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 Florida Agricultural Producers

Between an extreme hurricane season and ongoing issues such as citrus greening, Florida’s citrus growers continue to navigate significant challenges. Last week, I introduced the Block Grant Assistance Act which will ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can provide needed relief to agriculture producers devastated by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. This bill would provide the Agriculture Secretary needed authority to provide block grants to Florida to assist producers affected by recent hurricanes. Our Florida citrus industry is synonymous with the Sunshine State and the backbone of many of our rural communities. It’s critical that we support our growers in their time of need. Click here to learn more.

As President Biden said, "the pandemic is over." While we are still managing COVID, we must get America back to normal, like we've done in Florida. This week, I supported three bills to terminate federal emergency COVID lockdown measures. These bills include:

• The Pandemic is Over Act, which ends the Public Health Emergency declaration first issued by the Secretary of Health & Human services in January 2020.
• The Stopping Home Office Work’s Unproductive Problems (SHOW UP) Act, which requires federal agencies to reinstate pre-COVID telework policies so federal workers can fully serve the American people.
• The Freedom for Health Care Workers Act, which nullifies the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for healthcare workers.
• A resolution terminating the pandemic national emergency declaration.

Click here to learn more about these pieces of legislation.

Congressional Art Competition is Now Open!

Calling all high school artists! I’m pleased to announce we are now accepting submissions for the 2023 Congressional Art Competition. The contest is open to all high school students in FL-18. The winner's work will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year. This year's theme is "Florida's Heartland," which celebrates the unique history, culture, geography, and people of our beloved district. Click here to learn more.

Test Your Knowledge #CivicsWithScott!

The U.S. Constitution was signed in what year?

A. 1776
B. 1783
C. 1787
D. 1791

Last Week's Question

Tallahassee was established as the Florida capital in what year?

A. 1861
B. 1824 - CORRECT ANSWER 
C. 1845
D. 1776

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