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WASHINGTON – Today, Central Florida Representatives Darren Soto, Val Demings, and Stephanie Murphy joined House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), and House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman John Carter on an official visit to Jacksonville, Florida to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Irma.

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday passed a package of 12 spending bills (H.R. 3354), which included amendments and report language introduced by Congressman Darren Soto. The minibus appropriations bill, Make America Secure and Prosperous Appropriations Act of 2018, funds the Department of the Interior, Environment, and related agencies for the next fiscal year 2018.

Rep. Soto's six amendments passed by voice vote, included:

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) updated the list of Florida counties designated for Individual Assistance to include Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, and Seminole counties. Residents from these counties are now eligible to apply for FEMA's Individuals and Household program, an emergency fund available for residents who are financially unable to cover personal and home repair costs caused by Hurricane Irma.

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Darren Soto announced that he will serve in a leadership role in the House Democratic Caucus Jobs for America Task Forces, a unified effort from the House Democratic Caucus to craft a real legislative agenda that will benefit hardworking Americans and middle-class families. The congressman will serve as co-chair for the New Economy Task Force, along with Representatives Susan DelBene (D-WA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL).

Washington, D.C. – The bipartisan delegation of Central Florida sent a letter to President Donald Trump today urging the administration to designate Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, and Seminole Counties as eligible for individual assistance under the Federal Disaster Declaration for the State of Florida. If granted, the designation would allow the Central Florida counties directly affected by Hurricane Irma to apply for FEMA financial assistance under the Individuals and Household program.

Miami, FL – Florida's entire congressional delegation urged the Trump Administration to conduct "prompt review and approval of forthcoming requests for Individual Assistance" to additional counties in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Darren Soto sent a letter to Mr. Benjamin Friedman, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), addressing concerns that NOAA has not yet acquired backup Hurricane Hunter aircrafts after Congress approved a provision requiring so earlier this year.

WASHINGTON, D.C.— When Congress returns this week, the House of Representatives is scheduled to begin work on a spending bill to prevent a government shutdown at the end of September. Representatives Val Demings, Stephanie Murphy, and Darren Soto want the bill to include counter-terrorism funding for Orlando. The three filed an amendment that would add $20 million in additional funding to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) budget for grants to sustain training and equipment that was obtained with previous federal funds.