This week, we received a great jobs report for April, which showed that the economy added 175,000 jobs and the unemployment rate was below 4% for the 27th consecutive month—nearing an all-time record.

Earlier in the week, we sadly saw the Affordable Connectivity Program come to an end after Republicans' inability to bring a bill extending the program to the House floor. The ACP was enacted thanks to the Infrastructure Law and provided 79,000 households in Florida's Ninth Congressional District with access to low-cost internet for $30/month, saving Central Floridians $37 million annually. I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6929, the ACP Extension Act of 2024, to ensure families across the nation have access to affordable internet. It is crucial for education, healthcare access, job opportunities, civic engagement, and more.

We also saw Florida's six-week abortion ban go into effect on Wednesday. This ban is a dangerous setback for reproductive rights in our state and will hurt many. In the face of these restrictions, Floridians have the opportunity to have their voices heard come November.

We are thrilled to see the U.S. economy add 175,000 jobs in April. This is the 27th consecutive month that the unemployment rate was below 4%, nearing an all-time record! We're working with President Biden to create good-paying jobs and keep our economy working for the American people.

We’re thrilled that FEMA has granted Orange County and the City of Orlando over $8 MILLION in grants for debris removal after Hurricane Ian. These grants play a vital role in continuous recovery efforts following the damage Hurricane Ian caused to Central Florida.

We are elated by the Biden Administration's move to expand ACA marketplace access to thousands of DACA recipients across the nation. Florida is home to nearly 24,000 Dreamers who contribute to our economy and deserve these benefits. We are thankful for the tireless efforts of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in securing this policy change. Thanks to his leadership, more than 1/3 of DACA recipients who currently do not have healthcare will have the opportunity to enroll in coverage. As we work to build on this momentum, it is our hope that Dreamers will be part of other conversations—including those about our nation's immigration system. Nearly 12 years after DACA was enacted, it is time we deliver a stable pathway to citizenship for these inidivuals.

While AM radio is helpful on a daily basis in Central Florida, it is essential during hurricane season. In this week’s Energy and Commerce Innovation, Data, and Commerce hearing, we delved into the critical role that AM car radios play, especially as hurricane season approaches.

We were honored to welcome Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings to Washington to discuss our ongoing efforts to deliver federal funds to the county for expansions of I-4, SunRail, and Brightline. We also discussed the importance of coming together to address mental health concerns in the community.

We met with members of the Florida Education Association to discuss their work during Florida's recent legislative session and their national priorities, like improving teacher pay, closing pandemic math gaps, and protecting funding for school lunch and ESL programs. We appreciate the contributions of our local educators and will always stand up for them in Congress.

It was great to see so many friends at the Caribbean and Floridian Association festival over the weekend. We celebrated our island heritages and enjoyed incredible food, and I was honored to play a few tunes for the crowd.

Team Soto is hard at work in our district connecting with the community. We are here to serve FL-09 and are grateful for the opportunity to do so.

Team Soto is here to help! We are holding weekly office hours at the Poinciana Branch Library on Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by to see how we can help you resolve issues with federal agencies or obtain federal benefits.

We are also holding weekly office hours at the Buenaventura Lakes Library on Wednesdays from 1 — 5 p.m.

American manufacturing is back and stronger than ever. Thanks to the Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, we're witnessing job creation and increased investment across the country and right here in Central Florida.

El Presidente Biden y los Democratas estamos invirtiendo en Estados Unidos e implementando niveles históricos de inversiones públicas y privadas gracias a la Ley de Infraestructura.

We secured an extension of the special health care enrollment period from March 31, 2023, through July 31, 2024 for those affected by the end of pandemic-related Medicaid continuous coverage.

Toxic-exposed veterans in Central Florida deserve to access all their rightfully earned benefits without issue.

For more information, visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-698-2411.

There has been an increase in PACT Act-related email, phone, and social media scams targeting veterans by offering to submit claims on their behalf. Click here to learn more.

Veterans can receive no-cost emergency mental health care at VA or non-VA healthcare facilities. Veterans can use this benefit whether or not they are enrolled in the VA system. This policy will save lives.

During the 117th Congress, House Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act. Now, millions of seniors no longer have to ration their insulin because they can’t afford it.

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