diff --git a/.github/actions/validate/Dockerfile b/.github/actions/validate/Dockerfile
index 6977b083..191a052e 100644
--- a/.github/actions/validate/Dockerfile
+++ b/.github/actions/validate/Dockerfile
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ FROM python:3
 
 # Copies your code file from your action repository to the filesystem path `/` of the container
 COPY entrypoint.sh /entrypoint.sh
+COPY bxml_tests.py /bxml_tests.py
 
 #Make entrypoint.sh exacutable
 RUN chmod +x /entrypoint.sh
diff --git a/.github/actions/validate/bxml_tests.py b/.github/actions/validate/bxml_tests.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5ad6ad4b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/validate/bxml_tests.py
@@ -0,0 +1,366 @@
+"""
+bxml_tests.py
+
+Unit tests for BXML
+
+@copyright Bandwidth INC
+"""
+from bandwidth.voice.bxml.response import Response
+from bandwidth.voice.bxml.verbs import *
+
+import unittest
+
+
+class BxmlTests(unittest.TestCase):
+    """
+    Class for the BXML tests
+    """
+    def test_forward_xml_with_optional_fields(self):
+        response = Response()
+        forward = Forward(
+            to="+10987654321",
+            from_="+11234567890",
+            call_timeout=100,
+            diversion_treatment="propagate",
+            diversion_reason="away"
+        )
+        response.add_verb(forward)
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><Forward to="+10987654321" callTimeout="100" from="+11234567890" diversionTreatment="propagate" diversionReason="away"/></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_gather_no_nested(self):
+        response = Response()
+        gather = Gather(
+            gather_url="https://gather.url/nextBXML",
+            gather_method="POST",
+            terminating_digits="#",
+            tag="tag",
+            max_digits=20,
+            inter_digit_timeout=50,
+            username="user",
+            password="password",
+            first_digit_timeout=10,
+            repeat_count=3,
+            gather_fallback_url="https://test.com",
+            gather_fallback_method="GET",
+            fallback_username="fuser",
+            fallback_password="fpass"
+        )
+        response.add_verb(gather)
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><Gather gatherUrl="https://gather.url/nextBXML" gatherMethod="POST" terminatingDigits="#" tag="tag" maxDigits="20" interDigitTimeout="50" username="user" password="password" firstDigitTimeout="10" repeatCount="3" gatherFallbackUrl="https://test.com" gatherFallbackMethod="GET" fallbackUsername="fuser" fallbackPassword="fpass"/></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_gather_with_speak_sentence(self):
+        response = Response()
+        speak_sentence = SpeakSentence(
+            sentence="Phrase.",
+            voice="kate",
+            locale="en_US",
+            gender="female"
+        )
+        gather = Gather(
+            gather_url="https://gather.url/nextBXML",
+            gather_method="POST",
+            terminating_digits="#",
+            tag="tag",
+            max_digits=20,
+            inter_digit_timeout=50,
+            username="user",
+            password="password",
+            first_digit_timeout=10,
+            repeat_count=3,
+            speak_sentence=speak_sentence
+        )
+        expected_bxml = expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><Gather gatherUrl="https://gather.url/nextBXML" gatherMethod="POST" terminatingDigits="#" tag="tag" maxDigits="20" interDigitTimeout="50" username="user" password="password" firstDigitTimeout="10" repeatCount="3"><SpeakSentence voice="kate" locale="en_US" gender="female">Phrase.</SpeakSentence></Gather></Response>'
+        response.add_verb(gather)
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_gather_play_audio(self):
+        response = Response()
+        play_audio_1 = PlayAudio(url="https://audio.url/audio1.wav")
+        gather = Gather(
+            gather_url="https://gather.url/nextBXML",
+            gather_method="POST",
+            terminating_digits="#",
+            tag="tag",
+            max_digits=20,
+            inter_digit_timeout=50,
+            username="user",
+            password="password",
+            first_digit_timeout=10,
+            repeat_count=3,
+            play_audio=play_audio_1
+        )
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><Gather gatherUrl="https://gather.url/nextBXML" gatherMethod="POST" terminatingDigits="#" tag="tag" maxDigits="20" interDigitTimeout="50" username="user" password="password" firstDigitTimeout="10" repeatCount="3"><PlayAudio>https://audio.url/audio1.wav</PlayAudio></Gather></Response>'
+        response.add_verb(gather)
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_hangup(self):
+        response = Response()
+        hang_up = Hangup()
+        response.add_verb(hang_up)
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><Hangup/></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_pause(self):
+        response = Response()
+        pause = Pause(duration=400)
+        response.add_verb(pause)
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><Pause duration="400"/></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_pause_recording(self):
+        response = Response()
+        pause_recording = PauseRecording()
+        response.add_verb(pause_recording)
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><PauseRecording/></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_play_audio(self):
+        response = Response()
+        play_audio_1 = PlayAudio(
+            url="https://audio.url/audio1.wav",
+            username="user",
+            password="pass"
+        )
+        response.add_verb(play_audio_1)
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><PlayAudio username="user" password="pass">https://audio.url/audio1.wav</PlayAudio></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_record(self):
+        response = Response()
+        record = Record(
+            tag = "tag",
+            username = "user",
+            password = "pass",
+            record_complete_url="https://record.url.server/record",
+            record_complete_method="POST",
+            recording_available_url="https://record.url.server/available",
+            recording_available_method="GET",
+            terminating_digits="#",
+            max_duration=90,
+            file_format="mp3",
+            transcribe=False,
+            transcription_available_url="https://transcribe.url.server/available",
+            transcription_available_method="POST",
+            silence_timeout=90,
+            record_complete_fallback_url="https://test.com",
+            record_complete_fallback_method="GET",
+            fallback_username="fuser",
+            fallback_password="fpass"
+        )
+        response.add_verb(record)
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><Record tag="tag" username="user" password="pass" recordCompleteUrl="https://record.url.server/record" recordCompleteMethod="POST" recordingAvailableUrl="https://record.url.server/available" recordingAvailableMethod="GET" terminatingDigits="#" maxDuration="90" fileFormat="mp3" transcribe="false" transcriptionAvailableUrl="https://transcribe.url.server/available" transcriptionAvailableMethod="POST" silenceTimeout="90" recordCompleteFallbackUrl="https://test.com" recordCompleteFallbackMethod="GET" fallbackUsername="fuser" fallbackPassword="fpass"/></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_redirect(self):
+        response = Response()
+        redirect = Redirect(
+            redirect_url="http://flow.url/newFlow",
+            redirect_method="POST",
+            tag="tag",
+            username="user",
+            password="pass",
+            redirect_fallback_url="https://test.com",
+            redirect_fallback_method="GET",
+            fallback_username="fuser",
+            fallback_password="fpass"
+        )
+        response.add_verb(redirect)
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><Redirect redirectUrl="http://flow.url/newFlow" redirectMethod="POST" tag="tag" username="user" password="pass" redirectFallbackUrl="https://test.com" redirectFallbackMethod="GET" fallbackUsername="fuser" fallbackPassword="fpass"/></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_resume_recording(self):
+        response = Response()
+        resume_recording = ResumeRecording()
+        response.add_verb(resume_recording)
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><ResumeRecording/></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_dtmf(self):
+        response = Response()
+        send_dtmf  = SendDtmf(
+            dtmf = "1234",
+            tone_duration = 200,
+            tone_interval = 450
+        )
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><SendDtmf toneDuration="200" toneInterval="450">1234</SendDtmf></Response>'
+        response.add_verb(send_dtmf)
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_speak_sentence(self):
+        response = Response()
+        speak_sentence = SpeakSentence(
+            sentence="Phrase.",
+            voice="kate",
+            locale="en_US",
+            gender="female"
+        )
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><SpeakSentence voice="kate" locale="en_US" gender="female">Phrase.</SpeakSentence></Response>'
+        response.add_verb(speak_sentence)
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_speak_sentence_SSML(self):
+        response = Response()
+        speak_sentence = SpeakSentence(
+            sentence='<lang xml:lang="es-MX">Hydrogen</lang> is the most abundant element in the universe.',
+            voice="kate",
+            locale="en_US",
+            gender="female"
+        )
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><SpeakSentence voice="kate" locale="en_US" gender="female"><lang xml:lang="es-MX">Hydrogen</lang> is the most abundant element in the universe.</SpeakSentence></Response>'
+        response.add_verb(speak_sentence)
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_start_recording(self):
+        response = Response()
+        record = StartRecording(
+            tag = "tag",
+            username = "user",
+            password = "pass",
+            recording_available_url="https://record.url.server/available",
+            recording_available_method="GET",
+            file_format="mp3",
+            multi_channel=True,
+            transcribe=False,
+            transcription_available_url="https://transcribe.url.server/available",
+            transcription_available_method="POST"
+        )
+        response.add_verb(record)
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><StartRecording tag="tag" username="user" password="pass" recordingAvailableUrl="https://record.url.server/available" recordingAvailableMethod="GET" fileFormat="mp3" multiChannel="true" transcribe="false" transcriptionAvailableUrl="https://transcribe.url.server/available" transcriptionAvailableMethod="POST"/></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_stop_recording(self):
+        response = Response()
+        stop_recording = StopRecording()
+        response.add_verb(stop_recording)
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><StopRecording/></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_transfer(self):
+        response = Response()
+        phone1 = PhoneNumber(
+            number="+11234567891",
+            transfer_answer_url="https://transfer.com/answer",
+            transfer_answer_method="POST",
+            username="user",
+            password="pass",
+            tag="tag",
+            transfer_disconnect_method="POST",
+            transfer_disconnect_url="https://transfer.com/disconnect",
+            transfer_answer_fallback_url="https://test.com",
+            transfer_answer_fallback_method="GET",
+            fallback_username="fuser",
+            fallback_password="fpass"
+        )
+        phone1_bxml = '<PhoneNumber transferAnswerUrl="https://transfer.com/answer" transferAnswerMethod="POST" username="user" password="pass" tag="tag" transferDisconnectMethod="POST" transferDisconnectUrl="https://transfer.com/disconnect" transferAnswerFallbackUrl="https://test.com" transferAnswerFallbackMethod="GET" fallbackUsername="fuser" fallbackPassword="fpass">+11234567891</PhoneNumber>'
+        phone2 = PhoneNumber(number="+11234567892")
+        phone2_bxml = '<PhoneNumber>+11234567892</PhoneNumber>'
+        transfer = Transfer(
+            transfer_caller_id="+15555555555",
+            call_timeout=50,
+            tag="tag",
+            transfer_complete_url="https://transcribe.url.server/complete",
+            transfer_complete_method="POST",
+            username="user",
+            password="pass",
+            diversion_treatment="propagate",
+            diversion_reason="away",
+            phone_numbers=[phone1, phone2],
+            transfer_complete_fallback_url="https://test.com",
+            transfer_complete_fallback_method="GET",
+            fallback_username="fusern",
+            fallback_password="fpassw"
+        )
+        response.add_verb(transfer)
+        expected_bxml = f'<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><Transfer transferCallerId="+15555555555" callTimeout="50" tag="tag" transferCompleteUrl="https://transcribe.url.server/complete" transferCompleteMethod="POST" username="user" password="pass" diversionTreatment="propagate" diversionReason="away" transferCompleteFallbackUrl="https://test.com" transferCompleteFallbackMethod="GET" fallbackUsername="fusern" fallbackPassword="fpassw">{phone1_bxml}{phone2_bxml}</Transfer></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_conference(self):
+        conference = Conference("my-conference", mute=False, hold=True, call_ids_to_coach="c-123,c-345",
+            conference_event_url="https://test.com", conference_event_method="GET", username="user",
+            password="pass", tag="tag", conference_event_fallback_url="https://test2.com",
+            conference_event_fallback_method="POST", fallback_username="fuser", fallback_password="fpass")
+
+        response = Response()
+        response.add_verb(conference)
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><Conference mute="false" hold="true" callIdsToCoach="c-123,c-345" conferenceEventUrl="https://test.com" conferenceEventMethod="GET" tag="tag" username="user" password="pass" conferenceEventFallbackUrl="https://test2.com" conferenceEventFallbackMethod="POST" fallbackUsername="fuser" fallbackPassword="fpass">my-conference</Conference></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_conference_coach_array(self):
+        conference = Conference("my-conference", call_ids_to_coach=["c-123", "c-456"])
+
+        response = Response()
+        response.add_verb(conference)
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><Conference callIdsToCoach="c-123,c-456">my-conference</Conference></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_bridge(self):
+        bridge = Bridge("c-95ac8d6e-1a31c52e-b38f-4198-93c1-51633ec68f8d",
+            bridge_complete_url="https://test.com",
+            bridge_complete_method="GET",
+            bridge_target_complete_url="https://test2.com",
+            bridge_target_complete_method="POST",
+            username="user",
+            password="pass",
+            tag="custom tag",
+            bridge_complete_fallback_url="https://test3.com",
+            bridge_complete_fallback_method="GET",
+            bridge_target_complete_fallback_url="https://test4.com",
+            bridge_target_complete_fallback_method="POST",
+            fallback_username="fuser",
+            fallback_password="fpass"
+        )
+
+        response = Response()
+        response.add_verb(bridge)
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><Bridge bridgeCompleteUrl="https://test.com" bridgeCompleteMethod="GET" bridgeTargetCompleteUrl="https://test2.com" bridgeTargetCompleteMethod="POST" username="user" password="pass" tag="custom tag" bridgeCompleteFallbackUrl="https://test3.com" bridgeCompleteFallbackMethod="GET" bridgeTargetCompleteFallbackUrl="https://test4.com" bridgeTargetCompleteFallbackMethod="POST" fallbackUsername="fuser" fallbackPassword="fpass">c-95ac8d6e-1a31c52e-b38f-4198-93c1-51633ec68f8d</Bridge></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_ring(self):
+        ring = Ring(
+            duration=5
+        )
+
+        response = Response()
+        response.add_verb(ring)
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><Ring duration="5"/></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_start_gather(self):
+        startGather = StartGather(
+            dtmfUrl= "https://test.com",
+            dtmfMethod = "POST",
+            username = "user",
+            password = "pass",
+            tag = "custom tag"
+        )
+
+        response = Response()
+        response.add_verb(startGather)
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><StartGather dtmfUrl="https://test.com" dtmfMethod="POST" username="user" password="pass" tag="custom tag"/></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_stop_gather(self):
+        stopGather = StopGather()
+
+        response = Response()
+        response.add_verb(stopGather)
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><StopGather/></Response>'
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+    def test_gather_speak_sentence_ssml(self):
+        response = Response()
+        speak_sentence = SpeakSentence(
+            sentence='Hello. Your number is <say-as interpret-as="telephone">asdf</say-as>, lets play a game. What is 10 + 3. Press the pound key when finished.'
+        )
+        gather = Gather(
+            speak_sentence=speak_sentence
+        )
+        expected_bxml = '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><Response><Gather><SpeakSentence>Hello. Your number is <say-as interpret-as="telephone">asdf</say-as>, lets play a game. What is 10 + 3. Press the pound key when finished.</SpeakSentence></Gather></Response>'
+        response.add_verb(gather)
+        self.assertEqual(response.to_bxml(), expected_bxml)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/.github/actions/validate/entrypoint.sh b/.github/actions/validate/entrypoint.sh
index bb4e395c..0bb481d5 100644
--- a/.github/actions/validate/entrypoint.sh
+++ b/.github/actions/validate/entrypoint.sh
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
-pip install twine
-pip install wheel
-python setup.py sdist bdist_wheel
-
-twine check dist/*
+pip install -e .
+cp /bxml_tests.py .
+python bxml_tests.py
diff --git a/bandwidth/voice/bxml/verbs/gather.py b/bandwidth/voice/bxml/verbs/gather.py
index b6aecde8..1a094a99 100644
--- a/bandwidth/voice/bxml/verbs/gather.py
+++ b/bandwidth/voice/bxml/verbs/gather.py
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
 from lxml import etree
 
 from .base_verb import AbstractBxmlVerb
+from .speak_sentence import SSML_REGEX
+
+import re
 
 GATHER_TAG = "Gather"
 
@@ -97,4 +100,4 @@ def to_bxml(self):
         if self.nested_verbs is not None:
             for verb in self.nested_verbs:
                 root.append(verb.to_etree_element())
-        return etree.tostring(root).decode()
+        return re.sub(SSML_REGEX, r"<\1>", etree.tostring(root).decode())
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index a518e388..0cff86ed 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 setup(
     name='bandwidth-sdk',
-    version='6.14.0',
+    version='6.14.1',
     description='Bandwidth\'s set of APIs',
     long_description=long_description,
     long_description_content_type="text/markdown",