Rep. Soto Secures Legislative Wins for Central Florida in House Passed Funding Bills

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved 56 legislative items drafted by Rep. Darren Soto, which were included in H.R. 3055, Appropriations Minibus for FY2020. This second funding package increases federal funding for the departments of Interior, Commerce, Justice, Agriculture, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Veterans Affairs, in addition to other related programs and agencies.

"I'm proud to have another successful round of legislation passed to improve the lives of veterans and protecting the environment, as well as provide funding for technological advances and bring higher paying jobs back to our district," stated Rep. Darren Soto. "Our funding priorities in these appropriation bills upholds the voices of Central Florida's families – this is what action For the People looks like!"

The following legislative items by Rep. Soto passed the House:

• SENIORS – Increased funding for housing for the elderly through the Department of Housing and Urban Development
• SUPPORTING VETERANS – Encourages the establishment of a pilot program within the VA to treat Veterans suffering from PTSD with modeling and simulation program based off of UCF's RESTORES
  - Directed the VA to establish lists of servicemembers who were exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War and Mad Cow Disease in Europe
• INCREASING HOUSING OPTIONS – Secured funds for Spanish-language literature on fair housing programs - Directed the Department of Housing and Urban Development to work with housing counselors to provide eviction counseling
• IMPROVING AGRICULTURE – Increased funds for smart agriculture sensor technologies applicable for BRIDG and the University of Central Florida
  – Encourages USDA to conduct research and expand education programs on Zika carrying mosquitoes and funds other pest management programs
• PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT – Increased funds for combatting harmful algal bloom and citrus greening, protecting our national estuaries and coral reefs, and Everglades restoration
• ADVANCING TECHONOLOGY – Secured funding for university-based high-tech business incubators, applicable for the University of Central Florida, advance radio astronomy observation resources, and secured funding for NASA's Exploration Ground system (rocket crawler)

The full list of 56 legislative wins will be available tomorrow by visiting https://soto.house.gov/.