Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Pete Sessions

Republican on Congressman Gerald E. Connolly Post Office Building 2026-07-13

336 words · 17 sentences · 21 clauses

Statement grade

A–

Average 85 / 100

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

Procedure 5%Claims 66%Thanks 14%Positioning 15%

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 · 26 wordstoday, I rise in support of a bill which would rename a post office in Fairfax, Virginia, for one of our former colleagues, Congressman Gerald E.¹ Thanks · 32 wordsConnolly, a father, a husband, friend of mine and to this body, and a lifelong civil public servant, one that dedicated his life to his constituents, his community, and to his country.Thanks Claims · 152 wordsGerald Connolly began his life of service at the Heifer Project International in Little Rock, Arkansas.² Arkansas is a beautiful, young State that we have here in the United States, and he chose to move there and to live to work on his project to begin his service. He then moved to Washington, D.C. in 1972.³ Gerry rose from the education director to executive director of the American Freedom from Hunger Foundation while simultaneously serving as the executive director of the U.S. Committee on Refugees.⁴ He became a pillar of a person and stalwart for Northern Virginia through his 13 years on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and served for 16 years as our colleague in this body representing Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.⁵ In 2025, he was elected as the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform after serving as a member of the committee since 2009.⁶ Thanks · 15 wordsIn Congress, Gerald Connolly was a friend to many of us and my friend also.Thanks Positioning · 28 wordsHe was steadfast in fighting for what he believed in. He was always committed to bipartisanship where he thought we could agree, and he would find those issues.Positioning Claims · 22 wordsI worked with him on many. Many of my Republican committee colleagues found Gerry Connolly to be a partner and a friend. Positioning · 22 wordsThe bottom line is that his exemplary public service will endure, continuing to guide and inspire those committed to serving our Nation.PositioningUnearned certainty Claims · 23 wordsI am sure that his life and the stories of his life are being told with many as an example of public service. Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 7 wordsI 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 · 64

10 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.

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.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “Connolly, a father, a husband, friend of mine and to this body,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “and a lifelong civil public servant, one that dedicated his life to his constituents, his community,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “and to his country.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “In Congress, Gerald Connolly was a friend to many of us and my friend also.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “He was steadfast in fighting for what he believed in.”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 “He was always committed to bipartisanship where he thought we could agree,”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 he would find those issues.”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 “The bottom line is that his exemplary public service will endure, continuing to guide and inspire those committed to serving our Nation.”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 “I reserve the balance of my time.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

0 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.

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 · 91

1 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.

Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “The bottom line is”The formula asserts a conclusion about his service enduring in place of any supporting source.

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“a bill which would rename a post office in Fairfax, Virginia, for one of our former colleagues, Congressman Gerald E.”The bill under debate would designate the USPS facility at 10660 Page Avenue in Fairfax, Virginia, as the Congressman Gerald E. Connolly Post Office Building.search
2“began his life of service at the Heifer Project International in Little Rock, Arkansas”Gerald Connolly began his career at Heifer Project International in Little Rock, Arkansas.search
3“He then moved to Washington, D.C. in 1972”Gerald Connolly moved to Washington, D.C. in 1972.search
4“rose from the education director to executive director of the American Freedom from Hunger Foundation while simultaneously serving as the executive director of the U.S. Committee on Refugees”Gerald Connolly served as executive director of the American Freedom from Hunger Foundation and simultaneously as executive director of the U.S. Committee on Refugees.search
5“his 13 years on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and served for 16 years as our colleague in this body representing Virginia’s 11th Congressional District”Gerald Connolly served 13 years on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and 16 years in the House representing Virginia’s 11th Congressional District.search
6“he was elected as the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform after serving as a member of the committee since 2009”Gerald Connolly was a member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform from 2009 and was elected its ranking member in 2025.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15