Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Andrew R. Garbarino

Republican on Measuring Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act 2026-07-13

221 words · 10 sentences · 15 clauses

Statement grade

A+

Average 95 / 100

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

Procedure 14%Claims 83%The ask 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, Procedure · 13 wordsI rise in support of H.R. 8535, the Measuring Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act.Procedure Claims · 183 wordsThis legislation requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop performance metrics relating to detection, deterrence, ¹and seizure of illicit fentanyl for the Department of Homeland Security and each of its components. Additionally, this bill requires each relevant DHS component to share information related to the detection, deterrence, ²and seizure of fentanyl with each other, as well as identify any barriers to sharing information and data. The fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act required DHS to establish a program to collect data and develop measures to assess the effectiveness of efforts to detect and deter illicit fentanyl.³ It also required the Government Accountability Office to audit the program.⁴ A September 2025 GAO report analyzed the Department’s efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking, with findings that DHS had not yet established the program, that CBP was not provided adequate information from across DHS components that would inform the program, ⁵and that DHS had not developed performance goals and metrics to track them.⁶ This legislation will support current DHS efforts to implement these requirements and combat the flow of illicit fentanyl into the United States. Madam Speaker, The ask · 8 wordsI encourage my colleagues to support this bill, Procedure · 8 wordsand I 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 · 86

4 of 4 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 “I rise in support of H.R.”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 “8535, the Measuring Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act.”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 “and I reserve the balance of my time.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

0 of 4 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 · 100

0 of 4 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 · 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“This legislation requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop performance metrics relating to detection, deterrence, ”H.R. 8535, the Measuring Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act, requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop performance metrics relating to detection, deterrence, and seizure of illicit fentanyl for DHS and each of its components.search
2“Additionally, this bill requires each relevant DHS component to share information related to the detection, deterrence, ”H.R. 8535 requires each relevant DHS component to share fentanyl detection, deterrence, and seizure information with each other and to identify barriers to sharing information and data.search
3“The fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act required DHS to establish a program to collect data and develop measures to assess the effectiveness of efforts to detect and deter illicit fentanyl.”The fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act required DHS to establish a program to collect data and develop measures assessing the effectiveness of efforts to detect and deter illicit fentanyl.search
4“It also required the Government Accountability Office to audit the program.”The fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act required the Government Accountability Office to audit the DHS fentanyl data program.search
5“A September 2025 GAO report analyzed the Department’s efforts to combat fentanyl trafficking, with findings that DHS had not yet established the program”A September 2025 GAO report found that DHS had not yet established the fentanyl data collection program required by the FY2023 NDAA.search
6“that DHS had not developed performance goals and metrics to track them.”The September 2025 GAO report found that DHS had not developed performance goals and metrics for tracking its fentanyl efforts.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15