1. Darren Michael Soto is an American attorney and Democratic politician from Kissimmee, Florida, who is the US representative for Florida's 9th district.
44 Facts About Darren Soto
1. 2.
Darren Soto attended Lakeland Regional High School, and then got his BA at Rutgers University and JD at George Washington University.
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In 2006, Darren Soto ran for the Florida House of Representatives from the 40th district, unsuccessfully challenging incumbent Andy Gardiner.
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In 2012, Florida Senate districts were redrawn, and Darren Soto opted not to run for reelection in the House but instead to run for the newly created 14th district, which included predominantly Latino areas of Orange, Osceola, and Polk Counties.
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In 2013, Darren Soto voted for legislation to expedite driver's license access for DREAMers but it was ultimately vetoed by Governor Rick Scott, setting off statewide protests.
6.
Darren Soto unsuccessfully proposed an amendment to require jury votes of 10 jurors rather than a majority of 7 for death penalties.
7.
In 2014, Darren Soto led the Democratic House and Senate Caucuses in drafting a Congressional map during the 2014 Special Session on Redistricting.
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Darren Soto successfully pushed for $20 million to restore the Kissimmee River.
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Darren Soto secured $10 million in Florida's budget to promote economic growth in Osceola County for a new facility to manufacture high-tech sensors, but Governor Scott vetoed the project.
10.
Darren Soto introduced a bill to boost minimum teacher pay to $50,000 per year.
11.
Darren Soto steered funding to his district, including $15 million for the UCF Sensors Manufacturing Center, $12 million to complete the construction of the Poinciana Valencia College campus, $4 million in supplemental school construction money, $750,000 for the Northern Everglades and Lake Toho initiatives, and $150,000 for a transition house that offers temporary housing for veterans.
12.
In 2016, Darren Soto supported Chloe's Law to construct barriers around water bodies adjacent to state roads, the Deaf Floridian's ID bill, and the Juvenile Clean Slate bill, which automatically seals misdemeanor records for juveniles who reach 21 years of age and do not reoffend as adults.
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Darren Soto won the Democratic nomination to succeed Representative Alan Grayson, who stepped down to run in the primary for US Senate in Florida's 9th congressional district.
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Darren Soto represented the majority of this district while serving in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate.
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Darren Soto had the backing of Vice President Joe Biden, US Representatives John Lewis and Linda Sanchez, Florida State Senator Vic Torres, and every Florida Democratic member of Congress.
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Darren Soto ran for a third term and was virtually unopposed in the Democratic primary, with only one challenger, who dropped out in October 2019.
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Darren Soto is the first congressman of Puerto Rican descent elected from Florida.
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Darren Soto was named co-chair of the House Democratic Caucus New Economy Task Force.
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On December 23,2017, Darren Soto passed his second bill, the Foreign Spill Protection Act, with co-introducer Carlos Curbelo.
20.
Darren Soto introduced a bill to rename a Kissimmee Post Office at 1415 West Oak St after the Borinqueneers.
21.
Darren Soto passed a law to protect billfish, such as marlin, spearfish, and sailfish.
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Darren Soto negotiated with Brightline to build the link between their train and SunRail.
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Darren Soto was tied for first for most laws passed by a freshman member of the 115th Congress.
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Darren Soto filed the second most bills of any freshman.
25.
On June 24,2019, Darren Soto passed his first law of the 116th Congress, the Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act, which aims to combat future Zika outbreaks in Florida, Puerto Rico and other areas.
26.
On July 25,2019, Darren Soto passed the Venezuela TPS Act of 2019 out of the House as the last bill to pass before the August District Work Period.
27.
On December 18,2019, Darren Soto voted for both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.
28.
Darren Soto assisted in securing federal grants of nearly $30 million for Hurricane Irma disaster relief to Polk and Osceola Counties, over $3 million for healthcare clinics in Osceola and Polk Counties, and $250,000 to improve Kissimmee and Winter Haven airports.
29.
Darren Soto has helped lead Florida's delegation in securing additional supplies of remdesivir from his position on the Energy and Commerce Committee.
30.
On May 15,2020, Darren Soto voted for the HEROES Act, which passed the House and provided further pandemic relief.
31.
On October 2,2020, Darren Soto voted for the updated HEROES Act.
32.
On June 26,2020, Darren Soto passed legislation out of the House designating the Pulse National Memorial in recognition and memory of the 49 killed and 53 injured at the Pulse Nightclub shooting.
33.
Darren Soto was an advocate in Congress for Alejandra Juarez, the wife of an Iraq combat veteran and mother of two American daughters, who was deported to Mexico due to Trump's policy.
34.
Darren Soto is considered a champion of cryptocurrency in Congress, sponsoring a bipartisan bill to provide clarity to the regulatory classification of digital assets.
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However, Darren Soto came under controversy for being a part of the "Blockchain Eight"- a group of congressmen who intended to curb the SEC's investigations into the cryptocurrency market, who received substantial donations from the cryptocurrency industry, including from groups linked to Sam Bankman-Fried.
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Darren Soto received a perfect score of 100 for his environmental issues voting record from the National League of Conservation Voters in 2017.
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Darren Soto helped lead opposition to Trump administration proposals to permit oil drilling off Florida's Gulf and Atlantic coasts during House Committee on Natural Resources meetings.
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Darren Soto has supported funding increases for the National Estuary Program the National Wildlife Refuge System program.
39.
On June 6,2018, Darren Soto passed his Shark and Billfish Protection Act out of House Natural Resources Committee.
40.
Darren Soto received an F rating from the NRA Political Victory Fund during his first term in Congress and supported numerous gun law reforms.
41.
Darren Soto received an A rating from the NRA in 2010, but his views changed after the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting.
42.
Darren Soto said gun control would be "one of those litmus test issues" in the 2018 midterm elections.
43.
Darren Soto co-signed a bipartisan letter requesting FEMA Designation of Individual Assistance for the citizens of Orange, Osceola, Polk, Lake and Seminole Counties after Hurricane Irma.
44.
Darren Soto is a singer, songwriter and guitarist for the Orlando folk rock band Orange Creek Riders, which have played various live shows, such as Orlando Fringe Festival, Planned Parenthood's Rock and Roe Concert, Delandapalooza, along with various political events.