Darren Soto

Additionally, he was selected to serve on the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Agriculture, helping pass the 2018 Farm Bill to assist local farmers and ranchers, as well as help feed Central Florida’s working families.

soto.house.gov · Sources

In addition, Soto led efforts to secure federal relief for Florida farmers, ranchers, and growers after historic freezes in early 2026.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Agriculture is a vital industry in Central Florida, and Congressman Soto has stood with local farmers, ranchers, and growers since his first term in Congress. He served on the House Committee on Agriculture during the 115th and 118th Congresses and continues working across the aisle to help agriculture producers feed America, protect food assistance programs, combat citrus greening, support a livestock vaccine bank, secure disaster relief, resolve screwworm and mealybug threats, increase research, invest in new technologies, and more. In 2018, five of Soto’s bills were included in the Farm Bill, including bills to prioritize specialty crop research and provide assistive technology for veterans with disabilities. During the devastating freeze in early 2026, Soto worked with his Florida colleagues on both sides of the aisle to secure federal relief and ensure local producers had the resources to recover.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Today, Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) led a letter to President Donald Trump opposing his recent decision to import 300,000 tons of tariff-free beef.

soto.house.gov · Sources

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) and Congressman John Rose (TN-06) introduced the Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety (HAULS) Act, bipartisan legislation to provide much-needed flexibility to livestock and agriculture haulers. Specifically, this bill would help accommodate seasonal spikes in the transportation of agricultural product by modernizing the agricultural exemption to the hours-of-service rules.

soto.house.gov · Sources

KISSIMMEE — Last week, members of the Florida congressional delegation, led by Reps. Darren Soto (FL-09) and Bill Posey (FL-08), wrote a letter to Acting U.S. Trade Representative, Maria Pagan, expressing concerns over retaliatory tariffs placed by the European Union (EU) on U.S. agricultural products, particularly Florida grapefruits.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Washington, D.C. – This week, U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson and Darren Soto introduced the PRICE Act, a bill that will increase transparency in the cattle market, improve risk management, and support new and expanding meat processors.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) led a bipartisan letter to Secretary Sonny Perdue, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, requesting that the cattle beef industry be included in ongoing and future discussions of loss recovery programs.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Today, U.S. Representatives Darren Soto (D-FL) and Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced the Food Safety Modernization for Innovative Technologies Act, a bipartisan bill which would formalize a regulatory framework for food derived from cell-cultured technology.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Legislation H.R. 9094, Florida Freeze Disaster Assistance Act of 2026, which authorizes the USDA to provide grants to states for agricultural losses caused by freezes; H.R. 9304, the Juice Access Improvement Act, which requires that juice be the default benefit under certain WIC food packages; H.R. 9305, the Juice for Healthy Families Act of 2026, which amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to set maximum monthly allowances for juice under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children; H.R. 8728, the Feed Our Kids Act of 2026, which amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to make breakfasts and lunches free for all children; and H.R. 7466, the SAFE CATTLE Act, which combats threats to our cattle industry by promoting activities and interagency agreements to control and eradicate Screwworm threats.

soto.house.gov · Sources

The Consumer Safety Technology Act directs the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to explore the use of AI in their work through a pilot program. It will also direct the U.S. Department of Commerce and Federal Trade Commission to study and report on the use of blockchain technology and digital tokens, respectively.

soto.house.gov · Sources

In the Energy & Commerce Committee, he is working across the aisle on legislation to strengthen tech, healthcare, and manufacturing efforts—including bills focused on addressing the U.S. microchip shortage, ensuring medical costs are clear and upfront, empowering local communities to decide if data centers are located in their neighborhoods, and more. Rep. Soto has helped secure over $500 million in federal grants and contracts for NeoCity to continue aerospace microchip research and manufacturing, including a Department of Defense Cornerstone award. In Lake Nona, Soto has helped bring funding to Medical City, voted for the UCF Medical School, and helped recruit Nemours Children’s Health.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Darren has also passed major legislation in Congress to protect the Kissimmee River and Great Florida Reef, improve commercial spaceflight, increase hurricane readiness, protect Florida’s coasts from foreign offshore oil drilling, preserve marine life, honor veterans and civil rights heroes, map sinkholes, designate the National Pulse Memorial, provide Medicaid parity and Hurricane María relief to Puerto Rico, and designate Temporary Protected Status to Venezuela.

darrensoto.com · Sources

Today, U.S. Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) announced that Osceola County will receive approximately $360,000 in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Justice to support initiatives that improve the criminal justice system through the Body Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program and the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Program.

soto.house.gov · Sources

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Soto voted for all four pandemic relief packages, including the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act of 2020, Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and CARES II Act. These acts provided stimulus checks, funded COVID-19 vaccine development, authorized telehealth, created the Paycheck Protection Program to help small businesses, and enhanced unemployment benefits, state and local relief funds, and other programs to help the nation combat the crisis.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09), joined by fellow Florida Members of Congress, sent a letter to the Secretary Mnuchin of the Department of the Treasury and Administrator Carranza of the Small Business Administration requesting overtime and hazard pay protections for local essential service employees.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) voted to pass H.R. 1319, The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, legislation that will provide urgently-needed resources to defeat the virus, get vaccines in people's arms, put money into families' pockets, return children safely to the classroom and put people back to work.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) and members of the Florida Democratic delegation sent a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis expressing concern over his decision to withdraw Florida from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation Program (FPUC) on June 26, 2021. Currently, unemployed Floridians receive $300 per week in federal support in addition to state benefits.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Today, Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) led a letter to President Donald Trump opposing his recent decision to import 300,000 tons of tariff-free beef.

soto.house.gov · Sources

KISSIMMEE — Last week, members of the Florida congressional delegation, led by Reps. Darren Soto (FL-09) and Bill Posey (FL-08), wrote a letter to Acting U.S. Trade Representative, Maria Pagan, expressing concerns over retaliatory tariffs placed by the European Union (EU) on U.S. agricultural products, particularly Florida grapefruits.

soto.house.gov · Sources

In Congress, he serves on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee and the Natural Resources Committee, where he fights to lower the cost of healthcare, energy, and consumer goods, boost American jobs, technology, and innovation, increase access to healthcare for all Americans, protect clean air and water, combat climate change, and protect consumers.

darrensoto.com · Sources

Legislation H.R. 7086, the Equitable Access to School Facilities Act, which improves the quality and affordability of charter school facilities and authorizes technical assistance to support the growth and expansion of high-quality charter schools; H.R. 6131, the Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act, which aims to increase access to mental health services in low-income local education agencies; H.R. 4318, the Head Start for Our Future Act, which seeks to expand the number of active educators by including child development and early learning as community services under the federal work-study program; H.R. 1151, the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, which expands tax-free withdrawals to support education for professional certification, apprenticeships, occupational licenses, and academic degrees; and H.R. 2682, the STOP Bullying Act, to support efforts at the state level to reduce bullying in elementary and secondary schools.

soto.house.gov · Sources

In the Energy & Commerce Committee, he is working across the aisle on legislation to strengthen tech, healthcare, and manufacturing efforts—including bills focused on addressing the U.S. microchip shortage, ensuring medical costs are clear and upfront, empowering local communities to decide if data centers are located in their neighborhoods, and more. Rep. Soto has helped secure over $500 million in federal grants and contracts for NeoCity to continue aerospace microchip research and manufacturing, including a Department of Defense Cornerstone award. In Lake Nona, Soto has helped bring funding to Medical City, voted for the UCF Medical School, and helped recruit Nemours Children’s Health.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Congressman Soto believes that education is fundamental to upward mobility and pursuing the American Dream. Every child must have access to a high-quality K-12 public education, college or technical education, and lifelong learning opportunities. Federal funding ensures that the future of our nation has a strong start, regardless of economic status, religion, race, or disability. Soto prioritizes well-rounded education over politics, technical pathways over restricted careers, and local decisions over unneeded bureaucracy. Our economy is rapidly changing, and it is critical that we create a diversity of opportunities for K-12 students, the future of our workforce, and adult learners. Central Florida is home to highly successful education programs, such as NeoCity Academy, our technical colleges, including Valencia, and UCF’s College of Medicine. Soto is working to secure critically important low-interest federal loans, workforce development programs, and wellbeing initiatives to support constituents.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Legislation H.R. 9094, Florida Freeze Disaster Assistance Act of 2026, which authorizes the USDA to provide grants to states for agricultural losses caused by freezes; H.R. 9304, the Juice Access Improvement Act, which requires that juice be the default benefit under certain WIC food packages; H.R. 9305, the Juice for Healthy Families Act of 2026, which amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to set maximum monthly allowances for juice under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children; H.R. 8728, the Feed Our Kids Act of 2026, which amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to make breakfasts and lunches free for all children; and H.R. 7466, the SAFE CATTLE Act, which combats threats to our cattle industry by promoting activities and interagency agreements to control and eradicate Screwworm threats.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Legislation H.R. 7086, the Equitable Access to School Facilities Act, which improves the quality and affordability of charter school facilities and authorizes technical assistance to support the growth and expansion of high-quality charter schools; H.R. 6131, the Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act, which aims to increase access to mental health services in low-income local education agencies; H.R. 4318, the Head Start for Our Future Act, which seeks to expand the number of active educators by including child development and early learning as community services under the federal work-study program; H.R. 1151, the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, which expands tax-free withdrawals to support education for professional certification, apprenticeships, occupational licenses, and academic degrees; and H.R. 2682, the STOP Bullying Act, to support efforts at the state level to reduce bullying in elementary and secondary schools.

soto.house.gov · Sources

In the Energy & Commerce Committee, he is working across the aisle on legislation to strengthen tech, healthcare, and manufacturing efforts—including bills focused on addressing the U.S. microchip shortage, ensuring medical costs are clear and upfront, empowering local communities to decide if data centers are located in their neighborhoods, and more. Rep. Soto has helped secure over $500 million in federal grants and contracts for NeoCity to continue aerospace microchip research and manufacturing, including a Department of Defense Cornerstone award. In Lake Nona, Soto has helped bring funding to Medical City, voted for the UCF Medical School, and helped recruit Nemours Children’s Health.

soto.house.gov · Sources

He voted for the second impeachment against President Donald Trump in response to his inciting this violent insurrection in a blatant attempt to stop the peaceful transfer of power to incoming President Joe Biden—the lawful winner of the 2020 Presidential Election.

soto.house.gov · Sources

The law also allocated $400 billion in tax incentives to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030, which is the largest investment to combat climate change in U.S. history. The law reduced the costs associated with purchasing electric vehicles, solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, and other products. It encouraged an all-of-the-above clean energy strategy to further develop solar, wind, nuclear, hydroelectric, green hydrogen, carbon capture, fusion, geothermal, and battery storage. It also incentivized private sector industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, energy, construction, and others to reduce emissions.

soto.house.gov · Sources

In Congress, he serves on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee and the Natural Resources Committee, where he fights to lower the cost of healthcare, energy, and consumer goods, boost American jobs, technology, and innovation, increase access to healthcare for all Americans, protect clean air and water, combat climate change, and protect consumers.

darrensoto.com · Sources

The law also allocated $400 billion in tax incentives to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2030, which is the largest investment to combat climate change in U.S. history. The law reduced the costs associated with purchasing electric vehicles, solar panels, energy-efficient appliances, and other products. It encouraged an all-of-the-above clean energy strategy to further develop solar, wind, nuclear, hydroelectric, green hydrogen, carbon capture, fusion, geothermal, and battery storage. It also incentivized private sector industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, energy, construction, and others to reduce emissions.

soto.house.gov · Sources

In Congress, he serves on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee and the Natural Resources Committee, where he fights to lower the cost of healthcare, energy, and consumer goods, boost American jobs, technology, and innovation, increase access to healthcare for all Americans, protect clean air and water, combat climate change, and protect consumers.

darrensoto.com · Sources

Darren has also passed major legislation in Congress to protect the Kissimmee River and Great Florida Reef, improve commercial spaceflight, increase hurricane readiness, protect Florida’s coasts from foreign offshore oil drilling, preserve marine life, honor veterans and civil rights heroes, map sinkholes, designate the National Pulse Memorial, provide Medicaid parity and Hurricane María relief to Puerto Rico, and designate Temporary Protected Status to Venezuela.

darrensoto.com · Sources

Legislation H.R. 9094, Florida Freeze Disaster Assistance Act of 2026, which authorizes the USDA to provide grants to states for agricultural losses caused by freezes; H.R. 9304, the Juice Access Improvement Act, which requires that juice be the default benefit under certain WIC food packages; H.R. 9305, the Juice for Healthy Families Act of 2026, which amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to set maximum monthly allowances for juice under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children; H.R. 8728, the Feed Our Kids Act of 2026, which amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to make breakfasts and lunches free for all children; and H.R. 7466, the SAFE CATTLE Act, which combats threats to our cattle industry by promoting activities and interagency agreements to control and eradicate Screwworm threats.

soto.house.gov · Sources

He voted for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to address gun violence, the first gun safety reform in over 30 years. The law offers school safety and mental health grants to reduce gun violence and strengthen communities.

soto.house.gov · Sources

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Soto voted for all four pandemic relief packages, including the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Act of 2020, Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) and CARES II Act. These acts provided stimulus checks, funded COVID-19 vaccine development, authorized telehealth, created the Paycheck Protection Program to help small businesses, and enhanced unemployment benefits, state and local relief funds, and other programs to help the nation combat the crisis.

soto.house.gov · Sources

He also voted for the Inflation Reduction Act to lower healthcare costs and combat climate change. The new law made Affordable Care Act health insurance, also known as Obamacare, more affordable. This is critical to Florida’s Ninth District since they have the second-highest Obamacare enrollment in the nation. The law also lowered prescription costs for seniors by finally allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices, created a $2,000 annual cap on seniors’ prescription out-of-pocket expenses, and capped insulin at $35/month.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Soto passed the Territories Health Care Improvement Act out of the Natural Resources Committee to provide equal Medicaid funding for U.S. territories, including his family’s native island of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and others.

soto.house.gov · Sources

The Inflation Reduction Act also made Obamacare more affordable, capped insulin at $35/month, allowed Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, and capped seniors’ Medicare prescription out-of-pocket expenses at $2,000 per year.

soto.house.gov · Sources

We must stop tariffs and other policies that are raising grocery, fuel, and housing costs, and hurting local agriculture. Stop Medicaid and ACA cuts causing thousands of Central Florida families to lose their healthcare. Protect Social Security and Medicare. And fight rampant corruption in Washington.

darrensoto.com · Sources

Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) voted to pass H.R. 1319, The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, legislation that will provide urgently-needed resources to defeat the virus, get vaccines in people's arms, put money into families' pockets, return children safely to the classroom and put people back to work.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Today, Reps. Darren Soto (D-FL) and Ted S. Yoho (R-FL) introduced the bipartisan American-Made Protection for Healthcare Workers and First Responders Act to ensure the United States builds its stockpile of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This bill is a House companion bill to Senator Rick Scott's introduced in the Senate with the same title.

soto.house.gov · Sources

WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) led a letter with all Democratic Members of the Florida Congressional Delegation urging Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to reinstate the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Enhanced Premium Tax Credit (EPTC) in any future funding vehicles.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Today, U.S. Representatives Darren Soto (D-FL) and Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced the Food Safety Modernization for Innovative Technologies Act, a bipartisan bill which would formalize a regulatory framework for food derived from cell-cultured technology.

soto.house.gov · Sources

In Congress, he serves on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee and the Natural Resources Committee, where he fights to lower the cost of healthcare, energy, and consumer goods, boost American jobs, technology, and innovation, increase access to healthcare for all Americans, protect clean air and water, combat climate change, and protect consumers.

darrensoto.com · Sources

Legislation H.R. 7086, the Equitable Access to School Facilities Act, which improves the quality and affordability of charter school facilities and authorizes technical assistance to support the growth and expansion of high-quality charter schools; H.R. 6131, the Increasing Access to Mental Health in Schools Act, which aims to increase access to mental health services in low-income local education agencies; H.R. 4318, the Head Start for Our Future Act, which seeks to expand the number of active educators by including child development and early learning as community services under the federal work-study program; H.R. 1151, the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act, which expands tax-free withdrawals to support education for professional certification, apprenticeships, occupational licenses, and academic degrees; and H.R. 2682, the STOP Bullying Act, to support efforts at the state level to reduce bullying in elementary and secondary schools.

soto.house.gov · Sources

In the Energy & Commerce Committee, he is working across the aisle on legislation to strengthen tech, healthcare, and manufacturing efforts—including bills focused on addressing the U.S. microchip shortage, ensuring medical costs are clear and upfront, empowering local communities to decide if data centers are located in their neighborhoods, and more. Rep. Soto has helped secure over $500 million in federal grants and contracts for NeoCity to continue aerospace microchip research and manufacturing, including a Department of Defense Cornerstone award. In Lake Nona, Soto has helped bring funding to Medical City, voted for the UCF Medical School, and helped recruit Nemours Children’s Health.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Today, Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) introduced H.R. 6632, the Save Our Homes Act, a bill that would create a simple, national plan for homeowners to save their homes from foreclosure in the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Upon request, struggling homeowners receive a six-month forbearance plan and extension. After the forbearance period, they can begin making monthly mortgage payments. This would keep homeowners from being required to pay large balloon payments.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) led Members of the Florida Congressional Delegation in sending a bipartisan letter that requests the Florida Cabinet in cooperation with the Florida Courts temporarily suspend all eviction and foreclosure proceedings in the State of Florida for 60 days during the national emergency of the coronavirus pandemic.

soto.house.gov · Sources

On May 15, 2020, Soto voted for the HEROES Act, which passed the House and provided further pandemic relief. This legislation included his Save Our Homes Act, which was aimed at helping homeowners save their homes from foreclosure by ending forbearance agreement balloon payments. Unfortunately, this bill ultimately did not make it into the CARES II Act.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Soto passed the Venezuela TPS Act of 2021 out of the House again during this term and worked with President Biden to secure Temporary Protected Status for over a half million Venezuelans by executive order.

soto.house.gov · Sources

He also voted for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to upgrade America—the most significant infrastructure law in over 70 years.

soto.house.gov · Sources

In addition, Soto has secured over $500 million in federal funds to support our local airports—Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Kissimmee Gateway Airport. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and other sources, Soto has helped secure millions of dollars for MCO to build a new Terminal C, add new gates, expand runways, build a pedestrian bridge, enhance restrooms, and more. In 2026, Soto announced nearly $70 million in U.S. Federal Aviation Administration funds for MCO to modernize restroom facilities. Soto has also secured funding for Kissimmee Gateway Airport to upgrade their control tower and improve taxiways. In 2026, the U.S. FAA awarded Kissimmee Gateway Airport $10 million for a new control tower.

soto.house.gov · Sources

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) and Congressman John Rose (TN-06) introduced the Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety (HAULS) Act, bipartisan legislation to provide much-needed flexibility to livestock and agriculture haulers. Specifically, this bill would help accommodate seasonal spikes in the transportation of agricultural product by modernizing the agricultural exemption to the hours-of-service rules.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Soto voted for the first Articles of Impeachment against President Donald J. Trump. This vote was in response to President Trump’s well-documented extortion scheme against Ukraine. Trump threatened to withhold military aid from Ukraine to force them to launch false investigations against his then-opponent, then-Vice President Joe Biden.

soto.house.gov · Sources

We must stop tariffs and other policies that are raising grocery, fuel, and housing costs, and hurting local agriculture. Stop Medicaid and ACA cuts causing thousands of Central Florida families to lose their healthcare. Protect Social Security and Medicare. And fight rampant corruption in Washington.

darrensoto.com · Sources

We must stop tariffs and other policies that are raising grocery, fuel, and housing costs, and hurting local agriculture. Stop Medicaid and ACA cuts causing thousands of Central Florida families to lose their healthcare. Protect Social Security and Medicare. And fight rampant corruption in Washington.

darrensoto.com · Sources

In the Energy & Commerce Committee, he is working across the aisle on legislation to strengthen tech, healthcare, and manufacturing efforts—including bills focused on addressing the U.S. microchip shortage, ensuring medical costs are clear and upfront, empowering local communities to decide if data centers are located in their neighborhoods, and more. Rep. Soto has helped secure over $500 million in federal grants and contracts for NeoCity to continue aerospace microchip research and manufacturing, including a Department of Defense Cornerstone award. In Lake Nona, Soto has helped bring funding to Medical City, voted for the UCF Medical School, and helped recruit Nemours Children’s Health.

soto.house.gov · Sources

The Consumer Safety Technology Act directs the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to explore the use of AI in their work through a pilot program. It will also direct the U.S. Department of Commerce and Federal Trade Commission to study and report on the use of blockchain technology and digital tokens, respectively.

soto.house.gov · Sources

In the Energy & Commerce Committee, he is working across the aisle on legislation to strengthen tech, healthcare, and manufacturing efforts—including bills focused on addressing the U.S. microchip shortage, ensuring medical costs are clear and upfront, empowering local communities to decide if data centers are located in their neighborhoods, and more. Rep. Soto has helped secure over $500 million in federal grants and contracts for NeoCity to continue aerospace microchip research and manufacturing, including a Department of Defense Cornerstone award. In Lake Nona, Soto has helped bring funding to Medical City, voted for the UCF Medical School, and helped recruit Nemours Children’s Health.

soto.house.gov · Sources

During this term, Soto voted for the Honoring Our PACT Act to provide benefits to veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins during the Global War on Terror (Afghanistan and Iraq) and the Gulf War. It also expanded eligibility of benefits for Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange. This was the largest increase in veterans’ benefits in decades.

soto.house.gov · Sources

Darren has also passed major legislation in Congress to protect the Kissimmee River and Great Florida Reef, improve commercial spaceflight, increase hurricane readiness, protect Florida’s coasts from foreign offshore oil drilling, preserve marine life, honor veterans and civil rights heroes, map sinkholes, designate the National Pulse Memorial, provide Medicaid parity and Hurricane María relief to Puerto Rico, and designate Temporary Protected Status to Venezuela.

darrensoto.com · Sources

Darren has also passed major legislation in Congress to protect the Kissimmee River and Great Florida Reef, improve commercial spaceflight, increase hurricane readiness, protect Florida’s coasts from foreign offshore oil drilling, preserve marine life, honor veterans and civil rights heroes, map sinkholes, designate the National Pulse Memorial, provide Medicaid parity and Hurricane María relief to Puerto Rico, and designate Temporary Protected Status to Venezuela.

darrensoto.com · Sources

Legislation H.R. 9094, Florida Freeze Disaster Assistance Act of 2026, which authorizes the USDA to provide grants to states for agricultural losses caused by freezes; H.R. 9304, the Juice Access Improvement Act, which requires that juice be the default benefit under certain WIC food packages; H.R. 9305, the Juice for Healthy Families Act of 2026, which amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to set maximum monthly allowances for juice under the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children; H.R. 8728, the Feed Our Kids Act of 2026, which amends the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 and the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to make breakfasts and lunches free for all children; and H.R. 7466, the SAFE CATTLE Act, which combats threats to our cattle industry by promoting activities and interagency agreements to control and eradicate Screwworm threats.

soto.house.gov · Sources