we do good here.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “This is really what makes me just filled with a level of optimism and hope as we are talking about where we are at this moment for the ALS community.”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 “It is kind of a roadmap.”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 “We said:”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “Just let me try something.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “Senator Coons has mentioned the advocacy.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Those caregivers, those who stand with and are wrapping their arms and their hearts around their loved ones who are dealing with ALS--this is about hope for them as much as those who are living with this dread disease.”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 “My friend has acknowledged the names of those he calls friends.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “Dan Tate--I was able to receive a text message on passage of the reauthorization here saying, you know, ``Go dudes’’ or something like that.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “I don’t know that I am a dude,”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
A remark off to the side of the point.What the tags mean “but I loved the enthusiasm he had.”An aside: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Brian Wallach has been an extraordinary partner over the years.”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 “You mentioned Sandra Abrevaya.”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 “Absolutely.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Then there is my personal advocate, my cousin Jenny Dwyer.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “It was through Jenny’s husband Pat that our family learned of ALS,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “as Pat lived with ALS for 8 years;”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “and as a family, we came to not only understand the disease and the awful progression,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “but it allowed us to understand some of what families go through who live with the almost daily heartbreak as you are watching your loved one progress through this diagnosis.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “So to the advocates:”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Know that your work matters.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Know that your stories matter.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Know that you have made a difference.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “which is a really good one,”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 “We know that for those that are living with ALS, every day matters, every day is precious,”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 “and they are counting on us to show up for them.”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 “So to all those in the ALS community:”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Thank you for your advocacy.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Thank you for your heart and your passion and your persistence but also your willingness to open your hearts and to share your stories so that we can also become motivated and tenacious on your behalf.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I am very grateful for my friend from Delaware.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “It is hard,”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “as I hear stories of your dear friend and as he goes through these stages of this disease.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “And know that even though I have not met Jack, he is in my heart as well,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “as well as the many, many whom we are advocating for.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “With that, I thank again not only Senator Coons but all Members here in the Senate that have joined us in this effort to end ALS.”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 yield the floor.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no 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.

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 · 99

1 of 43 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 “This is a program that works”A flat verdict on the program’s effectiveness asserted without any source, figure, or evidence offered.

Claims · 5

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“The House passed the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act”The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act.search
2“it passed by unanimous consent here yesterday”The U.S. Senate passed the ACT for ALS reauthorization by unanimous consent on 2026-08-05.search
3“now 5 years ago when we passed the ACT for ALS Act”Congress passed the original ACT for ALS Act about 5 years before this 2026 speech (around 2021).search
4“We provided some pretty important funding to NIH and to FDA”The original ACT for ALS Act provided funding to NIH and FDA to accelerate ALS research and therapy development.search
5“Pat lived with ALS for 8 years”The speaker’s relative Pat (Jenny Dwyer’s husband) lived with ALS for 8 years.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-16