Analysis · Speech on a bill · beta

Ted Cruz

Republican on Safe Access to Cash Act of 2026 2026-09-30

367 words · 18 sentences · 24 clauses

Statement grade

Average 92 / 100

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

Claims 86%Procedure 8%Thanks 6%

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

Mr. President, Claims · 104 wordsI want to share the story of a young man named Juan Lopez. Juan was a hard-working family man who lived in Georgia. On Black Friday in 2021 he was murdered while on the phone with his sister withdrawing cash from a stand-alone ATM.¹ Juan’s story is not an isolated tragedy, and, sadly, many of these crimes are never reported. Back in 1934, Congress enacted the Federal Bank Robbery Act in response to a plethora of bank robberies that plagued the early 20th century.² This legislation did one simple thing: make bank robberies a Federal offense.³ And as a result, bank robberies fell dramatically. Procedure · 1 wordsNow, ProcedureClaims · 212 wordsas we are seeing robberies happening at ATMs found at grocery stores, outside of banks, and on back-country roads, it is clear that action is needed to protect millions of Americans who rely on ATMs for cash--cash that buys groceries, that pays for public transportation, Unearned certaintyand that makes rent. There are now more than 530,000 ATMs in the United States handling more than 10 billion transactions each and every year.⁴ As bank branches decline with roughly 20 percent fewer today than a decade ago, thefts at ATMs are rising, increasing 21 percent year over year.⁵⁶ In some cases, robbers can walk away with $15,000 in 5 minutes. And under current law, Federal prosecutors often lack the authority to pursue them.⁷ That is why, together with Senator Ruben Gallego, ranking member on the Digital Assets Subcommittee in the Banking Committee, I introduced the Safe Access to Cash Act bringing the Federal Bank Robbery Act into the 21st century.⁸ The Safe Access to Cash Act closes that gap in the law allowing Federal law enforcement to investigate and bring justice for crimes like this. This legislation has support from our Nation’s leading law enforcement organizations, from organizations that represent stores and retailers, and from groups that bear the financial cost of repeat ATM robberies. Thanks · 23 wordsI want to thank my colleagues Senator Grassley and Senator Durbin for their leadership in passing this legislation through the Senate Judiciary Committee.⁹Thanks Mr. President, Procedure · 27 wordsas if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 350, S. 3798.¹⁰Procedure

At a glance

Lost points for

Switch Claims on to list the checkable claims here.

What the tags mean

Signal · 85

4 of 5 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 “Now,”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.
Thanks and tributes.What the tags mean “I want to thank my colleagues Senator Grassley and Senator Durbin for their leadership in passing this legislation through the Senate Judiciary Committee.”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 “as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 350, S.”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 “3798.”Procedure or throat-clearing: no claim, reason or ask.

Relevance · 100

0 of 5 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 · 87

0 of 5 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 · 1

Conclusion“and on back-country roads, it is clear that action is needed to protect millions of Americans who rely on ATMs for cash--cash that buys groceries, that pays for public transportation,”

Because“as we are seeing robberies happening at ATMs found at grocery stores, outside of banks,”

“As bank branches decline with roughly 20 percent fewer today than a decade ago, thefts at ATMs are rising, increasing 21 percent year over year.”

“And under current law, Federal prosecutors often lack the authority to pursue them.”

Reason given

Respect · 100

0 of 5 deductions are Respect

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.

Nothing lost points.

Clarity · 90

1 of 5 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 “it is clear that”Asserts certainty with the formula ‘it is clear’ rather than a source.

Claims · 10

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“On Black Friday in 2021 he was murdered while on the phone with his sister withdrawing cash from a stand-alone ATM”Juan Lopez, a Georgia man, was murdered on Black Friday in 2021 while withdrawing cash from a stand-alone ATM.search
2“Back in 1934, Congress enacted the Federal Bank Robbery Act”Congress enacted the Federal Bank Robbery Act in 1934.search
3“make bank robberies a Federal offense”The Federal Bank Robbery Act made bank robbery a Federal offense.search
4“more than 530,000 ATMs in the United States handling more than 10 billion transactions each and every year”The United States has more than 530,000 ATMs handling more than 10 billion transactions per year.search
5“roughly 20 percent fewer today than a decade ago”The number of US bank branches is roughly 20 percent lower today than a decade ago.search
6“thefts at ATMs are rising, increasing 21 percent year over year”ATM thefts in the United States increased 21 percent year over year.search
7“under current law, Federal prosecutors often lack the authority to pursue them”Under current US law, Federal prosecutors often lack authority to prosecute ATM robberies.search
8“together with Senator Ruben Gallego, ranking member on the Digital Assets Subcommittee in the Banking Committee, I introduced the Safe Access to Cash Act”Senator Ted Cruz introduced the Safe Access to Cash Act together with Senator Ruben Gallego, ranking member on the Banking Committee’s Digital Assets Subcommittee.search
9“passing this legislation through the Senate Judiciary Committee”The Safe Access to Cash Act passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee.search
10“3798.”The Safe Access to Cash Act is S. 3798, placed on Senate Calendar No. 350.search

Analyzed on 2026-10-20