Rep. Darren Soto

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 #BigUglyLaw

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

Enrolled in this student loan repayment plan? It’s time to consider an exit. The Save repayment plan is winding down as congressional Republicans and the Trump administration seek to limit sweeping loan forgiveness.

The #BigUglyLaw just torched Pell Grants for working students, screwed over med, law, and business students with a $200K cap, and jacked up interest for student loan borrowers. Many don’t know it yet, but are about to find out. Ouch! 🤕
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...

Who’s in charge at Alligator Alcatraz? ‘We’ve gotten a lot of runaround’ “What they’re trying to do, at the end of the day, is pretend like this facility is not governed by federal law,” said one attorney.

The answer is: The State of Florida. They are relying on a somewhat dubious 287(g) authority.

Their carelessness now sets up the state for potentially HUGE LIABILITY for unlawful imprisonment.
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...

It’s officially #hurricaneseason, and we stopped by the Osceola EOC to talk about how we can all stay prepared. 🌀

The team is doing incredible work to keep Osceola County residents informed & ready—from emergency response plans to community outreach.

Stay safe & prepared!

ICYMI: Our #SinkholeMappingAct recently passed the House! 🎉

This bill directs the USGS to establish a program to study the mechanisms causing sinkhole formation & publish maps of areas vulnerable to sinkhole development online.

MAY/JUNE JOBS REPORTS COLLAPSE — May and June were revised down by 258,000 jobs to 19,000 and 14,000.

That means we had 3 awful jobs reports in a row, but the Trump Administration has been HIDING IT!

US job growth stalls: Just 73,000 jobs added in July, with ‘stunning’ downward revisions to recent months | CNN Business The US job market slowed substantially in July and was much weaker than previously thought in previous months, suggesting President Donald Trump’s trade policy may be stifling hiring.

AWFUL JOBS REPORT: Job growth for July was the WEAKEST in over 4 years! 📉

The #TrumpTariffs, mass deportations, and constant chaos are clearly not working.

Now, millions of American jobs are in jeopardy.
www.cnn.com/2025/08/01/e...

🚨ICYMI: We hosted a tele-town hall to discuss the #BigUglyLaw & the impacts it will have on #FL9.

We thank the nearly 7,000 Central Floridians who joined!

Missed it? ➡️ tinyurl.com/BigUglyLawTTH
Stay up to date ➡️ soto.house.gov/contact/newsletter

Today marks the 60th anniversary of Medicare & Medicaid. In #FL9, 260k+ constituents rely on these programs to access healthcare.

The #BigUglyLaw threatens benefits & puts millions at risk, all to pay for billionaire tax breaks. @housedemocrats.bsky.social will not stop fighting for you.

Shoppers are stressed, but some brands are raising prices anyway Citing tariffs, Procter & Gamble is hiking its prices, in a sign that other major retailers will follow suit.

Another day, another sign that prices are going UP on President Trump’s watch.

Tariffs, mass deportations, mass firings, and continuous chaos are the culprits.

Remember when Trump promised to lower prices on Day 1?
washingtonpost.com/business/202...

We also honored CIL of Central Florida founder Beverly Chapman, an influential disability advocate who was present for the signing of the ADA in 1990. The property received a historic marker to commemorate Chapman, as well as honor the ADA and its contributions to Central Florida.

We joined the Center for Independent Living of Central Florida in celebrating 35 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The #ADA has opened doors & protected people with disabilities from discrimination in jobs, provided access to public spaces and government services, and much more.

Commentary: Keep the dream alive for Dreamers, Rep. Darren Soto writes The DACA program, which turns 13 this month, is under attack from Donald Trump and the courts. As Congressman Darren Soto writes, it will take a bipartisan effort to keep the legislation intact.

ICYMI: My @orlandosentinel.com op-ed: “Keep The Dream Alive for Dreamers” ⬇️
www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/06/22/c...

DHS is urging DACA recipients to self-deport "DACA does not confer any form of legal status in this country," said DHS assistant press secretary Tricia McLaughlin, who then encouraged "every person here illegally" to self-deport.

#HomeIsHere for Dreamers across the nation. They are ambitious, inspiring young people who came to this country through no fault of their own. 🇺🇸🦋

The Trump Administration should be ashamed of themselves for this cruelty.
www.npr.org/2025/07/29/n...

Florida DOGE plans to audit Orange County The letter, dated July 24 and signed by newly appointed Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia and two other state officials, requests data and responses to about 50 items, covering procurement, s…

Florida DOGE is led by the same folks who wasted $500M+ on #AlligatorAlcatraz.

It’s a temporary detention camp built in a flood plain during hurricane season by their cronies.

They have no credibility. None.
www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/28/f...

Florida AG: Orange County must transport detainees to ICE facilities, or else Uthmeier accused the Orange County leaders of enacting “sanctuary” policies by rejecting the transport proposal from ICE at their July 15 meeting

If the state wants ⁦Orange County to provide ICE transportation to other jurisdictions, then the state can PAY for it. Or ask the feds to do so.

These extortion threats are an absurd and unlawful overreach.
www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/29/f...

It was an honor to attend the LGBT+ Center's 13th annual Diversity Awards celebration in Orlando last week.

We are grateful to all the nominees for inspiring generations of Central Floridians! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

We stood up for Central Florida schools as $30M+ in federal education funding was frozen by the Trump Admin before the school year. This is a direct result of dismantling
@usedgov.bsky.social.

After overwhelming pressure, we are cautiously optimistic that these funds will finally be released.

Orlando heatwave: Cooling locations in Orange County - List With potentially dangerous heat over Orlando and Central Florida, there are plenty of free, public places in Orange County where people can escape the heat with indoor air conditioning or cool off in ...

Central Florida families need to stay prepared during this heat wave.
⁦
Orange County just opened cooling centers with free LYNX rides to help. Please be safe, everyone!
www.fox35orlando.com/news/orange-...

After Pledging to Keep Prices Low, Amazon Hiked Them on Hundreds of Essentials While Walmart cut prices on low-cost goods, Amazon raised them.

More signs that prices are going UP! 📈

#TrumpTariffs, mass firings, deportations, and general chaos are stoking inflation.

Remember when President Trump promised to lower prices on Day 1?
www.wsj.com/business/ret...

🚨HAPPENING NOW: Join us for a tele-town hall to discuss the #OneBigUglyLaw and the impacts it will have on Central Florida families.

➡️ Facebook.com/RepDarrenSoto

How much would it cost to run SunRail on the weekends? “We have to educate residents that if you want to have nice things, you have to pay for them,” said Luis Nieves-Ruiz, chair of SunRail’s customer advisory committee. “It’s difficult, but that’s the…

SunRail on the weekends would be a game-changer for Central Florida’s quality of life. 🚊☀️

We’re ready to help local governments make this a reality once they’re ready.

Connecting SunRail to MCO & the theme parks will make this even easier.
www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/07/26/h...

In the @naturalresources.bsky.social, we discussed the importance of NEPA in ensuring community input & environmental assessment of major federal projects, as well as the status of recent reforms.

In #FL9, we draw many lessons from the I-4 Ultimate expansion & Kissimmee River restoration.

📢TELE-TOWN HALL ON MONDAY: Join us on Monday, July 28, at 2:30 p.m. for a tele-town hall to discuss the #OneBigUglyLaw and the impacts it will have on Central Florida families.

Watch live ➡️ Facebook.com/RepDarrenSoto

US regulators approve $8.4bn Paramount-Skydance merger FCC approval of deal comes after Paramount paid $16m to settle Trump lawsuit over 60 Minutes interview

Corruption at the ⁦FCC⁩!

They approved a Paramount—Skydance merger on a party-line vote…

But only AFTER Trump gets his $16 million settlement. 💵
theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

We had the opportunity to catch up with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission during @naturalresources.bsky.social to talk about the Florida Safe Seas Act and why feeding sharks increases the risk of attacks.

Let’s keep our waters safe for everyone. 🦈🌊

Mexican consul of Orlando recommending travel alert for Mexican tourists A consulate official says two Mexican tourists, one with a valid tourist visa, were detained in Orlando and taken to Alligator Alcatraz.

First, Florida deports Mexican immigrant workers—and now legal Mexican tourists.

Local companies have spent billions on international tourism marketing over the years.

Now, FL Republicans are in a contest to see who can destroy our tourism economy the quickest.
mynews13.com/fl/orlando/n...

EPA drafts rule to strike down landmark climate finding The agency proposes to overturn the 2009 “endangerment finding,” which underpins nationwide greenhouse gas emission limits on vehicles and power plants.

The new, dirtier, climate change-denying EPA will cause America to become more polluted & fall behind other advanced nations.

As Europe and China double down on EVs and hybrids, America will fall into the Dark Ages.
www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

Here's a breakdown of indictments and cases in Mueller's probe Special counsel Robert Mueller and his team of prosecutors have indicted 34 individuals and three Russian businesses.

Bonus: Russia DID interfere in the 2016 election, and many of Trump’s campaign associates went to jail.

Here’s a good reminder ⬇️
abcnews.go.com/amp/Politics...

If you say these magic words, the Trump—Epstein scandal miraculously goes away!

Hint: It doesn’t.