Soto Passes Kissimmee River Wild and Scenic River Act and 13 Community Projects in Omnibus

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) voted to pass the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 — an omnibus that focuses on helping families in Central Florida and across the United States have a better quality of life. This government funding package includes $27 billion in emergency supplemental funding to respond to the devastation that recent natural disasters like Hurricane Ian have left behind in our communities. The investments in the bill will also provide resources for critical domestic programs, defend the homeland, and fund major legislation passed in the 117th Congress such as the Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, the CHIPS and Science Act, the Honoring our PACT Act, and others.

“I was proud to cast my vote for a government funding package that makes critical investments to help our Central Florida families have a better quality of life by addressing some of our nation’s toughest challenges. Thanks to the leadership of House Democrats, we were able to secure funding for future hurricane preparedness, community improvement projects in Orange, Osceola, and Polk, and so much more. As we approach the new year and a new Congress, I look forward to continuing our work to uplift working families, small businesses, and all Central Floridians,” said Congressman Soto.

Congressman Soto championed funding for 13 projects that will directly benefit Central Florida residents. These include:

• $1,978,000 for Michigan Avenue safety improvements in Osceola County/ City of Kissimmee
• $1,051,360 for the Hopkins Park and River Road water system upgrade for St. Cloud
• $1,000,000 for the City of Orlando Lake Nona Poitras Park
• $1,000,000 for Polk County for behavioral health and mobile crisis services
• $953,000 for the School District of Osceola County for a youth entrepreneurship program, including support for student internships, a vehicle, and capital for student businesses
• $944,227 for the Deerwood Elementary School Sidewalk Project in Poinciana
• $750,000 for Hope Apartment housing on SR 192 in Osceola County
• $400,000 for Orange County’s 115 kW Floating Solar Project at the Utilities and Customer Administration building
• $500,000 for the University of Central Florida for academic research on Puerto Rico
• $2,000,000 for the purchase of a two-fire apparatus (pierce custom pumper and quint fire apparatus) for the City of Haines City
• $750,000 for the City of Lake Wales 1st Street streetscape
• $412,500 for a fire engine replacement in the City of Lake Alfred
• $750,000 for Southwest Lake Howard pedestrian enhancement in the City of Winter Haven

"I am honored that our district has received funding for projects that aim to help our community. From protecting clean water to boosting jobs and promoting cybersecurity, from fixing the traffic to creating more pedestrian-friendly streets, and from increasing solar energy to combatting homelessness and improving education quality, these projects encompass the direct needs of Osceola, Orange, and Polk County residents and will have a lasting impact on future generations. It is an honor to advocate for our community every day in Congress,” said Congressman Soto. 

Additionally, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 included Congressman Soto’s Kissimmee River Wild and Scenic River Act which directs the Secretary of Interior to complete a study of the Kissimmee River within three years to make it part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

"The Kissimmee River restoration was the largest river restoration on earth and cost nearly $1 billion over many years. As part of the Northern Everglades, this project is crucial to ensuring clean water flows through the River of Grass. Now that we’ve restored the river, it’s time to protect it. This will also benefit recreation, ecotourism, and habitat for Florida's endangered species. This new law will finally move the designation process forward and ultimately preserve it for future generations. I am thrilled that our bill was included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, and look forward to seeing President Biden sign it into law,” said Congressman Soto.  

The bill also included parts of the Supporting Medicaid in the U.S. Territories Act of 2021 to provide five years of Medicaid funding for Puerto Rico and avoid a cliff. There is $1 billion in infrastructure/ energy grid repair for the island as well.

"For far too long, Puerto Rico's health system has operated with uncertainty regarding its Medicaid system. This has led to a breakdown in healthcare and eroding of hospitals there. This steady funding will be foundational for building Puerto Rico's healthcare system back better," said Congressman Soto.

In summary, this government funding bill:

1. Lowers the cost of living for hardworking people: Reduces costs by expanding childcare and early learning programs to more working families, investing in America’s K-12 public schools, making college more affordable, bolstering our public health infrastructure, and protecting consumers.
2. Creates better-paying jobs: Creates better-paying jobs by putting people to work rebuilding our infrastructure, helping small businesses grow and thrive, fostering the green energy jobs of tomorrow, and supporting high-quality job training and apprenticeship programs so every American can contribute and succeed.
3. Helps communities and families in need: Supports people struggling to make ends meet by strengthening nutrition assistance, funding more affordable housing, fighting urgent health disparities, supporting our veterans, and investing in rural broadband.
4. Keeps our nation and our communities safe: Strengthens our national security and keeps our communities safe with robust defense funding for training and equipment to prepare for future threats and support our allies in their efforts to defend democracy and investments in diplomacy and global development, our public health infrastructure, cybersecurity, local, state, and federal law enforcement, and funding for responsible border and maritime security.
5. Protects our environment: Confronts the threat of climate change through environmental enforcement and environmental justice efforts, historic investments in clean energy and climate science, and leadership in the global fight against climate change.
6. Protects the integrity of our elections: Provides funds for election security grants to augment state efforts to improve the security and integrity of elections for federal office. It also includes the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act of 2022 to safeguard the certification of presidential elections from the threats to democracy we saw on January 6, 2021.

A detailed summary of the legislation is available here. 

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