Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Bryan Steil

Republican on Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act 2026-07-13

245 words · 15 sentences · 25 clauses

Statement grade

Average 92 / 100

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

Procedure 7%Claims 57%Reasoning 24%The ask 11%

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

Madam Speaker, Procedure · 9 wordsI yield myself such time as I may consume.Procedure Madam Speaker, Claims · 22 wordsI rise today in support of H.R. 3535, the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act, introduced by my friend, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick.¹ Reasoning · 21 wordsU.S. elections should be for U.S. citizens only, and only U.S. citizens should be participating in and donating in political causes. Claims · 92 wordsToday, gaps in our existing laws undermine this principle and actually permit foreign actors to fund U.S. political activities. It is true.Unearned certainty Current law allows foreign funding to infiltrate State and local ballot initiatives, referenda, and recall elections. As we have seen in recent history, those races can attract millions of dollars in outside spending. Some of that has been foreign money, and right now that is completely legal. Shadowy groups, like Sixteen Thirty Fund, funneled millions of foreign-linked dollars into ballot initiatives and campaigns in States, including Arizona, Nevada, ²and Ohio.Off point Procedure · 9 wordsIt sounds crazy, but it is true, Madam Speaker.ProcedureUnearned certainty Reasoning · 22 wordsWe should all be able to agree that foreign funds should not be influencing or financing ballot measures, referenda, or recall elections. Claims · 26 wordsCurrent law, ³as we know, already prohibits foreign money in Federal elections, Unearned certaintyand this bill broadens that nonpartisan, commonsense prohibition to similar State and local elections. Madam Speaker, Reasoning · 17 wordselections should be decided by Americans, and they should not be influenced or funded by foreign nationals. Madam Speaker, The ask · 27 wordsI urge all of my colleagues to support this legislation and ensure American elections remain for American citizens only, and I reserve the balance of my time

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 92

3 of 8 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 “It sounds crazy,”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 “but it is true, Madam Speaker.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 89

2 of 8 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 “Shadowy groups, like Sixteen Thirty Fund, funneled millions of foreign-linked dollars into ballot initiatives and campaigns in States, including Arizona, Nevada,”Accusations against a named group about foreign-linked dollars go beyond the bill’s terms and are a political point a fair reader could not verify from 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 “and Ohio.”Continuation of the same political accusation rather than discussion of 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 · 94

3 of 8 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 “It is true”Asserts the truth of the preceding claim as settled fact without citing any source or evidence.
Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “it is true”Substitutes an assurance of truth for any evidence supporting the claim about foreign-linked dollars.
Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “as we know”Uses a shared-knowledge formula in place of citing the law or a source for the claim about current federal prohibition.

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“3535, the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act, introduced by my friend, Representative Brian Fitzpatrick.”H.R. 3535, the Stop Foreign Funds in Elections Act, was introduced by Representative Brian Fitzpatrick.search
2“Shadowy groups, like Sixteen Thirty Fund, funneled millions of foreign-linked dollars into ballot initiatives and campaigns in States, including Arizona, Nevada, ”The Sixteen Thirty Fund funneled millions of foreign-linked dollars into ballot initiative campaigns in states including Arizona, Nevada, and Ohio.search
3“Current law, ”Current U.S. law prohibits foreign nationals from contributing money in federal elections.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15