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Rep. Soto Votes to Keep Government Open, Secures 37 Legislative Wins in Spending Bill

December 17, 2019

Rep. Soto Votes to Keep Government Open, Secures 37 Legislative Wins in Spending Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) voted to keep the federal government open and fund key priorities for the fiscal year 2020. The spending bill includes the following 37 funding provisions which were led by Congressman Soto:

Department of Defense

  • Secured $110 million for Peer-Review Prostate Cancer Research
  • Secured $22 million for Peer-Reviewed Gulf War Illness Research
  • Secured $30 million within the Defense Wide Manufacturing Science and Technology Program for BRIDG
  • Secured $10 million within the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment Support Program for BRIDG
  • Secured $10 million within the High Performance Computing Modernization Program for UCF

Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies

  • Secured $592.8 million for the NASA ground crawler that transports the SLS rocket from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad.
  • Secured $592.6 million for the Jupiter Europa NASA Mission.

Financial Services and General Government

  • Secured $11 million for the Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program within the IRS.
  • Secured $12 million for the low-income taxpayer clinic grants program within the IRS.
  • Secured $25 million for the Community Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA clinic) program within the IRS.
  • Secured $5.5 million for Identity Theft and Refund Fraud casework within the IRS.

Department of Homeland Security

  • Secured $850 million for the Urban Area Security Initiative under section 2003 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6. U.S.C. 604)
  • Secured $511,265,000 for Research and Development within Science and Technology Directorate, and $40.5 million for University Programs

Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies

  • Secured $4.0 million for Early Child Care Collaboratives – lead a multimember letter on this
  • Secured $622,372,000 for the Center for Disease Control's Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases Program
  • Secured $38,603,000 for the Vector-borne Disease Program
  • Secured $40 million for the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Program
  • Secured $70 million for the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
  • Secured $20,083,000 for the Special Olympics - worked closely with Rep. Murphy to increase funds for the Special Olympics days following Secretary DeVos's attempt to defund the Special Olympics.
  • Secured $2 million for the CDC's Harmful Algal Bloom Research program

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies

  • Secured $15 million for value-added agricultural product market development grants
  • Secured $3 million for Agricultural Innovation Centers

Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies

  • Secured $60 million for Concentrating Solar power research
  • Secured $5 million for advanced thermal desalination technologies
  • Secured $72 million for Photovoltaic Research and Development
  • Secured $35 million for Balance of System Soft Cost Reductions
  • Secured $1 million joint Solar Ready Vets program
  • Secured $5 million National Community Solar Partnership Program
  • Secured $49.5 million for Solar System Integration
  • Secured $60 million for Manufacturing Competitiveness

Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

  • Secured $10.2 million for multiple Everglades Restoration programs.

State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs

  • Venezuela floor amendment – Worked closely with Rep. Murphy and Rep. Shalala to increased funds to $30 million to promoted democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela.
  • Secured $16 million for the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons
  • Secured $7 million for waste recycling

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies

  • Secured $350,000 for the creation and promotion of Fair Housing translated materials and other programs that support the assistance of persons with limited English proficiency.
  • Secured $793 million for Housing for the Elderly
  • Secured $338 million for the Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program

"Today, the House came together to put the American people first and make strong, bipartisan investments in public health, national security and the well-being of our communities," said Rep. Soto. "I take pride in knowing that 37 of my priorities were passed, including critical funding for Central Florida to expand access to healthcare, protect our seniors and veterans, preserve our environment and renewable energy research, foster high tech jobs and spaceflight, boost affordable housing, increase public transportation and support local agriculture. Now that this agreement has passed the House, I am calling on the Senate and President to move quickly to enact spending bills reflect our fundamental values and put the needs of my constituents first. The American people are counting on us to fund their government for yet another year."

Congressman Darren Soto represents Florida's 9th District in the U.S. House of Representatives, which includes Osceola County, as well as parts of Orange and Polk counties.

Twitter/Instagram: @RepDarrenSoto | Facebook: CongressmanDarrenSoto | Website: https://soto.house.gov