Press Releases
Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) sent a letter to the Department of Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin, and the Small Business Administration Administrator, Jovita Carranza, urging them to consider allowing local governments to use resources from the state stabilization fund to cover the overtime and hazard pay of first responders.
ORLANDO—U.S. Representatives Stephanie Murphy and Darren Soto today called on Governor Ron DeSantis to immediately provide first responders in Orlando with the critical Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect themselves and the public. In their letter to the Governor, the Central Florida Members of Congress note that the Orlando Police Department (OPD) and the Orlando Fire Department (OFD) are both dangerously low on masks, gowns, and other supplies needed to protect against COVID-19.
Today, Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) voted to pass the historic Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which will now go to the President's desk for a signature.
Rep. Soto gave the following remarks on the House floor:
"Mr. Speaker, as I rise here today, the United States has more coronavirus cases than any nation on the planet. This is an unprecedented crisis that requires an unprecedented response. This bipartisan bill is a promise that help is on the way.
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.
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.
Today, Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) led the Florida Congressional Delegation in sending a letter that requests the Florida Public Service Commission work with the Florida Department of Health and Florida Division of Emergency Management to temporarily suspend disconnections of all water, sewer, electricity and gas services in the State of Florida for 60 days during the national emergency of the coronavirus pandemic.
Today, Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) led a letter to Ajit Pai, Chairman of the Federal Communication Commission, urging him to enact policies that would protect Americans from losing access to their cell phone, landline and internet during the COVID-19 national emergency.
Rep. Darren Soto (FL-09) voted to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, a bill to bolster the federal government's response to the coronavirus outbreak and address the severe impacts of the coronavirus on Central Floridians' personal safety and financial security.
In honor of Women's History Month 2020, U.S. Congressman Darren Soto recognized 10 women in Central Florida for their invaluable contributions to the community. The honorees' biographies were read into the Congressional Record by Rep. Soto and they received official Congressional Certificates.
Today, Rep.Darren Soto (FL-09) voted to pass bipartisan legislation to ensure that Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening workforce employees – or Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) – are afforded the same worker rights and protections afforded to other Federal workers under Title 5 of the U.S. Code. H.R.