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.

MEETING WITH LOCAL LEADERS & STUDENTS

Last week, I had several meetings with local leaders, visiting schools, and connecting with students, families, and our agricultural community.

I met with city officials in Bartow and Frostproof to discuss local priorities and how my office can best support our communities, visited the USDA Farm Service Agency in Bartow, toured RCMA Mulberry Community Academy, spoke with students at McKeel Academy, and attended the 79th Annual Polk County Youth Fair, where the livestock auction raised nearly half a million dollars to support local youth and agricultural education.

FLORIDA POLY EXPANDS AI AND CYBERSECURITY LEADERSHIP

Preparing the next generation of innovators is critical to our national security and economic competitiveness. That’s why I worked to secure nearly $3 million in federal funding for Florida Polytechnic University to establish a new hands-on AI and Cybersecurity Applied Innovation Lab.

This investment will expand real-world learning opportunities, strengthen applied research and workforce training, and reinforce Florida Poly’s growing role in advanced technology and cyber defense.

For FL-18, this means:

• More hands-on training in high-demand technology fields
• Stronger workforce pipelines for national security and public safety
• More opportunities for students to learn and work here in Florida

Click here to learn more.

CONNECTING WITH CONSTITUENTS

To better serve you, a member of our team will host Mobile Office Hours across FL-18. These events allow constituents to request assistance with a federal issue or speak directly with a representative from our district office staff. Please use the links below to register. 

Locations include:

• Wauchula — Hardee Board of County Commissioners’ Building
• Arcadia — DeSoto County Commissioners’ Chambers
• Mulberry — Studio 37
• Haines City — City Hall
• Clewiston — Clewiston Public Library
• Okeechobee — Okeechobee County Public Library

For more information, please contact my District Office at (863) 644-8215.

Test Your Knowledge #CivicsWithScott!

Who is the Commander in Chief of the U.S. military?

A. The Secretary of Defense
B. Congress
C. The President
D. The Joint Chiefs of Staff

Last Week's Question

Where was the Declaration of Independence signed?

A. Boston 
B. New York
C. Philadelphia - CORRECT ANSWER
D. Williamsburg

It's an honor and privilege to represent you in Congress. Please take a moment to fill out my latest constituent survey here. Your feedback helps me better represent you. 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