Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Robin L. Kelly

Democrat on Rebuilding in Illinois 2026-09-03

156 words · 7 sentences · 9 clauses

Statement grade

C–

57 / 100, held down by Signal

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

Thanks 54%Claims 24%Anecdote 19%Reasoning 4%

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

Mr. Speaker, Thanks · 34 wordsI rise today to express my gratitude to the linemen and -women and utility crews in my district who tirelessly worked to restore power following the severe storms in late July and early August.Thanks Claims · 8 wordsTowns in my district lost thousands of trees.¹ Thanks · 50 wordsTo our contractors and skilled tradespeople who are rebuilding what the storm tried to take, to the road crews continuing the work of clearing debris block by block, and to our first responders and emergency management teams who showed up when we needed them most, I thank them so much.Thanks Anecdote · 29 wordsWhile touring the district during the storm recovery, I saw firsthand the community spirit of towns throughout my district: neighbors checking on neighbors and showing up for one another.Anecdote Claims · 29 wordsThat is exactly why I sent FEMA a letter demanding that they treat Illinois families the same way they treated Indiana families.² It was one storm in two States.³ Reasoning · 6 wordsThe response should look the same.

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 · 27

5 of 5 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 rise today to express my gratitude to the linemen and -women and utility crews in my district who tirelessly worked to restore power following the severe storms in late July and early August.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “To our contractors and skilled tradespeople who are rebuilding what the storm tried to take, to the road crews continuing the work of clearing debris block by block,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “and to our first responders and emergency management teams who showed up when we needed them most, I thank them so much.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “While touring the district during the storm recovery, I saw firsthand the community spirit of towns throughout my district:”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “neighbors checking on neighbors and showing up for one another.”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 · 87

0 of 5 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.

Nothing lost points.

Conclusions found · 1

Conclusion“The response should look the same.”

Because“That is exactly why I sent FEMA a letter demanding that they treat Illinois families the same way they treated Indiana families.”

“It was one storm in two States.”

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 · 100

0 of 5 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.

Nothing lost points.

Claims · 3

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“Towns in my district lost thousands of trees”Towns in Robin Kelly’s congressional district lost thousands of trees in the severe storms of late July and early August 2026.search
2“I sent FEMA a letter demanding that they treat Illinois families the same way they treated Indiana families”Robin Kelly sent a letter to FEMA asking it to assist Illinois storm-affected families in the same way it assisted Indiana families.search
3“It was one storm in two States”The late July/early August 2026 storm affected both Illinois and Indiana.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-16