Hello 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.

Supporting our citrus industry

Hurricane Ian devastated Florida's citrus industry this year, which impacted more than 90 percent of all production. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services estimated losses to be between $416 and $675 million. The Florida citrus industry generates $6.8 billion in annual revenue and supports 33,000 jobs, making it a key economic driver for our state—especially in our rural communities. Our citrus growers already face a number of challenges including disease, unfair trade imbalances, and loss of acreage. The damage from Ian is compounding those problems. That's why I co-led a letter with Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL) urging leaders on the House Appropriations Committee to provide supplemental disaster relief funding to our citrus growers so they can continue to provide our country with the products we all know and love. Click here to read more.

Supporting our national defense

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, a critical priority is supporting our military through the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes all defense spending. I proudly supported this year’s bill, which will continue to give our troops a superior advantage over our adversaries. Some of the major wins in this legislation include:

1. Repealing the COVID-19 vaccine mandate and ending the separation of service members who opt not to take it.

2. Focusing on countering the China threat through new investments in the Pacific, reaffirming our commitment to Taiwan, and protecting our supply chain.

3. Reinforcing the rights of military parents whose children attend DoD schools.

4. Ensuring the Department of Defense (DoD) focuses resources on national security instead of ineffective and inefficient climate change policies. 

Click here to read more about the FY 2023 NDAA.

Traveling for the holidays? Our office can help!

Traveling abroad for the holiday season? Before you leave, be sure to check your passport's expiration date. Passports are valid for 10 years if issued at age 16 or older and five years if issued when you were under 16. Many foreign countries also require that your passport be valid for another six months in order to be admitted. Our office can help expedite passport services. Call us at 863-644-8215 or click here to learn more.

Hurricane Ian Disaster Relief is Available

Those impacted by Hurricane Ian can apply for federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Small Business Administration (SBA). Our office can help with the application process. Click here to learn more about available resources. Visit my website to learn how we can assist.

Test Your Knowledge #CivicsWithScott!

The Bill of Rights was ratified on December 15th of what year?

A. 1786

B. 1791

C. 1801

D. 1776

Last Week's Question

Which state was the first to adopt the Constitution in December 1787?

A. Delaware - CORRECT ANSWER

B. New Hampshire

C. Florida

D. Virginia

I’m honored to represent you in Congress. For more information on constituent services, current legislation, and to sign up for my e-newsletter, please visit my website at franklin.house.gov. 

Best regards,

C. Scott Franklin
Member of Congress