OP-ED: Rep. Darren Soto: A Tale of Two Sessions
It’s a tale of two sessions. The contrasts are stark. In the 117th Congress, House Democrats led one of the most productive sessions in over 50 years. Now, the 118th Congress led by the Republican majority is the least productive in over 50 years. This contrast is rooted in dysfunction, as extreme MAGA Republicans have been unwilling to compromise for the good of the nation.
In the 117th Congress, the House Democratic majority passed multiple landmark laws to move the nation forward. We passed the American Rescue Plan, which helped us recover from the COVID-19 pandemic faster than any other G-7 nation. We passed the Infrastructure Law, which is helping fund transformative projects such as the I-4 Beyond Ultimate project, the Poinciana Parkway expansion, Orlando International Airport’s Terminal C expansion and a proposed SunRail/Brightline expansion. We passed the CHIPS and Science Act to boost domestic manufacturing, including locally at NeoCity. We passed the PACT Act, which is providing new benefits to veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins. In our district, over 3,000 veterans have filed claims. We passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which is lowering costs for Medicare, Obamacare, and prescription drugs, as well as providing the biggest investment to combat climate change in our nation’s history, among 362 other public laws.
In contrast, House Republicans have passed 27 laws, the least number of laws passed since 1931 during the Great Depression. They have been unwilling to compromise, and therefore unable to govern. Instead, they have been obsessed with multiple votes for Speaker of the House, culture war bills, and a sham impeachment. This is what happens when so many of their caucus members are more concerned with going viral, making the rounds on right-wing news outlets, or currying favor with former President Trump than they are about governing our nation. Many of these Members are the same folks who stoked the flames of the insurrection on Jan. 6 and voted just hours later to reject the 2020 presidential election results. Their actions (or inaction) speak for themselves.
As we head back to Washington later this week, I remain ready to work across the aisle for the good of Central Florida and the nation. We face many challenges upon our return. The House must work with President Joe Biden and the Senate Democratic Majority to pass a bipartisan budget, a supplemental budget for disaster relief, Ukraine, Israel, and border security funding, a Farm Bill, and reauthorization of the FAA this term. We will require vision, hard work, and compromise to meet the moment. As always, I remain honored to serve Central Florida and optimistic about our future.
Darren Soto is a Democrat representing Florida’s 9th District in the U.S. House of Representatives.