Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Bruce Westerman

Republican on Hershel "Woody" Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act 2026-08-31

706 words · 32 sentences · 41 clauses

Statement grade

Average 90 / 100

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

Procedure 3%Claims 73%Positioning 7%Reasoning 3%Anecdote 6%Promise 2%The ask 1%Thanks 4%

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, Claims · 33 wordsas Americans across the country celebrate our Nation’s 250th anniversary this year, it is important to recognize that none of this would be possible without the service and sacrifice of our Armed Forces. Procedure · 12 wordsThat is why the consideration of S. 858 is especially timely today, ProcedurePositioning · 18 wordsas it honors the valor and sacrifice of some of our Nation’s bravest heroes: Medal of Honor recipients.Positioning Mr. Speaker, Claims · 194 words163 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln awarded the first Medal of Honor in the midst of the Civil War.¹ It remains our Nation’s highest honor awarded to members of the Armed Forces and is bestowed sparingly on only those who have demonstrated the highest acts of valor.² Fewer than 70 Medal of Honor recipients are alive today out of the more than 3,500 medals that have been awarded.³ As the highest and most prestigious military decoration in the United States, the Medal of Honor symbolizes extraordinary acts of bravery, selflessness, and sacrifice beyond the call of duty. By recognizing these remarkable individuals, the Medal of Honor inspires national pride, honors the memory of fallen heroes, and motivates future generations to embody the values of courage and honor. The Medal of Honor continues to symbolize the American people’s profound respect and gratitude for the sacrifices recipients have made defending freedom and justice. The Hershel ``Woody’’ Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act would ensure that the monument honoring these brave heroes can be placed on what is known as the Reserve, ⁴which is commonly referred to as The National Mall here in Washington, D.C. Positioning · 13 wordsA monument honoring our most exceptional military heroes deserves an equally exceptional location.Positioning Claims · 32 wordsAccording to National Park Service data, The National Mall receives upward of 25 million visitors each year.⁵ The monuments and memorials located on The National Mall are the centerpiece of this history, Reasoning · 24 wordsand it is appropriate to include a new monument honoring veterans who have displayed the most courageous acts of valor recognized by our country. Anecdote · 41 wordsIn my home State of Arkansas, our State capital also has a memorial dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients.⁶ I hope the monument in D.C., like the one in Arkansas, can inspire reflection, patriotism, and gratitude for our Nation’s military heroes.Anecdote Claims · 259 wordsLast Congress, the Committee on Natural Resources had the privilege of hearing from one of the 65 living Medal of Honor recipients, Master Chief Special Warfare Operator Britt Slabinski.⁷ In his inspiring testimony, he reminded us that the Medal of Honor represents those willing to go above and beyond in any circumstance, no matter how small. This monument will serve as an everlasting reminder of this country’s greatness and the difference that one single person can make. As an example of the difference one singular person can make on the course of history, I note that this bill has been named after Hershel ``Woody’’ Williams, who, sadly, passed away in June 2022.⁸ He was known for his extraordinary heroism in the Battle of Iwo Jima during the Second World War.⁹ At the age of 21, he singlehandedly cleared a path for American troops against Japanese forces in an act of extraordinary bravery.¹⁰ The House has already passed this bill unanimously this Congress.¹¹ It is an honor to do so again today and send it to President Trump’s desk. As part of its consideration, the Senate made an unfortunate change to this legislation. It removed a portion of the findings section that expressed the sense of Congress that the Medal of Honor monument should be located near the Lincoln Memorial in recognition of President Lincoln’s unique and integral role in the history of the Medal of Honor.¹² While this section has been removed, Congress and living Medal of Honor recipients still overwhelmingly support locating this monument near the Lincoln Memorial.Unearned certainty Promise · 17 wordsI look forward to working with the Trump administration to ensure such a location is ultimately chosen.Vague promise Positioning · 20 wordsI was proud to support the original legislation authorizing this memorial, and I am proud to support this legislation today.Positioning Mr. Speaker, The ask · 8 wordsI urge my colleagues to support this bill. Thanks · 26 wordsI thank the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore) for his leadership on the House companion to this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.Thanks

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 77

14 of 16 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 “That is why the consideration of S.”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 “858 is especially timely today,”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 “as it honors the valor and sacrifice of some of our Nation’s bravest heroes:”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 “Medal of Honor recipients.”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 “A monument honoring our most exceptional military heroes deserves an equally exceptional location.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “In my home State of Arkansas, our State capital also has a memorial dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I hope the monument in D.C., like the one in Arkansas, can inspire reflection, patriotism,”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 gratitude for our Nation’s military heroes.”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 “I was proud to support the original legislation authorizing this memorial,”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 I am proud to support this legislation today.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I thank the gentleman from Utah (Mr.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Moore) for his leadership on the House companion to this legislation,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “and I reserve the balance of my time.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

0 of 16 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 · 92

2 of 16 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 “still overwhelmingly support”Asserts broad support without any source or evidence offered in the statement.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “I look forward to working with the Trump administration”Expresses an intention with no concrete action, timeline, or measure attached.

Claims · 12

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“163 years ago, President Abraham Lincoln awarded the first Medal of Honor in the midst of the Civil War”President Abraham Lincoln awarded the first Medal of Honor during the Civil War, in 1863 (163 years before 2026).search
2“It remains our Nation’s highest honor awarded to members of the Armed Forces”The Medal of Honor is the highest award given to members of the United States Armed Forces.search
3“Fewer than 70 Medal of Honor recipients are alive today out of the more than 3,500 medals that have been awarded”Fewer than 70 Medal of Honor recipients were alive in 2026, and more than 3,500 Medals of Honor have been awarded in total.search
4“would ensure that the monument honoring these brave heroes can be placed on what is known as the Reserve”The Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams National Medal of Honor Monument Location Act would allow the Medal of Honor monument to be placed on the Reserve (the National Mall cross-axis).search
5“According to National Park Service data, The National Mall receives upward of 25 million visitors each year”National Park Service data show the National Mall receives more than 25 million visitors annually.search
6“our State capital also has a memorial dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients”There is a memorial dedicated to Medal of Honor recipients in Little Rock, Arkansas.search
7“Last Congress, the Committee on Natural Resources had the privilege of hearing from one of the 65 living Medal of Honor recipients, Master Chief Special Warfare Operator Britt Slabinski”Britt Slabinski, a Medal of Honor recipient, testified before the House Committee on Natural Resources last Congress, and there are 65 living Medal of Honor recipients.search
8“this bill has been named after Hershel ``Woody’’ Williams, who, sadly, passed away in June 2022”Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams, after whom the bill is named, died in June 2022.search
9“He was known for his extraordinary heroism in the Battle of Iwo Jima during the Second World War”Hershel Williams was recognized for heroism at the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.search
10“At the age of 21, he singlehandedly cleared a path for American troops against Japanese forces”At age 21, Hershel Williams singlehandedly cleared a path for American troops against Japanese forces at Iwo Jima.search
11“The House has already passed this bill unanimously this Congress”The House passed S. 858 unanimously earlier in the same Congress.search
12“It removed a portion of the findings section that expressed the sense of Congress that the Medal of Honor monument should be located near the Lincoln Memorial”The Senate’s version of the bill removed findings language stating the monument should be located near the Lincoln Memorial.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15