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Statement grade
The average of Signal, Relevance and Clarity is 52. The grade is held to 30, 30 above Relevance. 30 / 100, held down by Relevance
Signal
56 / 100
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Relevance
0 / 100
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Respect
–
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Clarity
99 / 100
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A score under 50 is red. Choose a measurement to see where it lost points and why; choose it again to clear.
Claims 49% Positioning 37% Promise 8% Reasoning 1% Procedure 6%
Structure · 10 steps
Claims · 6
This view breaks the statement into its steps and names what each one does.
Mr. Speaker, Claims · 38 words I trust the VFW more than I trust the Republican millionaires’ club that basically populate the United States Congress on their side in this Chamber. The VFW is saying we can do these benefits without punishing other veterans. Positioning · 103 words I find it amusing because the gentlewoman says we need to find offsets. Well, she voted basically to increase the debt by $4.7 trillion in the big, ugly bill, adding $4.7 trillion to the debt.1 Included in that, by the way, is $70 billion, again, unpaid for, for ICE and CBP.2 Again, they have no problem with doing that. They have no problem with tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires and now America’s trillionaire, and no problem with tax cuts for them that are not paid for, but when it comes to providing veterans’ benefits, all of a sudden they have a problem? Positioning Claims · 40 words By the way, just for the record, there is a discharge petition that has been filed to basically bring the Major Richard Star Act to the floor without cutting other benefits for veterans.3 Every Democrat is on that, every Democrat.4 Promise · 25 words We can bring this to the floor. We can have this debate. We can vote on providing veterans additional benefits without cutting other veterans’ benefits. Reasoning · 4 words That is the choice. Claims · 81 words When I hear these speeches about, oh, we really are doing all that we can, and we are on the side of veterans, again, the VFW opposes this strongly.5 They showed up in the Rules Committee, filled up the Rules Committee hearing room yesterday to show their protest, their outrage, over what Republicans were doing.6 Republicans don’t have to do this. Republicans could provide veterans with the benefits they need without robbing other benefits that veterans need. It is that simple. Unearned certainty Positioning · 16 words This is outrageous. This is outrageous what is going on, and people should not be fooled. Positioning Off point Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 18 words I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Scanlon), a distinguished member of the Rules Committee. Procedure
At a glance
Lost points for Off point ×24 Positioning ×10 Procedure ×2 Unearned certainty Off topic None of this speech addressed the bill under debate and what it would change.
Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.
What the tags mean →
Signal · 56
12 of 37 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.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “I find it amusing because the gentlewoman says we need to find offsets.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “Well, she voted basically to increase the debt by $4.7 trillion in the big, ugly bill, adding $4.7 trillion to the debt.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “Included in that, by the way, is $70 billion, again, unpaid for, for ICE and CBP.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “Again, they have no problem with doing that.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “They have no problem with tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires and now America’s trillionaire,” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “and no problem with tax cuts for them that are not paid for,” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “but when it comes to providing veterans’ benefits, all of a sudden they have a problem?” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “This is outrageous.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “This is outrageous what is going on,” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Positioning Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it. What the tags mean → “and people should not be fooled.” Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Procedure Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business. What the tags mean → “Scanlon), a distinguished member of the Rules Committee.” Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Relevance · 0
24 of 37 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.
Off point 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 trust the VFW more than I trust the Republican millionaires’ club that basically populate the United States Congress on their side in this Chamber.” Attacks the opposing party rather than addressing the Sunshine Protection Act or its rule.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “The VFW is saying we can do these benefits without punishing other veterans.” Discusses veterans’ benefits, not the daylight saving time bill under debate.
Off point 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 find it amusing because the gentlewoman says we need to find offsets.” Remarks on the gentlewoman’s offsets point, unrelated to the bill before the House.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Well, she voted basically to increase the debt by $4.7 trillion in the big, ugly bill, adding $4.7 trillion to the debt.” Criticizes the other side’s debt vote instead of addressing the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Included in that, by the way, is $70 billion, again, unpaid for, for ICE and CBP.” Cites ICE and CBP funding, unrelated to the Sunshine Protection Act.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Again, they have no problem with doing that.” Partisan complaint with no connection to the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “They have no problem with tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires and now America’s trillionaire,” Attacks tax cuts for the wealthy, unrelated to the daylight saving bill.
Off point 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 no problem with tax cuts for them that are not paid for,” Continues the tax cut criticism rather than addressing the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “but when it comes to providing veterans’ benefits, all of a sudden they have a problem?” Rhetorical attack on the other side’s position on veterans’ benefits, not on the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “By the way, just for the record, there is a discharge petition that has been filed to basically bring the Major Richard Star Act to the floor without cutting other benefits for veterans.” Promotes the Major Richard Star Act discharge petition, not the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Every Democrat is on that, every Democrat.” Party talking point about the discharge petition, unrelated to the Sunshine Protection Act.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “We can bring this to the floor.” Urges floor action on the Star Act, not the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “We can have this debate.” Refers to a debate on veterans’ benefits, not the pending bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “We can vote on providing veterans additional benefits without cutting other veterans’ benefits.” Addresses veterans’ benefits votes, not the Sunshine Protection Act.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “That is the choice.” Frames the veterans’ benefits choice, not the pending bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “When I hear these speeches about, oh, we really are doing all that we can,” Disputes speeches about veterans, unrelated to the daylight saving bill.
Off point 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 we are on the side of veterans, again, the VFW opposes this strongly.” Cites the VFW’s position on veterans’ benefits, not on the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “They showed up in the Rules Committee, filled up the Rules Committee hearing room yesterday to show their protest, their outrage, over what Republicans were doing.” Describes VFW protest about Republicans’ actions, unrelated to the Sunshine Protection Act.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Republicans don’t have to do this.” Partisan point about Republicans and veterans, not the pending bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “Republicans could provide veterans with the benefits they need without robbing other benefits that veterans need.” Argues Republicans should fund veterans’ benefits, unrelated to the bill under debate.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “It is that simple.” Conclusion of the veterans’ benefits argument, not the bill.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “This is outrageous.” Denunciation without connection to the Sunshine Protection Act.
Off point Talking about something other than the matter at hand: the question asked, or the bill, motion or speech under debate. What the tags mean → “This is outrageous what is going on,” Denunciation of the veterans’ benefits process, not the bill under debate.
Off point 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 people should not be fooled.” Urges the public not to be fooled, unrelated to the pending 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 · 99
1 of 37 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.
Unearned certainty Something stated as certain with nothing to back it. What the tags mean → “It is that simple” The phrase asserts the issue is settled in place of offering a source or argument for it.
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 “increase the debt by $4.7 trillion in the big, ugly bill” The legislation the speaker calls the ‘big, ugly bill’ would increase the federal debt by $4.7 trillion. search 2 “$70 billion, again, unpaid for, for ICE and CBP” The same legislation includes $70 billion in unpaid-for funding for ICE and CBP. search 3 “there is a discharge petition that has been filed to basically bring the Major Richard Star Act to the floor” A discharge petition has been filed to bring the Major Richard Star Act to the House floor. search 4 “Every Democrat is on that, every Democrat.” Every House Democrat has signed the discharge petition for the Major Richard Star Act. search 5 “the VFW opposes this strongly.” The Veterans of Foreign Wars strongly opposes the legislation under consideration. search 6 “They showed up in the Rules Committee, filled up the Rules Committee hearing room yesterday” VFW members attended in large numbers and filled the Rules Committee hearing room on 2026-07-13. search
