Dear friends and neighbors,

This morning, we received an AWFUL jobs report showing that just 73,000 jobs were added in July. The jobs reports for May and June were also revised down by 258,000 jobs to 19,000 and 14,000, which means we had three awful jobs reports in a row, and the Trump Administration has been hiding it. This is the worst job growth in four years. The tariffs, mass deportations, and constant chaos are clearly not working. Now, millions of American jobs are in jeopardy. Trump must stop the insanity before it’s too late.

At the beginning of the week, we hosted a tele-town hall to discuss the impacts of the recently passed Big Ugly Law with nearly 7,000 Central Floridians in attendance. Record cuts to healthcare, nutrition programs (SNAP), and Pell grants, as well as a record $4 trillion+ added to the national debt, will only benefit billionaires at the expense of local families.

We also visited the Osceola County Office of Emergency Management to discuss hurricane preparedness and get updates on their state-of-the-art facility. Their commitment to emergency preparedness and response keeps Central Floridians safe during hurricane season.

On Tuesday, Team Soto visited Cape Canaveral to tour several cutting-edge operations at Kennedy Space Center. From historic NASA facilities to next-generation commercial space technology, it was a glimpse into the future of space exploration. Florida continues to lead the way into the final frontier!

Later in the week, we met with local non-profits to discuss funding obstacles created by the Big Ugly Law. We are committed to ensuring our non-profits have the resources they need to continue providing for local families.

We also met with our Hispanic Advisory Board to discuss how the Big Ugly Law funds a $180 billion mass deportation effort that will break up local families, as well as the Everglades Detention Center, aka "Alligator Alcatraz," challenges to Temporary Protected Status, and the recent PROMESA hearing. We stand with the Hispanic community during this troubling time.

I'm proud and optimistic about our efforts this week and look forward to working in the district for our Central Florida community during the August District Work Period.

Poll of the Week

Do you support President Trump's tariffs?

Yes

Holding President Trump Accountable

This week, we received an AWFUL jobs report, showing that just 73,000 jobs were added in July. The jobs reports for May and June were also revised down by 258,000 jobs to 19,000 and 14,000, which means we had three awful jobs reports in a row, and the Trump Administration has been hiding it. The tariffs, mass deportations, and constant chaos are clearly not working. Now, millions of American jobs are in jeopardy. Trump must stop the insanity before it’s too late.

In addition, the Administration continued its cruelty towards immigrants. This time, they're urging Dreamers to self-deport despite coming here through no fault of their own. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Legal Challenge Tracker

Looking Ahead to the August District Work Period

It has been a busy couple of months in Washington!

We passed TWO bills out of the House to help keep Central Florida families safe
We also had some big fights, like with the Big Ugly Law

Now, I'm looking forward to being home for the August District Work Period!

Click here to watch my recap video

Honoring 60 Years of Medicaid and Medicare

This week marked the 60th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid. In Florida’s Ninth Congressional District, over 260,000 constituents rely on these programs to access healthcare. The Big Ugly Law threatens benefits and puts millions at risk, all to pay for billionaire tax breaks. House Democrats will not stop fighting for you.

In the District

Hosting a Tele-Town Hall on How the

Big Ugly Law Hurts Central Florida

We hosted a tele-town hall to discuss the impacts of the recently passed Big Ugly Law with Central Floridians. Record cuts to Medicaid, KidCare, Obamacare, nutrition (SNAP), and Pell grants, as well as a record $4 trillion+ added to the national debt, will only benefit billionaires at the expense of local families. We thank the nearly 7,000 Central Floridians who joined!

Missed it? Click here to catch up

Staying Prepared During Hurricane Season

We visited the Osceola County Office of Emergency Management to discuss hurricane preparedness in the district. Their commitment to emergency preparedness and response keeps Central Floridians safe during hurricane season.

Meeting with Darden Executives and Chefs

It was great to visit Darden Restaurants—the only Fortune 500 company headquartered in the district. We learned more about their commitment to local jobs, quality food and service, and got a behind-the-scenes kitchen tour. Proud to have a national leader in hospitality right here in Central Florida.

Speaking with Kids at the Alianza Summer Camp

Team Soto visited the Alianza Summer Camp to hear about all the amazing things these kids learned this summer, as well as field questions on manatees, bald eagles, NASA, astronauts, and more. We are incredibly grateful to help inspire young folks to learn more about Central Florida and pursue their dreams.

Meeting with our Hispanic Advisory Board

We met with our Hispanic Advisory Board to discuss how the Big Ugly Law funds a $180 billion mass deportation effort that will break up local families, as well as the Everglades Detention Center, aka "Alligator Alcatraz," challenges to Temporary Protected Status, and the recent PROMESA hearing. We stand with the Hispanic community during this troubling time.

Hosting a Roundtable with Local Non-Profits

Team Soto hosted a virtual roundtable with local non-profits to discuss how the Big Ugly Law will take away millions of dollars in local non-profit funding that helps provide healthcare, food assistance, childcare, assisted living, mental health, disability support, and affordable housing services to local residents. We stand by our non-profits and will do everything we can to help them continue providing for local families.

SPECIAL SPACE FEATURE: At Cape Canaveral!

Tuesday marked NASA's 67th anniversary, and Team Soto traveled to Cape Canaveral to tour several cutting-edge operations at Kennedy Space Center.

From historic NASA facilities to next-generation commercial space technology, it was a glimpse into the future of space exploration.

We began our visit at the Mobile Launcher, the massive structure that supports rocket assembly, testing, and launch. It’s a critical piece of infrastructure for the Artemis program and future deep space missions.

Next, we stepped inside the iconic Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB)—a towering national landmark where NASA prepares rockets for launch. It’s still central to the agency’s efforts to send astronauts and equipment deeper into space.

We then visited SpaceX's HangarX, where refurbished Falcon 9 boosters are inspected and prepared for re-flight. This facility represents a new era of reusability in spaceflight—driving down costs while increasing launch frequency.

Additionally, we visited the Blue Origin facility, where we learned about their reusable rocket systems. Designed for vertical takeoff and landing, these vehicles can be flown up to 25 times with minimal refurbishment—pushing the boundaries of innovation.

We wrapped up the tour at Port Canaveral, where we got an up-close look at the SpaceX drone ship—used to recover Falcon 9 boosters after they land at sea. It was a powerful reminder of how every mission is part of a larger ecosystem of recovery, reuse, and reinvention.

Every morning, thousands of our constituents drive out to the coast to make miracles happen. From NASA, SpaceX, and Blue Origin to Port Canaveral’s cruise and fishing industries, the Space Coast is a hub of exploration, innovation, inspiration, and fun.

Florida continues to lead the way into the final frontier!

Team Soto in the Community

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.

118th Congress End of Term Report

Click here for the full report

Important Updates for Central Floridians

Team Soto Office Hours

Team Soto is here to help! We are holding weekly office hours at the Poinciana Branch Library, this week on it will be on Monday 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.

MySSA Login Changes

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is officially transitioning away from its legacy login system. SSA will require anyone signing in with legacy credentials to migrate to Login.gov before accessing their mySSA account. Users will see an option to sign in with an existing Login.gov or ID.me account.

Click here for more information

PACT Act Resources for Veterans

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.

Emergency Mental Health Care for Veterans

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.

I'm proud to be your representative and look forward to our continued efforts to improve our district! Please do not hesitate to call my office with any questions or concerns.

In Community,