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.

Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production

Our Florida citrus growers have persevered through debilitating challenges, including last year's disastrous hurricane season and ongoing issues like citrus greening. In an effort to help them, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and I introduced the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act. This bill would adjust the required level of sugar/solids content (Brix standard) in not-from-concentrate pasteurized orange juice from 10.5 percent weight of orange juice soluble solids to 10 percent. 

Fine-tuning the Brix standard will provide our citrus growers flexibility without sacrificing quality. By adjusting this standard, growers can produce orange juice with more domestic grown fruit by making them less reliant on foreign juice needed to meet the current standard. While a Brix standard change is virtually indistinguishable in taste, it will make a significant difference in terms of production. Click here to learn more.

Establishing National Osceola Turkey Day

The Osceola turkey is a remarkable symbol of Florida's distinctive wildlife. Recently, I introduced the National Osceola Turkey Day Resolution to designate March 18th as the official National Osceola Turkey Day. With an estimated 100,000 birds in existence, it's important we make every effort to appreciate and conserve the turkey so future generations of hunters and wildlife enthusiasts can enjoy it. Sen. Rick Scott introduced a companion bill as well. Click here to learn more.

Constituent Corner  

Mary from Winter Haven contacted our office to check on the status of her 2021 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) refund. We provided an update and secured her refund check from the IRS. If you are having problems with your passport, the IRS, the VA, Social Security or another federal agency, we can help! Click here to learn more.

Test Your Knowledge #CivicsWithScott!

In what year did Spain cede Florida to the United States?

A. 1850
B. 1845    
C. 1819
D. 1788

Last Week's Question

Who was not present at the Constitutional Convention?

A. Alexander Hamilton     
B. Thomas Jefferson - CORRECT ANSWER  
C. Benjamin Franklin
D. George Washington

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