The Ready Room

Dear Friend,

Welcome to my e-newsletter, the Ready Room. As a retired Naval Aviator, the Ready Room is special to me because it’s where fellow aviators meet to brief and debrief missions. This is my weekly briefing to you on my mission in Congress. Please follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for regular updates on how my team and I are working to serve you in Congress.

As Congress wrapped up its final voting week of the year, the House advanced efforts to lower health care costs for families, cut unnecessary red tape, and support innovative, science-driven work at federal agencies like NOAA.

Back home, our team attended a Wreaths Across America ceremony honoring our nation’s heroes and spent time with local veterans as part of the Veterans History Project, which preserves veterans’ firsthand stories in the Library of Congress for future generations.

Keep reading below for more updates:

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LOWERING HEALTH CARE COSTS

Last week, House Republicans passed the Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act, to lower health care costs and expand choices for workers and families. The bill strengthens affordable options for small businesses, reduces premiums in the individual market by more than 11 percent, and increases transparency to help lower prescription drug costs. For Florida employers, especially small businesses and the self-employed, this legislation helps rein in costs while maintaining access to coverage

CUTTING RED TAPE TO DELIVER RESULTS

Outdated federal permitting rules under the National Environmental Policy Act have slowed infrastructure and energy projects for decades, driving up costs for families and communities. Last week, in the House we passed the SPEED Act to modernize that process and help America build again.

The bill streamlines federal reviews, ensures requirements are focused on projects that truly need them and places reasonable limits on lawsuits that can stall projects for years. These reforms will reduce delays, lower costs, strengthen American energy production and support job creation.

IMPROVING WEATHE FORECASTING WITH AI

I welcomed NOAA’s recent announcement of new tools that use artificial intelligence to improve weather forecasts, helping forecasters deliver faster and more accurate warnings. For Florida, that means more time to prepare for hurricanes and severe weather.

This progress reinforces the work I’ve led in Congress through my TAME Extreme Weather amendment, which is included in the bipartisan Weather Act that has already passed the House Science Committee. I look forward to seeing the full Weather Act considered on the House floor so NOAA can continue modernizing weather forecasting and better protecting communities.

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PRESERVING VETERANS' STORIES AND HONORING THEIR SACRIFICE

Our team was honored to spend time with local veterans at the Florida Medal of Honor Memorial in Sebring as part of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project, which preserves veterans’ firsthand stories in the Library of Congress for future generations.

We also joined the community for the Wreaths Across America ceremony at the Florida Medal of Honor Museum to remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. Their courage and legacy will never be forgotten.

Banner announcing the Franklin in the News section

Franklin commends USDA’s $1 billion aid for specialty crop producers - polktimes

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Which document contains the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution?

A. The Declaration of Independence

B. The Articles of Confederation

C. The Bill of Rights

D. The Federalist Papers

Last week's question:

Who can introduce a bill in Congress?

A. The Supreme Court
B. State legislatures
C. Federal agencies
D. Any Member of the House or Senate - Correct answer

Please take a moment to complete my latest constituent survey here. Your feedback helps me better represent you. For more information or to sign up for my e-newsletter, please visit my website at franklin.house.gov.

Best regards,

Scott Franklin
Member of Congress

LOWERING HEALTH CARE COSTS

CUTTING RED TAPE TO DELIVER RESULTS

IMPROVING WEATHE FORECASTING WITH AI

PRESERVING VETERANS' STORIES AND HONORING THEIR SACRIFICE

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