Chag Sameach to all celebrating Sukkot! May this season be a time of gratitude, reflection and time spent with family and friends.

Earlier this year, I had the chance to visit RCMA’s Mulberry location and see firsthand the work they’re doing for local families. It was great to see that work continue with the grand opening of their new facility in Avon Park. RCMA has deep roots in Highlands County, where it began with one center in 1979. Today, seven centers across Avon Park, Sebring and Lake Placid serve more than 390 children from six weeks to five years old, helping families access early childhood education close to home. Congratulations to everyone who helped make this new facility possible and expand those opportunities across Florida’s Heartland.

Warner University has been part of our community since 1968, helping students build the skills and experience they need for the future. It was good to hear from President Dr. Gentry Sutton about the university’s continued growth, including record enrollment last year and the strong number of students coming from schools across Florida.

Our team attended two naturalization ceremonies at the Polk County History Center in Bartow, where 57 people representing 17 countries took the Oath of Allegiance and officially became American citizens. Congratulations to each of them on completing the naturalization process and reaching this important milestone! 🇺🇸

High school students in FL-18 interested in attending a U.S. Service Academy have until October 2nd to submit a completed nomination application to our office. As a Naval Academy graduate, I know firsthand the value of an academy education and the foundation it provides for a lifetime of leadership and service. Learn more about the nomination process and get started here: franklin.house.gov/forms/ser…

The future of aviation is taking shape in FL-18! I met with VertiPorts by Atlantic to discuss advanced air mobility, FAA certification and the infrastructure needed to safely bring next-generation aircraft into wider use. With SunTrax in Polk County emerging as a major testing and development hub, Central Florida has an important role to play in moving this technology from testing into the national airspace. As Co-Chair of the Advanced Air Mobility Caucus, I’ll continue working to advance American aviation innovation while keeping safety a top priority.

America must develop and field new technology faster in order to maintain its military edge. I met with Kratos Defense & Security Solutions CEO Eric DeMarco to discuss unmanned aircraft, advanced propulsion systems and steps we can take to produce capable defense systems faster and cheaper. Strengthening our defense industrial base and getting proven technology into the hands of our warfighters faster must remain a priority.

Cars are getting smarter, and the rules governing them need to keep pace. I met with Florida auto dealers in town for @NADAUpdate's Washington Conference to discuss right-to-repair policy, vehicle cybersecurity and efforts to combat catalytic converter theft. We also talked about protecting consumer data and keeping unnecessary burdens from falling on drivers and dealers.

Preparing the next generation of military leaders starts at our service academies. 🇺🇸 As a @NavalAcademy graduate, I know cadets and midshipmen need modern facilities and resources to train for the threats ahead. I joined @RepPfluger in this bipartisan effort to invest in our academies and ensure they have what they need to carry out that mission.

Recent flooding just north of Moore Haven is impacting homes and businesses in Glades County. We’ve been coordinating with FDOT, the South Florida Water Management District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and local officials to identify a solution and get the situation under control. Water is moving, but daily rainfall continues to prolong the flooding. With more rain expected in the coming months, we’ll stay on top of this and work to prevent conditions from getting worse.

Protecting consumers from fraud while keeping credit accessible for families and small businesses requires a financial system that can keep up with new threats. I met with representatives from @MIDFLORIDA Credit Union and @theleagueofcus to discuss rising payment fraud, outdated regulations and ways to modernize the rules governing credit unions. Modernizing these rules will help protect consumers while allowing community financial institutions to better serve Floridians.

One of the most energizing meetings I have each year is when Lakeland Mayor Sara McCarley brings Polk County high school students to Washington with the Randy Roberts Foundation to participate in Congressional Classroom. We talked about the importance of public service, their ability to make positive changes and how to find common ground despite our differences. I thoroughly enjoyed their questions and their keen interest in how their government works.

It was great to join the Lakeland Senior Hub for their Unsung Heroes Luncheon, celebrating individuals who are making a real difference throughout our community. Congratulations to all of this year’s award winners and thank you for all you do to serve others and make our community better.

AI is changing how Americans do business, including how purchases are made. I met with @ElecTranAssoc to discuss agentic commerce, where AI can make purchases on behalf of consumers and businesses, and what that means for fraud, privacy and accountability. As this technology develops, consumer protections need to keep pace without putting unnecessary roadblocks in the way of American innovation.

Wishing a meaningful Yom Kippur to all who are observing. May this day of prayer and reflection bring peace, renewal and blessings in the year ahead!

Cutting edge Frontier AI models are now showing the ability to do things their creators didn’t intend or anticipate.  The implications are serious and must be addressed.   This week, I participated in a @housescience roundtable with AI industry leaders to take a deeper look at the recent OpenAI/Hugging Face incident and the lessons we need to learn from the rapid advancement of Frontier models. As Congress grapples with establishing proper AI oversight, we must strike the right balance that encourages American innovation while protecting the public. Doing so will be critical to ensuring the AI race isn’t won by authoritarian regimes whose disregard for our Western democratic values could be catastrophic through the abuse or reckless use of this transformational technology.

We were pleased to participate in BayCare’s Annual NICU Read-a-Thon at Winter Haven Women’s Hospital. BayCare joined more than 200 hospitals nationwide to celebrate the power of reading and connection for babies and families in the NICU. Grateful for the incredible staff caring for our community’s tiniest patients.

On POW/MIA Recognition Day, we honor the Americans who endured captivity and those who never returned home. We remember their courage and sacrifice and stand with the families still awaiting answers. We will never forget.

My statement on House passage of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. 👇