Darren Soto Biography
Darren Soto is an American attorney and politician from Orlando, Florida born on 25th February 1978 in Ringwood, New Jersey, United States. He is the U.S Representative for Florida’s 9th district.
Darren Soto Age
Darren Soto was born on February 25, 1978 (he is 41 years old as of 2019)
Darren Soto Salary
Darren Soto earns a salary of $850,000.
Darren Soto Net worth
Darren Soto has an estimated net worth of $5 million.
Darren Soto Family
Darren Soto was born to Puerto Rican.O. Lou Soto (father) and Jean Soto who is an Italian-America.
Darren Soto Education
Darren Soto attended Rutgers University in 2000 where he did a degree in bachelor of Arts. He also did a Juris Doctor from George Washington University in 2004, and he opened his law practice in 2005. He later jioned George Washington University where he did he got his degree in bachelor of economics and attended school of law at the same same university
Darren Soto political Career
Darren Soto started his political career when he was still in campus. He served for four years in the Florida Senate and five in the Florida House of Representatives, representing parts of the Orlando area. In 2006, he was named class counsel in the federal class action brought on behalf of Hispanic voters against the City of Kissimmee in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida. He is a former member of the Civil Service Board for the City of Orlando. He served as the Treasurer of the Orange County Democrats and the Vice President of Communications for the Orange County Young Democrats (YD’s). He was also the YD Co-Host for their Speak Easy events that provide a monthly forum for local and state leaders to speak to young voters.
Darren Soto Florida House of Representatives
In 2006 Darren Soto ran for the Florida House of Representatives from the 40th District, unsuccessfully challenging incumbent Andy Gardiner. In April 2007, he emerged victorious from a crowded Democratic primary in a special election to replace John Quinones, who had resigned to run for the Osceola County Commission. During the general election, he defeated Tony Suarez, the Republican nominee, by 285 votes. he was overwhelmingly to be re-elected in 2008 and 2010. During his three terms in Florida House, he supported laws to curb illegal street racing.
Darren Soto Florida Senate
Darren Soto redrawn the Florida Senate district and opted not to run for re-election in the House but instead to run for the newly created 14th District, which included predominantly Latino areas of Orange, Osceola, and Polk Counties. He won his party’s nomination uncontested and faced Republican Will McBride. He also defeated McBride with over 70% of the vote. In 2013 he voted for the legislation expedite driver’s license access for DREAMers but it was ultimately vetoed by Governor Rick Scott, setting off statewide protests. He unsuccessfully proposed an amendment to require jury votes of 10 jurors rather than a majoroty of 7 for death penalties.
In 2014 he passed the legislation answering the Florida Supreme Court’s call to give it the authority to admit immigrant lawyers to the Florida Bar. He also advocated legislation giving DREAMers in-state college tuition. He secured the initial state funding to establish a Poinciana Valencia Campus and to initiate the Lake Toho Restoration, which will clean water flowing through the Northern Everglades. In addition, he led the Democratic House and Senate Caucuses in drafting a Congressional Map during the 2014 Special Session on Redistricting. During the 2015 legislative session, he was fundamental in securing $11.9M in funding for Valencia College’s Poinciana campus.
funding to his district, including $15M for the UCF Sensors Manufacturing Center, $12M to complete the construction of the Poinciana Valencia College campus $4M in supplemental school construction money $750k for the Northern Everglades and Lake Toho initiatives and $150k for a transition house that offers temporary housing for veterans. In 2016, 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.
Darren Soto Elections
Darren Soto won the 2016 Democratic nomination to succeed Rep. Alan Grayson, who had stepped down to run in the primary for U.S. Senate in Florida’s 9th congressional district. Soto earned 36% of the vote in a four-way primary election. The district is Democratic-leaning and contains all of Osceola County and parts of Orange and Polk counties. Soto has represented the majority of this district while serving in the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate. The Orlando Sentinel endorsed him in his primary race, calling him an “effective lawmaker.” Soto won the general election for the seat, defeating Republican Wayne Liebnitzky, 57-43%.
He also won the August 28, 2018 democratic primary election with 66% of the vote, easily fending off a challenge from his predecessor Alan Grayson. Soto received endorsements from almost every Democratic organization in his reelection campaign: National Organization for Women, Pride Fund to End Gun Violence Giffords PAC, Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida, National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, Equality PAC, League of Conservation Voters, Human Rights Campaign, Florida AFL-CIO, Florida Young Democrats Orlando Professional Fire Fighters International Association of Fire Fighters Local 1365, Central Florida Police Benevolent Association, Florida LGBTA Democratic Caucus eMgage PAC, Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, and Planned Parenthood. Soto also has the backing of Vice President Joe Biden, Congressman John Lewis, Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, Florida State Senator Vic Torres, along with every Florida Democratic Member of Congress. On November 6, 2018, Soto went on to win the general election handily in his rematch with Republican Wayne Liebnitzky with 58% of the vote.
Darren Soto Congress
Darren Soto is the first Congressman of Puerto Rican descent elected from Florida. In his first few weeks, Soto was named by Nancy Pelosi as one of only three freshmen Members to the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee. He was also named co-chair of the House Democratic Caucus New Economy Task Force. On April 5, 2017 he was along with Senator Bill Nelson passed their Hurricane Hunters bill (HR 1008) by amendment to the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017. This legislation adds two backup Hurricane Hunter aircraft to the NOAA fleet to increase hurricane monitoring and preparedness. On December 23, 2017 he again passed a second bill of “Foreign Spill Protection Act” along with co-introducer US Rep. Carlos Curbelo.
The bill eliminates a $1 Billion cap on damages for foreign oil drillers, whose oil spills pollute America’s waters, to better protect Florida’s beautiful coasts. He then introduced a bill to rename a Kissimmee Post Office (HR 4042) at 1415 West Oak St after the Borinqueneers. Recently this bill passed both chambers of Congress and was signed into law on March 23, 2018. The Borinqueneers were a U.S Army segregated unit of Puerto Ricans who fought in WWI, WWII and Korean War with great distinction and valor. In 2014, they were honored with the Congressional Gold Medal for their brave service to our country. He went on and passed a law of protecting billfish, such as marlin, spearfish, and sailfish. H.R. 4528 closes a loophole in the Billfish Conservation Act making it illegal to sell billfish in the continental United States. The law passed the U.S. House on June 25, 2018 and was signed into law on August 2, 2018.
Darren Soto Committee
- Committee on Agriculture
- Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit
- Subcommittee on Nutrition
- Committee on Natural Resources
- Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
- Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs
- Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Darren Soto Caucuses
- Congressional Progressive Caucus
- New Democrat Coalition
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus
- U.S.-Japan Caucus
Darren Soto Political positions
Immigration
He is a staunch advocate for DREAMers and is working with fellow members of the Hispanic Caucus to pass the DREAM Act. In June 2018, Congressman Soto traveled to Homestead, Florida to tour a detention facility with several Democratic Members of Congress where he argued against Trump’s zero tolerance policy and the separation of children and families. He has been the strongest advocate in Congress for Alejandra Juarez, the wife of an Iraq combat veteran and mother of two American daughters, who was deported to Mexico recently due to Trump’s zero tolerance policy. “Zero tolerance literally ripped this family apart,” said Rep. Darren Soto “The administration is so extreme on immigration that they’re deporting the spouses of military veterans.”
Environmental Policy
He is officially greenest Member of the Florida Congressional Delegation for 2017. He received a perfect score of 100 for his environmental issues voting record from the National League of Conservation Voters. He introduced the Wild and Scenic River Study Act of 2017 (H.R.3961), which passed unanimously out of committee on January 17, 2018. On April 16, 2018, this bill passed unanimously out of the U.S. House. Soto led strong opposition to Trump Administration proposals to permit oil drilling off Florida’s Gulf and Atlantic coasts during the House Committee on Natural Resources meetings. He has championed the funding increases for the National Estuary Program the National Wildlife Refuge System program. On June 6, 2018, Soto passed his Shark and Billfish Protection Act out of House Natural Resources Committee. Senator Bill Nelson passed the Senate companion bill on October 2, 2017.
Gun control
He received an ”A” rating from the NRA in 2012, but his views on the Second Amendment changed after the 2012 Newtown Shooting. In the Florida Senate, he became a reliable vote for gun safety, which ultimately led to earning a “D” rating from the NRA for his service there from 2013-2016. After the Pulse tragedy, Soto called for a special session to prevent those on the FBI’s No Fly List from purchasing firearms. In 2017 he has been in a reliable vote for gun safety reform. After the February 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting, he proposed his “Gun Safety Action Plan.” He listed five steps: universal background checks for gun purchases, keeping guns away from those who are a danger to themselves or others, banning assault weapons and bump stocks, creating a “red-flag” system to issue gun restraining orders, and disallowing anyone on the federal terrorism “no-fly” list from buying a gun.
Hurricane safety
By working with Senator Bill Nelson, he passed his first law in Congress on April 18, 2017 creating a backup fleet of hurricane hunter aircraft to monitor hurricanes affecting Florida and other nearby areas.
Recovery assistance
He is working on debt reduction and tax, healthcare, agriculture and small business relief to assist Puerto Rico in its economic recovery. He also successfully led a bipartisan letter requesting FEMA Designation of Individual Assistance for the citizens of Orange, Osceola, Polk, Lake and Seminole counties after Hurricane Irma. In 2018, he voted to bring back billions of dollars in recovery funding to Central Florida and Puerto Rico following Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
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Darren Soto News
Now in his second term, U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., is moving up the ladder of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC). Last week, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, the chairman of the CHC, unveiled his picks for leaders on the CHC’s task forces. “The Congressional Hispanic Caucus will be focused on creating equal opportunities for all Americans throughout the 116th Congress and passing comprehensive immigration reform. CHC task forces will be instrumental in crafting and advancing policy priorities and legislation,” Castro said. “Further, CHC Task Forces will work to hold the Administration accountable for its failed responses to the crisis in Puerto Rico, finding the best possible framework for comprehensive immigration reform, and increasing diversity across all sectors.
“I’m also proud to announce the establishment of two new CHC Task Forces: the Women’s Task Force and the Arts and Technology Task Force—which will lead efforts to empower and uplift Latinas across the country, fight for women’s education, healthcare, and civil rights, and lead the way for innovation and increased opportunities in the STEAM sectors,” Castro added. “With 38 members strong, I’m confident these task forces will continue building on the Infrastructure of Opportunity so that all Americans have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.” Soto, the first Florida congressman with ties to Puerto Rico, will pair up with two New York Democrats–U.S. Reps. José Serrano and Nydia Velázquez–to chair the Puerto Rico and Insular Areas Task Force.
The Central Florida Democrat will also lead the CHC’s Civil Rights and Voting Rights Task Force. Soto will also sit on the Arts and Technology Task Force which is led by U.S. Rep. Tony Cárdenas, D-Calif. Turning 41 later this month, Soto has been one of the main political beneficiaries of Central Florida’s growing Puerto Rican population. Soto made his political debut in 2006, running for a Florida House seat held by Republican Andy Gardiner who went on to lead the state Senate. While he came up short, Soto impressed and bounced back to win an open Florida House seat in a special election held in early 2007.
Since then, Soto has moved up the political ladder, claiming a state Senate in 2012 when he beat Republican Will McBride. When then U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., ran for the U.S. Senate in 2016, Soto beat two liberal Democrats in the primary–Grayson’s wife Dena and activist Susannah Randolph–and beat the Republican candidate in what is a solidly blue district. Soto was one of the big winners this election cycle as he crushed Alan Grayson in the primary back in August and carried the district over the Republican candidate easily in the general election.
Source: www.floridadaily.com
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