Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Thomas R. Suozzi

Democrat on Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act 2026-09-15

662 words · 38 sentences · 47 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.

Claims 65%Thanks 4%Anecdote 10%Positioning 12%Procedure 0%The ask 9%

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

Mr. Speaker, Claims · 14 wordsI rise in support of H.R. 9500, the Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act. Thanks · 24 wordsI would first like to thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for partnering with me on this bipartisan, commonsense bill, ThanksClaims · 19 wordswhich will ensure that Americans do not have to pay taxes on money that they were defrauded out of. Mr. Speaker, Claims · 55 wordsAmericans are being scammed at incredible rates. According to the Federal Trade Commission, last year, 3 million American consumers reported over $15 billion in fraud losses, the highest for any year on record.¹ This is an increase of over 25 percent from the previous year.² That spike is driven by a rise in six-figure scams. Anecdote · 32 wordsImagine losing the money that you were saving for a down payment, the money you had built up for your kid’s education, or even a savings account that helps you sleep better.Anecdote Claims · 78 wordsOur seniors are among the most vulnerable to scams. According to the AARP, which has endorsed this bill, 4 out of 10 older Americans have lost money to fraud.³ Last year, Americans aged 60 and older reported $7.7 billion in losses, a dramatic 60 percent more than the previous year.⁴ These numbers don’t account for the widespread underreporting. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that Americans could be losing as much as $200 billion to criminal fraudsters every year.⁵ Positioning · 16 wordsThese aren’t abstract numbers. These are our grandparents, small business owners, and the neighbor next door.Positioning Claims · 40 wordsWhen a victim uncovers a scam, they have to contend with the immediate ramifications, not only the devastating financial loss but also the shame they may feel. Then, after the scammer takes their money, the IRS comes for them, too. Anecdote · 31 wordsImagine, you earn money or you withdraw it from your 401(k); you get cheated, defrauded; and then you have to pay taxes on those lost earnings or your lost 401(k) distributions.Anecdote Positioning · 17 wordsIt is unfair. It pours salt in the wound of an already painful and incredibly stressful situation.Positioning Claims · 61 wordsThis wasn’t always the case, as was mentioned by Ms. Chu. Prior to the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017, victims of scams could deduct their losses from their taxes, ⁶but since then, these victims have been on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars in payments to the IRS despite their already precarious financial situation. Procedure · 3 wordsIt gets worse.Procedure Claims · 67 wordsMany scam victims who took money out of their 401(k) or IRA account to pay the scammer still have to pay the income taxes on the money they withdrew, and if the victim is under the age of 60, they get hit with an additional 10 percent early distribution penalty.⁷ They lose their retirement savings, then they get hit with a tax bill on top of that. Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 35 wordsthis is unfair, plain and simple. It is simply not right to make anyone pay taxes on money they don’t have, especially after a traumatic event like discovering you were the victim of a scam.Positioning The ask · 20 wordsWe have the opportunity tonight to right this wrong by supporting H.R. 9500, the Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act. Claims · 74 wordsThis bill would restore the theft loss deduction so that victims of a scam or fraud are not taxed on money that was stolen from them. This bill would also waive the 10 percent early withdrawal penalty when a victim was forced to pull money from their retirement account because of fraud. Most importantly, this bill provides retroactive relief for Americans who fell victim to scams or fraud while this deduction was unfairly restricted. Mr. Speaker, Positioning · 14 wordsthis is not a partisan issue. The Federal Government should not tax stolen money.Positioning Claims · 22 wordsThat is why this bill passed through the Ways and Means Committee under Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Neal with unanimous support.⁸ The ask · 25 wordsBy supporting this bill, Congress can right a wrong and make sure the government is not coming after victims who have lost everything to criminals. Mr. Speaker, The ask · 15 wordsI urge my colleagues to support H.R. 9500, the Tax Relief for Fraud Victims Act.

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 71

16 of 16 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.

Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I would first like to thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for partnering with me on this bipartisan, commonsense bill,”Thanks: no claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “Imagine losing the money that you were saving for a down payment, the money you had built up for your kid’s education,”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “or even a savings account that helps you sleep better.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “These aren’t abstract numbers.”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 “These are our grandparents, small business owners,”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 the neighbor next door.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “Imagine, you earn money or you withdraw it from your 401(k);”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “you get cheated, defrauded;”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
A story that illustrates instead of making a point.What the tags mean “and then you have to pay taxes on those lost earnings or your lost 401(k) distributions.”An anecdote: it illustrates, it does not claim, reason or ask.
Praise, blame or attack with no claim, reason or ask in it.What the tags mean “It is unfair.”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 pours salt in the wound of an already painful and incredibly stressful situation.”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 “It gets worse.”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 “this is unfair, plain and simple.”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 simply not right to make anyone pay taxes on money they don’t have, especially after a traumatic event like discovering you were the victim of a scam.”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 “this is not a partisan issue.”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 “The Federal Government should not tax stolen money.”Positioning: praise, blame or attack. No claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

0 of 16 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.

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 16 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 · 8

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“According to the Federal Trade Commission, last year, 3 million American consumers reported over $15 billion in fraud losses, the highest for any year on record”According to the Federal Trade Commission, 3 million American consumers reported over $15 billion in fraud losses in 2025, the highest for any year on record.search
2“This is an increase of over 25 percent from the previous year”Reported fraud losses by American consumers in 2025 were more than 25 percent higher than in 2024.search
3“4 out of 10 older Americans have lost money to fraud”According to AARP, 4 out of 10 older Americans have lost money to fraud.search
4“Last year, Americans aged 60 and older reported $7.7 billion in losses, a dramatic 60 percent more than the previous year”Americans aged 60 and older reported $7.7 billion in fraud losses in 2025, 60 percent more than in 2024.search
5“The Federal Trade Commission estimates that Americans could be losing as much as $200 billion to criminal fraudsters every year”The Federal Trade Commission has estimated that Americans could be losing as much as $200 billion to criminal fraudsters every year.search
6“Prior to the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017, victims of scams could deduct their losses from their taxes”Before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted in 2017, victims of scams could deduct their losses from their taxes.search
7“if the victim is under the age of 60, they get hit with an additional 10 percent early distribution penalty”Under existing law, retirement account withdrawals before the age of 60 incur an additional 10 percent early distribution penalty.search
8“That is why this bill passed through the Ways and Means Committee under Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Neal with unanimous support.”H.R. 9500 passed the House Ways and Means Committee with unanimous support, under Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Neal.search

Analyzed on 2026-10-17