Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Virginia Foxx

Republican on The Wonderful Mccourt Family 2026-07-21

338 words · 13 sentences · 20 clauses

Statement grade

B+

Average 82 / 100

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

Claims 65%Positioning 15%Procedure 10%Thanks 5%The ask 4%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 92 wordsI rise to highlight a very insightful and pertinent report from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, ACTA, titled: ¹``A Broadside for the Nation, Preparing College Students for Informed Citizenship.’’ ACTA is a wonderful, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting academic excellence, academic freedom, ²and accountability through the trustees at America’s colleges and universities as well as informing and engaging the general public. The broadside is reminiscent of the many broadsides published during the revolutionary period that were so important in informing the people along with getting their support for the revolution. Positioning · 25 wordsBeing an informed citizen isn’t passe. It is one of our most sacred responsibilities as Americans and one we cannot afford to abandon or ignore.Positioning Procedure · 6 wordsAs the report’s authors lay out: ProcedureClaims · 46 words``True patriotism includes a commitment to and appreciation of American values and principles. Since the founding of our Nation, our greatest leaders have recognized that our freedom and our prosperity depend on informed and engaged citizens.’’ We just celebrated 250 years of American greatness, Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 27 wordsand we ought to do all that we can to learn of and espouse the values and principles that make America the greatest country in the world.PositioningVague promiseUnearned certainty Procedure · 13 wordsMichael Poliakoff, the president of ACTA, captured this sentiment perfectly in this report: ³ProcedureClaims · 60 words``The birth of America 250 years ago amazed the world, ⁴and our founding documents have inspired the search for freedom and human rights throughout the world. The colleges and universities built and maintained by the vision and generosity of generations of Americans owe it to the Nation to ensure that every student they graduate understands the precious heritage we share.’’ Procedure · 16 wordsLet us not forget the wisdom of Thomas Jefferson who once opined on this very issue: ProcedureClaims · 23 words``If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.’’⁵ Thanks · 18 wordsI commend ACTA and the many authors who contributed to this report for calling attention to this issue.Thanks The ask · 12 wordsIt is one that we all would do well to wholeheartedly support.

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 65

7 of 9 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.

Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “Being an informed citizen isn’t passe.”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 “It is one of our most sacred responsibilities as Americans and one we cannot afford to abandon or ignore.”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 “As the report’s authors lay out:”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 “and we ought to do all that we can to learn of and espouse the values and principles that make America the greatest country in the world.”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 “Michael Poliakoff, the president of ACTA, captured this sentiment perfectly in this report:”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 “Let us not forget the wisdom of Thomas Jefferson who once opined on this very issue:”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I commend ACTA and the many authors who contributed to this report for calling attention to this issue.”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · no score

Not applicable: nothing to answer. Excluded from the average.

Relevance checks whether the speaker stays on topic and answers the question asked. A low score means the speaker dodged the issue.

Reasoning · 93

0 of 9 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“and we ought to do all that we can to learn of and espouse the values and principles that make America the greatest country in the world.”

Because“Being an informed citizen isn’t passe.”

“It is one of our most sacred responsibilities as Americans and one we cannot afford to abandon or ignore.”

“Since the founding of our Nation, our greatest leaders have recognized that our freedom and our prosperity depend on informed and engaged citizens.’’”

Reason given
Conclusion“It is one that we all would do well to wholeheartedly support.”

Because“Being an informed citizen isn’t passe.”

“It is one of our most sacred responsibilities as Americans and one we cannot afford to abandon or ignore.”

“``If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.’’”

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 · 89

2 of 9 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.

A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “we ought to do all that we can”Names no actor, action, measure, or condition, so it cannot be checked later.
Something stated as certain with nothing to back it.What the tags mean “the greatest country in the world”Asserts a superlative as settled fact with no source offered.

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“I rise to highlight a very insightful and pertinent report from the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, ACTA, titled: ”The American Council of Trustees and Alumni published a report titled ‘A Broadside for the Nation, Preparing College Students for Informed Citizenship.’search
2“ACTA is a wonderful, nonprofit organization”The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) is a nonprofit organization.search
3“Michael Poliakoff, the president of ACTA”Michael Poliakoff is the president of ACTA.search
4“``The birth of America 250 years ago amazed the world, ”Michael Poliakoff wrote in the report: ‘The birth of America 250 years ago amazed the world, and our founding documents have inspired the search for freedom and human rights throughout the world.’search
5“If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.”Thomas Jefferson wrote: ‘If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be.’search

Analyzed on 2026-09-15