Analysis · Floor speech · beta

Tim Burchett

Republican on Price Gouging by Big Oil Companies 2026-09-15

292 words · 19 sentences · 23 clauses

Statement grade

Average 76 / 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 37%Positioning 28%Promise 5%Reasoning 6%The ask 12%

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

Mr. Speaker, Procedure · 14 wordsI rise today to voice my concerns on the rising price of diesel fuel.Procedure Claims · 33 wordsPrice gouging by greedy oil companies is causing hardworking Americans to struggle to fill their tanks. President Trump has already called on the Department of Justice to open an investigation into this abuse.¹ Procedure · 19 wordsBehind me, to my left, you will see a chart explaining just how dire this situation is for consumers.Procedure Claims · 53 wordsRefiners typically make a profit of around $15 per barrel, ²or roughly 35 cents per gallon.³ Today, the refiners are making $117 per barrel, ⁴or $2.78 per gallon.⁵ That is nearly an 800 percent increase, Mr. Speaker, an 800 percent increase they are making on the backs of hardworking Americans--our farmers, truck drivers, Positioning · 5 wordsand ultimately us, the consumers.Positioning Claims · 10 wordsEvery day we go to the market and pay more. Promise · 15 wordsThat is why I am introducing legislation to implement export control measures on American diesel.⁶ Reasoning · 18 wordsExport controls drive down prices while also helping farmers and keeping more money in the pockets of consumers. Positioning · 24 wordsThat is affordability, Mr. Speaker. That is what America wants.Unearned certainty That is what they are asking for, and dadgummit we ought to deliver it.PositioningVague promise Claims · 13 wordsThese companies know they can make more money selling at higher prices abroad. Positioning · 12 wordsAmerican companies should prioritize American consumers and keep American diesel in America.Positioning The ask · 16 wordsI ask the President to please call on Congress to pass this vital piece of legislation. Positioning · 40 wordsI don’t believe Congress has the guts or the willpower to do it. But the President has proven time and time again that he and Vice President Vance do have the guts to do what is right for this country.Positioning The ask · 20 wordsI call on the President--I implore the President-- please, to call on Congress to pass this vital piece of legislation.

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 57

10 of 12 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 rise today to voice my concerns on the rising price of diesel fuel.”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 “Behind me, to my left, you will see a chart explaining just how dire this situation is for consumers.”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 ultimately us, the consumers.”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 “That is affordability, Mr. Speaker.”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 “That is what America wants.”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 “That is what they are asking for,”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 “and dadgummit we ought to deliver it.”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 “American companies should prioritize American consumers and keep American diesel in America.”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 “I don’t believe Congress has the guts or the willpower to do it.”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 “But the President has proven time and time again that he and Vice President Vance do have the guts to do what is right for this country.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. 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.

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

2 of 12 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 “That is what America wants”Sweeps in the whole nation’s desire with no poll, petition, or source offered.
A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.What the tags mean “we ought to deliver it”Sets no date, measure, or success condition, and ‘we’ never says who must act.

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“President Trump has already called on the Department of Justice to open an investigation”President Trump called on the Department of Justice to open an investigation into price gouging by oil companies.search
2“Refiners typically make a profit of around $15 per barrel”Oil refiners typically make a profit of around $15 per barrel.search
3“roughly 35 cents per gallon”Refiners’ typical profit is roughly 35 cents per gallon.search
4“Today, the refiners are making $117 per barrel”Refiners are currently making $117 per barrel in profit.search
5“$2.78 per gallon”Refiners are currently making $2.78 per gallon in profit.search
6“I am introducing legislation to implement export control measures on American diesel”Tim Burchett is introducing legislation to implement export control measures on American diesel.search

Analyzed on 2026-09-17