Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Diana DeGette

Democrat on Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for Als Reauthorization Act of 2026 2026-07-20

333 words · 16 sentences · 18 clauses

Statement grade

Average 90 / 100

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

Procedure 11%Claims 51%Positioning 3%Anecdote 6%Promise 16%Thanks 14%

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 · 30 wordsabout 5,000 Americans are diagnosed with ALS every year.¹ It is a disease that causes the nervous system to stop working and die, leading to muscle weakness and eventually paralysis. Positioning · 11 wordsEssentially, when someone gets the diagnosis, it is a death sentence.Positioning Anecdote · 21 wordsI am all too familiar with this disease and its rapid progression because in 1996, I lost my father-in-law to ALS.²Anecdote Claims · 59 wordsThe original Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act passed in 2021 and unleashed incredible Federal resources to improve our understanding of this relentless disease in search of a cure.³ It revolutionized the way FDA uses real-world evidence to foster the development of ALS therapeutics and gave patients a chance to try investigational drugs for rare neurodegenerative diseases. Promise · 52 wordsWe have the opportunity today to ensure ALS patients can continue to access promising new therapies, and our preeminent biomedical research institutions can continue to work towards a cure. This reauthorization will provide the continuing statutory basis for the great work that the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act began, Procedure · 8 wordsand it couldn’t come at a better moment.Procedure Claims · 80 wordsWe have seen immense research progress in the 5 years since passage. Health Subcommittee members here today heard from Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya in our hearing on this bill a few months ago when they told us with no uncertainty how important it is for people facing down this cruel disease that we keep this momentum going.⁴ Brian and Sandra are an inspiration to all of us and to people everywhere who are seeking cures for these terrible diseases. Thanks · 45 wordsI want to tell Congressman Mike Quigley that his unwavering leadership on the original Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act and this reauthorization is saving and improving lives. I thank them for putting us on the path of finding a cure for ALS.Thanks Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 18 wordsI yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Quigley), who is the sponsor of this bill.⁵Procedure

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 65

8 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.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “Essentially, when someone gets the diagnosis, it is a death sentence.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “I am all too familiar with this disease and its rapid progression because in 1996, I lost my father-in-law to ALS.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Throat-clearing: announcing what you are about to say, or the House’s routine business.What the tags mean “and it couldn’t come at a better moment.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I want to tell Congressman Mike Quigley that his unwavering leadership on the original Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act and this reauthorization is saving and improving lives.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I thank them for putting us on the path of finding a cure for ALS.”Thanks: 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 yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.”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 “Quigley), who is the sponsor of this bill.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

0 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.

Nothing lost points.

Reasoning · 93

0 of 8 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 · 2

Conclusion“We have the opportunity today to ensure ALS patients can continue to access promising new therapies,”

Because“It revolutionized the way FDA uses real-world evidence to foster the development of ALS therapeutics and gave patients a chance to try investigational drugs for rare neurodegenerative diseases.”

“This reauthorization will provide the continuing statutory basis for the great work that the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act began,”

“We have seen immense research progress in the 5 years since passage.”

Reason given
Conclusion“and it couldn’t come at a better moment.”

Because“We have seen immense research progress in the 5 years since passage.”

“Health Subcommittee members here today heard from Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya in our hearing on this bill a few months ago when they told us with no uncertainty how important it is for people facing down this cruel disease that we keep this momentum going.”

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 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.

Nothing lost points.

Claims · 5

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“about 5,000 Americans are diagnosed with ALS every year”About 5,000 Americans are diagnosed with ALS every year.search
2“in 1996, I lost my father-in-law to ALS”Diana DeGette’s father-in-law died of ALS in 1996.search
3“The original Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act passed in 2021”The original Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act was enacted in 2021.search
4“heard from Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya in our hearing on this bill a few months ago”The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee held a hearing on this ALS bill a few months before July 2026 at which Brian Wallach and Sandra Abrevaya testified.search
5“Quigley), who is the sponsor of this bill.”Mike Quigley, Representative from Illinois, is the sponsor of the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15