Moving Central Florida Infrastructure Forward

Dear friends and neighbors,

This week, we had the exciting opportunity to welcome Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to Central Florida. In a roundtable with Congresswoman Val Demings and transportation stakeholders, Secretary Buttigieg announced a $50 million grant to rebuild highways and roads in Florida that have suffered severe damage due to Hurricane Ian. We are incredibly thankful for this administration's quick response to help our state recover.

In NeoCity, we had the pleasure of hosting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo to celebrate the new $50.8 million Economic Development Administration Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant to accelerate the growth of the specialized semiconductor cluster and create jobs.

Additionally, we continued our work in the district to help those still struggling after Hurricane Ian. We visited Good Samaritan residents to survey the damage sustained and share FEMA resources.

Finally, we are thrilled to share that the application for $10,000 in student loan relief is now open. Pell Grant recipients may also be eligible to receive up to $20,000 in relief.

As always, I am thrilled with everything we accomplished this week and look forward to seeing what next week holds.

Click here for a more comprehensive list of hurricane resources available

In the District

Welcoming Secretary Buttigieg to Central Florida

It was an honor to participate in a roundtable with Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Congresswoman Val Demings. We discussed the Department's support of Orlando International Airport's Terminal C, local transportation initiatives to fix the traffic, and a new $50 million grant to help counties in Florida rebuild after Hurricane Ian.

Celebrating a New Grant for NeoCity

It was an honor to host Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Castillo to celebrate the new $50.8 million Economic Development Administration Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant to accelerate the growth of the specialized semiconductor cluster and create jobs.

Visiting the Good Samaritan Community

I received an update from the Good Samaritan community in Kissimmee. There, I reviewed their Hurricane Ian recovery efforts to bring residents back home safely.

Celebrating Hispanic Leaders in Central Florida

This Hispanic Heritage Month, Team Soto celebrated nine Hispanic leaders in Central Florida by entering their biographies into the Congressional record. We are proud of their contributions to our community and will continue celebrating them year-round.

Meeting with Beep in Lake Nona

We had a great meeting at Beep HQ in Lake Nona. I'm incredibly proud to support their mission to provide safe, convenient, and eco-friendly mobility services.

Donating books for the VA Healthcare System

Team Soto visited the Orlando VA Healthcare System to donate Library of Congress books to the facility. We are proud to support and give back to our incredible veterans.

Great News for Central Floridians

Student Loan Relief Application is Now Open

The application for $10,000 in student debt relief is now open. It’s up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients.

Click here to apply

Hearings Aids Available Over-the-Counter

Millions of Americans are able to purchase hearing aids over-the-counter thanks to House Democrats and President Joe Biden. The FDA estimates these will save patients up to $3,000 per pair.

Federal Resources for Affected Individuals

President Joe Biden approved Individual Assistance for all counties in Florida's Ninth Congressional District: Orange, Osceola, and Polk. As a result, affected families can file claims if they need home repairs or have other damaged property. Disaster Recovery Centers have also been opened to help individuals apply for federal assistance and disaster loans, update applications, and learn about other resources available.

We are thrilled to announce that all three counties have been approved for the Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program to provide short-term lodging assistance for victims of the storm. For long-term solutions, we have asked FEMA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development to consider activating the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP).

Visit DisasterAssistance.gov for more information or call 1-800-621-3362

If you receive a rejection from FEMA, it may not be the end of the road. You have up to 60 days to submit an appeal if you disagree with FEMA’s decision and there are often simple steps you can take to remedy the situation.

Assistance for Small Businesses

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has established facilities to provide business owners, nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters with answers to their questions about SBA’s disaster loan program, explain the application process, and help each person complete their electronic loan application. These facilities can be either virtual or brick-and-mortar, depending on the circumstances surrounding the disaster and other factors. Individuals should apply under SBA declaration # 17644.

Apply through your DisasterAssistance.gov account

Additionally, Florida has made $50 million available through the Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program. The loans will be administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and provide short-term, zero-interest loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury or physical damage due to Hurricane Ian.

Visit www.FloridaJobs.org/EBL to learn more about the program, as well as to view the lending guidelines and required documentation, and complete an application.
Business owners who need further program information may call 833-832-4494 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
Applications are due on December 2, 2022.

Resources for Constituents Without Power

If constituents are experiencing long-term power outages, they should look into the Low-Income Home Energy Assistant Program (LIHEAP) in addition to applying for Individual Assistance. The state of Florida released $1.4 million in LIHEAP set-aside emergency funding for use by LIHEAP providers across the state.

Food and Nutrition Assistance

HOT FOOD UPDATE: Residents of Osceola, Orange, and Polk Counties can now use SNAP to purchase hot foods until the end of the month. SNAP-authorized retailers may accept SNAP benefits in exchange for hot foods and foods intended to be consumed on retailer premises.

D-SNAP UPDATE: USDA has approved Disaster-SNAP benefits for Hurricane Ian survivors in Orange, Osceola, and Polk Counties. Individuals can pre-register at https://www.myflfamilies.com/hurricaneian/.

Beware of Fraud

I am 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,