Recent Greatest Hits

Dear friends and neighbors,

As we mark the end of the August District Work Period, we're looking back at the incredible things we've accomplished for Central Florida during the year.

To start, our Consumer Safety Technology Act and Sinkhole Mapping Act were both passed by the House of Representatives! These bills would utilize AI to protect consumers and provide first responders and the public with critical information on sinkhole development, respectively. The future is NOW!

Additionally, we helped secure $3.4 billion in new funding for I-4 and $1.3 billion for Poinciana Parkway. We are looking forward to the expansion of I-4 to 10 lanes through South Orange County and Osceola County. Poinciana Parkway will also be connected to I-4 and 429. As the 20th-largest metro area in the United States, we must continue to expand our infrastructure to support both local residents and visitors.

We also announced over $33.5 million in FY25 Airport Infrastructure Grants for Orlando International Airport and Kissimmee Gateway Airport. These grants are crucial in supporting the high passenger demand and enhancing the travel experience.

Central Florida's trains will also undergo renovation, with $3 billion we are working to secure for the Brightline/SunRail expansion to the airport, theme parks, and Tampa, as well as a $33.7 million U.S. Department of Transportation grant to increase seating capacity on Brightline. These funds will give Central Floridians more ways to travel, reduce traffic, and improve our environment.

To preserve our district's natural beauty, we have also secured authorization for an estimated $164 million for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' renovation of Big Lake Toho, Shingle Creek, and the Kissimmee River. While this project is currently in the design phase, it will benefit both people and wildlife once completed.

Finally, we helped secure over $500 million for NeoCity microchip manufacturing and millions more for Nemours Children’s Health to support job creation and innovation in the district.

I'm incredibly proud of our work thus far and look forward to returning to Washington next week to continue working for Central Floridians.

Poll of the Week

Do you support the Brightline and SunRail expansion to the airport, theme parks, and Tampa?

Yes

Holding President Trump Accountable

This week, President Trump called up the National Guard to do regular police work after cutting federal COPS grants, which fund local police. Our National Guard is supposed to be ready for emergencies like an invasion or a natural disaster. Not this ridiculousness.

Additionally, electricity prices have also continued to go up under Trump’s watch, and his attack on renewable energy is only making things worse.

Meanwhile, Florida’s "thought police" continue to waste taxpayer dollars on their culture war blunder: Stopping a rainbow sidewalk at the National Pulse Memorial. They have no shame. They also erased bike lane art made by local students that had been done at THEIR request. This fool’s crusade appears to be a major priority for our state government.

Legal Challenge Tracker

Investing in Central Florida

Passing Impactful Legislation

In July, our Consumer Safety Technology Act passed the House! This bipartisan bill would direct the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to create a pilot program to explore the use of AI in their work. It would also direct the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Federal Trade Commission to study and report on blockchain technology and digital tokens, respectively. The future is NOW!

Our bipartisan Sinkhole Mapping Act also passed the House this July! This legislation would direct the United States Geological Survey to establish a program to study the short and long-term causes of sinkhole development and publish maps of vulnerable areas online. We are proud to help homeowners protect their homes from the threat of natural disasters.

Investing in Central Florida's Infrastructure

During the 117th Congress, we helped secure over $3.4 billion for the Beyond the I-4 Ultimate expansion through the American Rescue Plan and Infrastructure Law. In June, we helped secure $1.3 billion in new funding for I-4 and Poinciana Parkway. We are looking forward to the expansion of I-4 to 10 lanes through South Orange County and Osceola County. Poinciana Parkway will also be connected to I-4 and 429. As the 20th-largest metro area in the United States, we must continue to expand our infrastructure to support both local residents and visitors.

Improving our Airports

In May, we announced that we had secured over $33.5 million in FY25 Airport Infrastructure Grants for Orlando International Airport and Kissimmee Gateway Airport. MCO received nearly $15 million to expand the existing Terminal C by over 203k square feet, over $12 million to expand an existing Terminal C apron by over 138k square yards to accommodate more aircraft operations, and $5 million for the Multi-Modal Connector Pedestrian Bridge.

The Kissimmee Gateway Airport received $1.5 million to reconstruct the existing lighting on Taxiway A to help safely guide planes at night. These grants are crucial in supporting the high passenger demand and enhancing the travel experience.

Supporting Public Transportation

Protecting the Environment

To preserve Florida's natural beauty, we have secured authorization for an estimated $164 million for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers renovation of Big Lake Toho, Shingle Creek, and the Kissimmee River. While this project is currently in the design phase, it will benefit both people and wildlife once completed.

Supporting Job Creation in the District

To support job creation in the district, we have helped secure millions of dollars in U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grants for Nemours Children's Health's Graduate Medical Education Program over the years. This training program cultivates talented healthcare professionals to maintain the health of our district.

We also secured over $500 million in CHIPS Act and related federal funds for NeoCity. This emerging tech hub is creating many jobs in the district and promoting semiconductor manufacturing and aerospace exploration. We're proud to support the funding of such an innovative local project.

Some of the largest employers in Central Florida are aerospace technology and space exploration companies. Our Launch Communications Act, which recently became a law, will streamline rocket launches from U.S. soil into space, including at Cape Canaveral in Central Florida. We are excited to see this law support space exploration!

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 on Mondays 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 office hours at the Buenavenutra Lakes Library on Wednesdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

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,