Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Pete Stauber

Republican on Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act of 2026 2026-09-01

305 words · 16 sentences · 17 clauses

Statement grade

B–

Average 72 / 100

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

Greeting 8%Claims 62%Reasoning 9%Thanks 8%Positioning 9%The ask 4%

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

Mr. Speaker, Greeting · 25 wordsI rise in strong support of H.R. 9436, the Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act, introduced by my good friends, Representative Lawler and Representative Golden of Maine.¹Greeting Claims · 172 wordsEach and every day, onerous regulations negatively impact our constituents along with the local economies and local communities that we represent. Too often, here in Washington, these onerous regulations are put in place without a full understanding of the impact that they will have on the ground. These regulations often set unreasonable standards or are set to go into effect on unreasonable timelines.Off point The regulations on the North Atlantic right whale, which are currently mandated to be implemented by the end of 2028, are an example of these unreasonable timelines that will have a negative impact on local and regional economies across New England and will have an outsized impact on the Maine lobstermen.² This bipartisan legislation before us today does not weaken protections for the North Atlantic right whale. The legislation simply delays implementation of these new regulations so we can get it right.³Vague promise This legislation will allow adequate time to seek input from affected industries and communities, ensuring we have fit-for-purpose regulations that will protect the North Atlantic right whale.Vague promise Reasoning · 28 wordsFailure to do this the right way and allow time for the right regulations to be developed could devastate the local economy and our fisheries across New England. Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 24 wordsI commend my good friend Representative Golden for standing up for his constituents and for working with Representative Lawler to bring this legislation forward.Thanks Claims · 17 wordsRepresentative Golden is from Maine.⁴Off point He wants this for his constituents and the lobster fishermen from Maine. Positioning · 28 wordsI think that we ought to listen to Representative Golden, who, in my humble opinion, has been one of the most effective Democrats on the Natural Resources Committee.PositioningOff point Mr. Speaker, The ask · 11 wordsI urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 9436.

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 73

4 of 11 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 rise in strong support of H.R.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Greetings and pleasantries.What the tags mean “9436, the Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act, introduced by my good friends, Representative Lawler and Representative Golden of Maine.”A greeting: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I commend my good friend Representative Golden for standing up for his constituents and for working with Representative Lawler to bring this legislation forward.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “I think that we ought to listen to Representative Golden, who, in my humble opinion, has been one of the most effective Democrats on the Natural Resources Committee.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 61

5 of 11 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 “Each and every day, onerous regulations negatively impact our constituents along with the local economies and local communities that we represent.”Makes a general point about onerous regulations rather than addressing this bill.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Too often, here in Washington, these onerous regulations are put in place without a full understanding of the impact that they will have on the ground.”A general complaint about Washington regulation-making, not about the bill’s terms.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “These regulations often set unreasonable standards or are set to go into effect on unreasonable timelines.”Speaks of regulations in general, not the whale-gear deadline this bill would extend.
Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate.What the tags mean “Representative Golden is from Maine.”A biographical aside about Representative Golden, not about the bill.
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 that we ought to listen to Representative Golden, who, in my humble opinion, has been one of the most effective Democrats on the Natural Resources Committee.”Personal praise of a colleague’s effectiveness, not an argument about the 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 · 82

2 of 11 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 “so we can get it right”States no measure or condition for what ‘right’ means or how it will be judged.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “fit-for-purpose regulations that will protect the North Atlantic right whale”Asserts a protective outcome with no standard, actor, or success condition specified.

Claims · 4

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“introduced by my good friends, Representative Lawler and Representative Golden of Maine”H.R. 9436, the Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act, was introduced by Representative Lawler and Representative Golden of Maine.search
2“currently mandated to be implemented by the end of 2028”Current law requires the National Marine Fisheries Service to issue new North Atlantic right whale protection regulations by the end of 2028.search
3“delays implementation of these new regulations”The Northeast Lobsterman Protection Act of 2026 would delay implementation of the new whale-protection gear regulations by extending the deadline from 2028 to 2035.search
4“Representative Golden is from Maine”Representative Jared Golden represents a district in Maine.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15