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    <title>Franklin, Scott RSS Articles</title>
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    <link>http://franklin.house.gov/</link>
    <lastBuildDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT</lastBuildDate>
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      <title>Franklin Statement On House Passage Of FY27 Agriculture Appropriations Bill</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Congressman Scott Franklin issued the following statement after the House passed the Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;"I’m pleased the House advanced our FY27 Agriculture spending bill. As Vice Chair of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommitteerepresenting the largest agriculture district east of the Mississippi, I've seen firsthand the challenges facing American agriculture and the importance of maintaining a strong domestic food supply.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“This legislation strengthens agricultural research and animal and plant health programs that help producers stay competitive and protect our food supply from threats like avian influenza and New World Screwworm, which was just detected this week in Texas. It also supports rural communities, strengthens food safety efforts and takes meaningful steps to address foreign ownership of American farmland and strengthen oversight of transactions involving adversaries like China, Russia, North Korea and Iran.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“In Central Florida, agriculture isn't just an industry, it's a way of life. The men and women who produce our food face significant challenges. Rising costs, foreign competition, invasive pests, animal diseases, severe weather and burdensome regulations all threaten their ability to remain competitive. A strong domestic food supply is essential to our economic security, national security and way of life.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“I’m encouraged a second FY27 appropriations bill has passed the House, taking another step toward restoring regular order. With nine of twelve appropriations bills already approved by the full committee, Congress is making steady progress funding the government through a more transparent and accountable process while keeping taxpayer dollars focused on core priorities."&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;###&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>http://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1916</link>
      <guid>http://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1916</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 04 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Franklin, Cammack, Scott, Moody Introduce Florida Freeze Disaster Assistance Act To Support Florida Growers</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) and Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03) today introduced their bipartisan Florida Freeze Disaster Assistance Act, which would provide $3.5 billion in disaster assistance to help Florida’s agricultural producers recover after the devastating freeze in January 2026. Franklin and Cammack were joined by a majority of the Florida Congressional Delegation. Senators Scott (R-FL) and Moody (R-FL) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Florida agriculture operates differently than much of the country, and our disaster response policies need to reflect that reality,” &lt;b&gt;said Congressman Scott Franklin, Vice Chair of the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee.&lt;/b&gt; “When a severe freeze hits Florida, many specialty crops and multi-year commodities face years of production losses, replanting costs and long-term financial impacts. Too often, growers are forced into a slow, one size fits all federal process that fails to reflect the realities of Florida agriculture. My legislation is an America First farm policy that ensures our growers stay in business, strengthening our domestic food supply and reducing dependence on foreign producers.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;"Food security is national security. Right now, Florida's farmers need us to deliver," &lt;b&gt;said Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03). &lt;/b&gt;"As the only Floridian on the House Agriculture Committee, I've seen up close what this freeze did to our growers. Whole crops gone. Families who don't know if they can plant again. In March, I led our delegation in urging Secretary Rollins to grant Commissioner Simpson's disaster declaration request, and we got it done. This bill puts Florida in charge of its own recovery instead of waiting on Washington. I'm proud to work with Congressman Franklin to deliver the relief our farmers need."&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Florida farmers and ranchers produce the best food in the world, but this freeze has been tough for them, and the entire agriculture industry,” &lt;b&gt;said&lt;/b&gt; &lt;b&gt;Senator Rick Scott.&lt;/b&gt; “Our state feeds families and creates jobs across the country. Put simply, everyone needs relief here, and that’s why I’m proud to lead this bill in the Senate alongside my fellow Floridians in the House. Our farmers and ranchers are resilient; they will bounce back. It’s time to provide them with the assistance they need to do that.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“While lots of Floridians experienced the historic freeze earlier this year, our farmers were especially hard hit with significant damage to many of their crops,” &lt;b&gt;said Senator Ashley Moody.&lt;/b&gt; “I’m glad to see this important legislation that provides emergency funding to deliver disaster assistance through State-administered block grants. I will continue fighting to ensure our farmers have what they need to succeed when it comes to feeding Florida and the rest of the nation.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“I want to thank Florida’s congressional delegation for advancing the Florida Freeze Disaster Assistance Act and its much-needed relief for Florida’s farmers and growers, who are still recovering from some of the most devastating freezes our state has ever experienced,” &lt;b&gt;said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson.&lt;/b&gt; “I am also grateful to President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins for their unprecedented support for America’s farmers, especially in times of crisis. This funding will provide critical assistance to help impacted producers recover, replant, and continue doing what they do best — feeding families across the state, the nation, and around the world. Understanding that Food security is national security, we stand ready to administer these federal block grant funds and ensure assistance reaches Florida producers as quickly as possible.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;"Florida's farmers and ranchers were hit by a devastating freeze earlier this year that caused more than $3 billion in agricultural losses across our state," &lt;b&gt;said Jeb S. Smith, President, Florida Farm Bureau Federation.&lt;/b&gt; "This legislation is a critical step toward delivering timely, flexible relief to the producers who feed our communities and keep our rural economies strong. We appreciate Congressman Franklin and Congresswoman Cammack's leadership in advancing a block grant approach that will allow Florida to respond quickly and efficiently to the unique needs of our growers. We urge Congress to act swiftly to ensure our farmers have the support they need to recover and continue producing."&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Florida’s strawberry growers experienced catastrophic losses from this year’s historic freeze during the peak of our production season,” &lt;b&gt;said Kenneth Parker, Executive Director, Florida Strawberry Growers Association.&lt;/b&gt; “Many family farms suffered extensive crop damage, lost revenue, and increased recovery costs that threaten the long-term viability of their operations. The Florida Strawberry Growers Association strongly supports Congressman Scott Franklin and Congresswoman Kat Cammack’s efforts to provide critical freeze disaster assistance to Florida agriculture. This legislation will help ensure growers can recover, continue feeding America, and preserve the economic strength of our state’s vital specialty crop industry.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Florida’s growers were hit hard by the historic freeze events earlier this year, and timely relief is critical to help them recover, replant, and keep feeding families across our state and the country,” &lt;b&gt;said Mike Joyner, President of the Florida Fruit &amp;amp; Vegetable Association. &lt;/b&gt;“The Florida Freeze Disaster Assistance Act is an important step toward delivering that support. While disaster assistance can never fully make up for the losses growers suffer when a crop is destroyed, it can provide the resources they need to move forward and produce again. We appreciate Reps. Scott Franklin and Kat Cammack for their leadership in standing with Florida agriculture and advancing a solution to help growers recover and plan for the season ahead.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Florida’s citrus industry was among many of the state’s commodities impacted by freezing temperatures earlier this year, and we appreciate the leadership of Representatives Scott Franklin, Kat Cammack and Senator Rick Scott in introducing the Florida Freeze Disaster Assistance Act,” &lt;b&gt;said Matt Joyner, Executive Vice President and CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual. &lt;/b&gt;“This legislation supports the urgent needs of the nation’s agricultural producers by creating a clear pathway to expedite disaster assistance through state block grants and strengthening the resilience of our nation’s food supply.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Specifically, the Florida Freeze Disaster Assistance Act would:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;ul style="list-style-type: disc;"&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Provide $3.5 billion in emergency supplemental funding to the USDA to deliver aid through state-administered block grants&amp;nbsp;&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Help compensate producers for losses of revenue, quality and production caused by freeze and cold weather events&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Cover prevented planting and damage to trees, bushes and vines &amp;amp; explicitly includes compensation for multi-year crop losses&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Direct assistance to counties that received USDA freeze disaster designations issued on March 4, 2026&lt;/li&gt;
    &lt;li&gt;Require states to request assistance funding through USDA&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Earlier this year, Florida experienced statewide sub-freezing temperatures for multiple nights during the state’s winter growing season. This impacted a wide range of commodities, including citrus, strawberries, blueberries, sugarcane and other specialty crops, many of which can experience catastrophic damage after just a few hours of freezing temperatures. Florida agriculture has experienced catastrophic production losses, significant quality reductions and damage to trees and plants that will affect future growing seasons, and Florida’s overall economy. According to preliminary estimates from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), losses exceeded $3.2 billion.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Franklin is actively engaged with growers, commodity groups and federal agencies in the aftermath of this year’s freeze. This bill is part of his broader efforts to make longer-term reforms to disaster response and USDA risk management tools for Florida producers. Earlier this Congress, Franklin introduced the TEMP Act to develop a temperature index policy producers can buy to help them recover from freeze and cold weather events. &amp;nbsp;This bill passed the House as part of the 2026 House Farm Bill and was included in the FY27 House Ag Appropriations bill, which is due for floor consideration this week.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Original cosponsors include: Rep. Jimmy Patronis (FL-01); Rep. Neal Dunn (FL-02); Rep. John Rutherford (FL-05); Rep. Randy Fine (FL-06); Rep. Cory Mills (FL-07); Rep. Mike Haridopolos (FL-08); Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09); Rep. Maxwell Frost (FL-10); Rep. Daniel Webster (FL-11); Rep. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12); Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13); Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14); Rep. Laurel Lee (FL-15); Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL-16); Rep. Byron Donalds (FL-19); Rep. Lois Frankel (FL-22); Rep. Jared Moskowitz (FL-23); Rep. Frederica Wilson (FL-24); Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25); Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27); and Rep. Carlos Gimenez (FL-28).&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Supporting Organizations include: Florida Farm Bureau; Florida Citrus Mutual; Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association; Florida Strawberry Growers Association; Florida Sugar Cane League; Florida Tomato Exchange&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Read the full bill text &lt;a href="https://franklin.house.gov/UploadedFiles/FRANKL_030_xml.pdf"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
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      <link>http://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1915</link>
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      <pubDate>Tue, 02 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Franklin Statement On House Passage Of FY27 MilConVA Funding Bill</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) today issued the following statement after House passage of the Fiscal Year 2027 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Supporting our service members, veterans and military families is a critical responsibility of the federal government. This bill helps ensure those commitments are met. It ensures our troops have the facilities and support they need while improving care and services for the men and women who served our country.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“The bill also includes several priorities I worked to advance, including resiliency improvements at the U.S. Naval Academy to address recurrent flooding that threatens infrastructure, disrupts operations, and impacts the training environment for future naval officers. It also strengthens research and treatment efforts for veterans battling Parkinson’s disease and ALS, expands access to advanced cancer treatment and clinical trials, and continues modernization across the VA system, including cybersecurity protections and emerging technologies that improve early detection and patient care.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“The legislation also fully funds veterans’ healthcare and benefits, strengthens mental health and suicide prevention programs. Importantly, it also protects veterans’ Second Amendment rights by preventing the VA from sharing theirinformation with the FBI without due process and a judicial determination.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“As an appropriator, I was pleased this bill passed the House with bipartisan support. That’s an important step toward funding the government on time and improving accountability in the process.”&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>http://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1913</link>
      <guid>http://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1913</guid>
      <pubDate>Fri, 15 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Franklin Announces 2026 U.S. Service Academy Appointments</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) announced two students from Florida’s 18th Congressional District have received appointments to U.S. Service Academies for the Class of 2030.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Reagan Hohnstreiter of McKeel Academy received an appointment to attend the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, while Carter Young of Geneva Classical Academy received an appointment to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Each year, Members of Congress nominate qualified students from their districts to attend the nation’s service acaemies, which prepare young men and women to serve as officers in the United States Armed Forces.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;More than 40 years ago, as a student at Lakeland High School, Congressman Franklin received a nomination to the U.S. Naval Academy from former Congressman Andy Ireland.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“As a Naval Academy graduate and former Naval Aviator, I understand the level of commitment and discipline it takes to pursue this path,” &lt;b&gt;said Congressman Scott Franklin.&lt;/b&gt; “Receiving a service academy appointment is a significant achievement that reflects years of hard work, leadership, and a willingness to serve something greater than yourself. Reagan and Carter have already distinguished themselves through their character and dedication, and I’m confident they will represent FL-18 and our nation well as they answer the call to serve.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="text-align: left;"&gt;Students interested in applying for a future nomination through Congressman Franklin’s office can learn more &lt;a href="https://franklin.house.gov/forms/serviceacademynomination/"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;###&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>http://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1912</link>
      <guid>http://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1912</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 14 May 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Franklin Statement On Farm, Food, And National Security Act</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Congressman Scott Franklin issued the following statement on today’s vote to advance the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Our agriculture sector&amp;nbsp;has been&amp;nbsp;operating under short-term extensions of a farm bill that’s nearly a decade old. That uncertainty makes it harder&amp;nbsp;for producers&amp;nbsp;to plan, invest&amp;nbsp;and&amp;nbsp;stay competitive.&amp;nbsp;This bill is a step toward restoring long-term stability.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“It strengthens the farm safety net and expands access to credit and risk management tools at a time when&amp;nbsp;input&amp;nbsp;costs&amp;nbsp;remain high&amp;nbsp;and margins are tight. It also makes&amp;nbsp;targeted&amp;nbsp;investments in specialty crops, which&amp;nbsp;are critical to&amp;nbsp;Florida’s economy, supports export markets, and updates rural development and research programs to better reflect where today’s agricultural landscape.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Importantly, this legislation&amp;nbsp;also includes provisions I’ve worked to advance,&amp;nbsp;including&amp;nbsp;the TEMP Act and standing&amp;nbsp;disaster&amp;nbsp;block grant authority.&amp;nbsp;For&amp;nbsp;states&amp;nbsp;like Florida, where hurricanes and freezes are a regular part of life,&amp;nbsp;speed of relief&amp;nbsp;matters.&amp;nbsp;These reforms will help get assistance out faster and gives&amp;nbsp;states&amp;nbsp;more flexibility&amp;nbsp;to respond when producers need it most.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“After years of short-term fixes, this is a&amp;nbsp;meaningful&amp;nbsp;step toward&amp;nbsp;a more reliable, modern farm&amp;nbsp;policy. I supported advancing&amp;nbsp;this bill&amp;nbsp;and will continue working to&amp;nbsp;ensure it delivers for&amp;nbsp;Florida&amp;nbsp;producers and&amp;nbsp;rural communities.”&lt;/p&gt;
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      <link>http://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1911</link>
      <guid>http://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1911</guid>
      <pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Franklin Applauds EPA Approval Of New Tool To Combat Citrus Greening And Support American Growers</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval of a new citrus rootstock designed to help trees defend against citrus greening disease, a bacterial infection that has devastated Florida’s citrus industry and significantly reduced production over the past two decades.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The newly approved rootstock, CarriCea T1,&amp;nbsp;provides&amp;nbsp;citrus trees&amp;nbsp;with&amp;nbsp;better protection&amp;nbsp;against disease at the source while reducing the need for conventional pesticide applications. The breakthrough offers growers a practical, science-based tool to replant, recover, and rebuild one of Florida’s most important agricultural industries.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Florida citrus growers have been on the front lines of this fight for years and&amp;nbsp;need&amp;nbsp;tools that actually work in the field,”&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;said Congressman Scott Franklin.&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;“This approval gives them a stronger foundation to replant, protect their crops, and turn the corner. It’s a smart, science-driven step that supports our farmers, strengthens our food supply, and helps keep this industry alive for the next generation.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“A secure, abundant food supply keeps Americans healthy and fuels economic growth, which is why we're using gold-standard science to put safe, innovative tools in the hands of our farmers,”&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin&lt;/b&gt;. “CarriCea T1 helps protect American citrus, supports a nutritious food supply, and lets growers rely less on conventional pesticide applications. That’s a win for farmers and a win for American families.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Citrus greening has caused production losses of more than 90 percent from its peak, placing significant strain on growers across Florida and threatening a critical component of the nation’s domestic food supply.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Franklin has led efforts in Congress to push for timely, science-based review of emerging agricultural technologies, including urging federal agencies to provide a clear and predictable regulatory path forward for citrus innovations. Today’s approval marks meaningful progress in those efforts and provides renewed optimism for growers looking to invest in new trees and restore production.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The EPA’s action reflects a broader commitment to advancing innovative solutions that support American agriculture, reduce regulatory uncertainty, and equip farmers with the tools they need to succeed.&lt;/p&gt;
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      <link>http://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1909</link>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Franklin Statement On FISA Section 702 Extension</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Congressman Scott Franklin issued the following statement on the extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA):&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“The threats facing our country aren’t theoretical—they’re active, evolving and increasingly complex. From China, Russia and Iran to terrorist networks, our adversaries are constantly working to coordinate attacks, target our servicemembers overseas, and probe for vulnerabilities here at home, whether that’s cyberattacks, espionage or threats to critical infrastructure.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“As a veteran who has spent my career focused on national security, I’ve seen firsthand how critical timely, accurate intelligence is to staying ahead of those threats. Section 702 is a foreign intelligence tool used to track targets overseas, and it has helped identify terror plots, disrupt foreign surveillance efforts, and provide early warning of threats before they reach our shores.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Just as important, Americans expect their privacy and constitutional rights to be protected, and that must remain a priority. Section 702 cannot be used to target American citizens, and any U.S. person information collected is incidental, meaning it arises when a foreign target is communicating with or about someone in the United States. That information is tightly controlled, access is limited, and its use is restricted to legitimate foreign intelligence purposes, not monitoring Americans.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Congress has strengthened these guardrails with clearer standards, enhanced oversight by the Department of Justice, and regular audits to ensure this authority remains focused on foreign threats while protecting Americans’ civil liberties. After weighing the national security risks alongside the safeguards in place, I believe maintaining this authority is necessary to keep Americans safe while upholding the privacy rights we value as a nation. That’s why I supported this extension.”&lt;/p&gt;
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      <link>http://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1910</link>
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      <pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Franklin Honors 2026 Congressional Art Competition Winners</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18) recognized some of FL-18’s most talented students at the 2026 Congressional Art Competition awards ceremony.&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
A total of 67 students submitted artwork representing seven schools and three counties across Florida’s 18th Congressional District. The annual competition, sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives, showcases the artistic work of high school students.&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;br /&gt;
“FL-18 is home to some incredibly talented students, which was reflected in&amp;nbsp;the submissions&amp;nbsp;we received,”&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;said Congresman Franklin.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;“Each piece&amp;nbsp;demonstrated both&amp;nbsp;creativity&amp;nbsp;and&amp;nbsp;a real investment of time, discipline, and perspective. It’s encouraging to see how thoughtfully these students approached the theme and brought their own experiences to the canvas. I&amp;nbsp;appreciate&amp;nbsp;the teachers and families who continue to support and challenge them and look forward to seeing where their talents take them next.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This year’s theme, “Happy 250th Birthday, America,” inspired a wide range of thoughtful and creative pieces. Thank you to Daryl Ward, Executive Director and Chief Curator at the Ashley Gibson Barnett Museum of Art at Florida Southern College, for assisting in selecting the winners.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Winners include:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;First Place:&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;Caryss Silva, “Thread of the Land” (Gouache), Harrison School of the Arts&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Second Place:&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;Sophia Hayat, “What We’ve Accomplished within 250 Years” (Acrylic), Harrison School of the Arts&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Third Place:&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;Miria Mendez, “The American Way” (Pencil), Okeechobee High School Freshman Campus&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Honorable Mentions:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
Emily Webb, Daniel Sharik, Jonah Jenks, Sarahy Rivas, Andrea Roblero, Sara Carrigan, Arianna Kerr, Eli Martinet, Isabella Adams, and Layla Sierra&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Caryss Silva’s first-place artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year, and she will be recognized during a national reception in Washington, D.C.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Photo 1:&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;First Place – Caryss Silva, “Thread of the Land” (Gouache), Harrison School of the Arts&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Photo 2:&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;Second Place – Sophia Hayat, “What We’ve Accomplished within 250 Years” (Acrylic), Harrison School of the Arts&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Photo 3:&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;Third Place – Miria Mendez, “The American Way” (Pencil), Okeechobee High School Freshman Campus&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;b&gt;Photo 1:&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;br /&gt;
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&lt;b&gt;Photo 2:&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
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&lt;b&gt;Photo 3:&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;
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      <link>http://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1908</link>
      <guid>http://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1908</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Franklin, Babin, Mccormick Lead Oversight Letters Seeking Transparency And Objectivity From National Academies</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18), Chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Environment, joined House Science, Space and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin and Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight Chairman Rich McCormick in leading two oversight letters to Dr. Marcia McNutt, President of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM), seeking answers regarding transparency, conflicts of interest, committee balance, and the integrity of taxpayer-supported scientific advisory work.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The first letter requests records and information regarding NASEM’s fast-tracked report on greenhouse gas emissions, including whether private funding, internal policies, and committee composition influenced findings presented to federal policymakers. The second letter raises concerns about the NASEM Committee on Attribution of Extreme Weather and Climate Events and Their Impacts, including whether committee members’ outside affiliations may create conflicts of interest or undermine public confidence in the objectivity of its work.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment, Franklin has prioritized oversight of how federal agencies use scientific analysis, environmental modeling, and risk assessments to make decisions affecting taxpayers, energy policy, disaster preparedness, and economic growth.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Taxpayer-funded science should be rooted in facts, transparency, and the highest standards of integrity,” &lt;b&gt;said Chairman Scott Franklin.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;“When federal agencies rely on findings developed by the National Academies and other advisory bodies to support costly regulations, Americans deserve to know those findings were developed objectively and without political bias or special-interest influence. These letters are about restoring accountability and ensuring science serves the public, not an agenda.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The letters request documents and responses related to NASEM’s conflict-of-interest policies, committee member selection, funding sources, transparency practices, and safeguards to ensure a balanced range of viewpoints on issues with major public policy consequences.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Click &lt;a href="https://franklin.house.gov/UploadedFiles/NASEM_Letter.pdf"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; to read the greenhouse gas letter.&lt;br /&gt;
Click &lt;a href="https://franklin.house.gov/UploadedFiles/NAS_letter_second.pdf"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; to read the attribution science letter.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p style="text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;###&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>
      <link>http://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1903</link>
      <guid>http://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1903</guid>
      <pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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      <title>Franklin, Amo Lead Bipartisan Bill To Improve Federal Risk Analysis And Protect Taxpayer Dollars</title>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Congressman Scott Franklin (FL-18), Chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Environment, and Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01), the subcommittee’s Ranking Member, today introduced the Advancing Consistent and Credible Use of Risk Assessment Tools and Evaluation (ACCURATE) Act. This bipartisan bill creates a federal commission to help ensure federal agencies use more consistent, credible, and transparent private-sector risk tools when spending taxpayer dollars. Congressman Max Miller (OH-07), who championed the bill in the previous Congress, is joining as an original cosponsor.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Federal agencies are making significant decisions about disaster response, infrastructure, and insurance using private-sector risk tools, but too often there is no consistent standard for how those tools are evaluated,”&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;said Chairman Scott Franklin.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;“The ACCURATE Act brings greater transparency and accountability to the process by establishing clear guidelines for how these tools are reviewed and used. This is about making sure federal decisions are based on sound, reliable data and taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“From Superstorm Sandy to this year’s Blizzard of ’26, Rhode Islanders are no strangers to the dangers of extreme weather,”&lt;b&gt;&amp;nbsp;said Congressman Gabe Amo.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;“The ACCURATE Act ensures federal agencies rely on sound, reliable data to assess risk. Thanks to Chair Franklin, our commonsense, bipartisan bill brings together government and industry to better protect lives, property, and livelihoods.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Safeguarding taxpayer dollars is always a top priority,”&lt;b&gt;&amp;nbsp;said Congressman Max Miller.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/b&gt;“I am proud to support this legislation to protect communities. Accurate forecasting and effective disaster response are vital for millions of Americans from all backgrounds, and it is critical to strengthen how the federal government assesses hazard risk tools. This bill marks important progress, ensuring wise use of tax dollars to address one of life’s most unpredictable forces: the weather.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) applauds Congressman Scott Franklin on the introduction of the Advancing Consistent and Credible Use of Risk Assessment Tools and Evaluation Act (ACCURATE Act),”&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;said&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;Sam Whitfield, American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA)’s Senior Vice President of Federal Government Relations.&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;“This legislation would establish a commission to bring together public‑ and private‑sector experts to help strengthen the reliability, transparency, and consistency of hazard risk assessment tools used by federal agencies. Ensuring the reliability and accuracy of hazard risk data and models is vital to rural and urban communities, industries, and emergency responders nationwide who rely on these tools to help safeguard lives, properties, and critical infrastructure.”&lt;br /&gt;
&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“Accurate and reliable weather models and forecasts are vital to insures for determining the risk of severe weather and pricing coverage as accurately as possible,”&lt;b&gt; said Jimi Grande, NAMIC Senior Vice President – Federal &amp;amp; Political Affairs.&lt;/b&gt; “NAMIC applauds Rep. Franklin for his leadership in introducing the Advancing Consistent and Credible Use of Risk Assessment Tools and Evaluation (ACCURATE) Act to enhance federal weather data. Protecting our homes and communities starts with understanding the risks we face, and as Americans encounter increasingly severe and unpredictable weather, the need for quality data has never been more apparent.”&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;“With severe weather events increasing in frequency and intensity, it is more important than ever to ensure the weather data and risk models communities, businesses, and government officials at all levels rely on is reliable and accurate,” &lt;b&gt;said BuildStrong America Executive Director Natalie Enclade.&lt;/b&gt; “BuildStrong America applauds Representatives Scott Franklin (R-FL) and Gabe Amo (D-RI) for leading the charge on this timely and important issue.”&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The ACCURATE Act directs the Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology to establish a Commission on Hazard Risk Assessment Tools to improve how the federal government evaluates hazard risk tools purchased from the private sector. The Commission will recommend standards, methodologies, and procurement best practices to make these tools more consistent, credible, and transparent. The Under Secretary will review those recommendations and determine whether to adopt them for federal use.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Specifically, the Commission will:&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;• Review the private-sector hazard risk assessment tools federal agencies use;&lt;br /&gt;
• Recommend standards for data inputs, model assumptions, and validation of model outputs;&lt;br /&gt;
• Develop best practices for evaluating and procuring those tools; and&lt;br /&gt;
• Report to Congress on federal use of these tools and the effectiveness of recommended standards.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This bill&amp;nbsp;builds on the model of&amp;nbsp;Florida’s&amp;nbsp;&lt;u&gt;&lt;a href="https://fchlpm.sbafla.com/" title="https://fchlpm.sbafla.com/" data-outlook-id="79513dee-bdff-46a5-9009-94d84395a4c5"&gt;Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/u&gt;, which&amp;nbsp;is nationally&amp;nbsp;recognizedfor improving the accuracy and transparency of forecasting tools used in insurance and emergency planning.&amp;nbsp;It demonstrates how similar standards can be applied&amp;nbsp;at the national level.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Developed with input from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the legislation has also received support from the American Property and Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA), National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), and BuildStrong America, reflecting broad industry recognition of the importance of establishing clear standards for how the federal government evaluates and uses hazard risk assessment tools purchased from the private sector.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Click &lt;a href="https://franklin.house.gov/UploadedFiles/FRANKL_031_xml.pdf"&gt;here&lt;/a&gt; for the full bill text.&lt;/p&gt;
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      <link>http://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1901</link>
      <guid>http://franklin.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=1901</guid>
      <pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 2026 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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