Press Releases
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019, which includes provisions introduced by Congressman Darren Soto to continue funding the National Early Child Care Collaboratives (NECCC) Program at $4 million and increases funding for Gulf War illness research under the Defense Health Program by $1 million.
Congress has approved a defense funding bill that includes $30 million intended for the BRIDG facility in Osceola County. BRIDG, a non-profit public-private partnership, would use any funding it receives to establish a Microelectronics Cybersecurity Center and to develop trusted microelectronic devices in a secure environment to support the Department of Defense. This provision was championed by Florida Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson in the Senate, and by central Florida Reps. Darren Soto and Stephanie Murphy in the House.
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 1310 the "Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act" or SMASH Act, a bill introduced by Congressman Darren Soto to support and expand programs for mosquito-borne and vector-borne disease surveillance and control. The bill was passed as part of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018.
Rep. Darren Soto announced today that the Polk County Fire Rescue will receive a $547,842 federal grant to enhance their response capabilities and more effectively protect the health and safety of Central Florida residents. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) is a program of the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. Rep.
Today, Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) led by Congressman Darren Soto, Chair of the CHC Taskforce on Voting and Civil Rights, sent a letter to the Department of Commerce expressing strong opposition to the addition of the citizenship question to the 2020 Census. Today's letter was submitted as part of the Department of the Commerce's U.S. Census Bureau public comment period, which ends August 7, 2018.
Kissimmee, FL – Today, the Florida office of the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) handling the Juarez family's case, refused to return Alejandra's passport and travel documentation back to her ahead of her deportation travels set for tomorrow (August 3rd). Mrs. Juarez is a Polk County-area mother of two U.S.-born daughters and U.S. veteran spouse who has lived in Central Florida for over 20 years. U.S.
Congressman Darren Soto will open a new office space at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona and host office hours for veterans every Monday and Friday from 9:00am until 3:00pm. Rep. Soto's Veteran Liaison staff will be present to directly assist constituents and help address concerns with federal agencies, specifically with casework regarding the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
This week, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed H.R.
The U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, under President Donald Trump, denied a request for a stay of removal for Polk County-area mother and U.S. veteran spouse, Alejandra Juarez. U.S. Congressman Darren Soto introduced legislation in support of the Juarez family which has garnered national attention and support from immigration activists and the Central Florida community. Rep.