Updated SHIELD Act hits US House subcommittee, fights identity theft online
Florida Congressman Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, presented โupdated talking pointsโ to the Innovation, Data and Commerce Subcommittee on Capitol Hill Thursday that brings the proposed SHIELD Act closer to a full congressional vote.
Proposed SHIELD Act for identity theft victims hits Congress after News 6 investigation
Florida Congressman Darren Soto, D-Kissmmee, presented legislation to a subcommittee on Capitol Hill Wednesday that would penalize identity imposters and provide โlegal remedies " for anyone whose identities are โused online without their consent.โ
Florida congressman developing amendments to protect reputations on social media
An Orlando-area congressman is taking action after a student at the University of Central Florida told News 6 his reputation was ruined after racial slurs linked to his name went viral, reaching โabout 1 million people.โ
Congressman Soto talks $1.9 trillion relief bill, Puerto Rico statehood
President Biden last week signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan as the world marked one year since the World Health Organization declared the virus a pandemic. [TRENDING: SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites | Weekend vaccine events for OCPS employees | Family speaks after deadly shooting]U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, discussed how the relief package will impact Central Floridians on โThe Weekly on ClickOrlando.com with Justin Warmoth.โAdSoto also talked about the vaccine rollout, the possibility of Puerto Rico becoming a state and the ongoing security threat at the U.S. Capitol. Use the form below to sign up for the ClickOrlando.com 4pm Trending newsletter, sent every weekday.
US lawmakers introduce new bill aimed at making Puerto Rico a state
FILE - In this July 29, 2015 file photo, the Puerto Rican flag flies in front of Puerto Rico's Capitol as in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (AP Photo/Ricardo Arduengo, File)ORLANDO, Fla. โ A group of lawmakers on Capitol Hill have introduced a new bill that would give Puerto Rico statehood. The Puerto Rico Statehood Admissions Act is being sponsored by Central Florida Rep. Darren Soto and Rep. Jennifer Gonzalez, Puerto Ricoโs nonvoting member of Congress. The measure aims to not only admit the island as a state but also allow the election of U.S. senators and representatives. In November, 52% of Puerto Rico residents voted in favor of immediate statehood.
Florida lawmakers attend presidential inauguration
With a significantly smaller crowd for Wednesdayโs presidential inauguration, lawmakers from the Sunshine State will still represent Florida at the historic event. I will be attending the inauguration of President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris today. 3:15 p.m. | Biden, Dr. Biden, Harris and Emhoff receive a presidential escort to the White House. 8:48 p.m. | Biden, Dr. Biden, Harris and Emhoff attend โCelebrating Americaโ program. 9:55 p.m. | President Biden and Dr. Biden appear on the Blue Room Balcony.
Central Florida lawmakers to attend Presidential inauguration
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. โ The inaugural audience will be a lot smaller this year, but some Central Florida lawmakers will be in attendance. As members of the 117th Congress, Democrat Representatives Darren Soto, Stephanie Murphy, and Val Demings are expected to be in attendance. Congressman Darren Soto of Kissimmee said the nationโs Capitol was secure on the eve of the inauguration of the 46th president. [TRENDING: Fla. leads nation in cases with new COVID variant | 12-year-old Orlando girl still missing | Biden inauguration will be different]โThe Capitol is very secure. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said that he will be attending the inauguration as a guest of his wife, Congresswoman Val Demings.
Hereโs why residents welcome changes at Orlandoโs Stanton Energy Plant
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Over the next five years, the iconic Stanton Energy Plant will be replacing the coal it now uses to generate electricity with natural gas. Trudell took News 6 inside the Stanton plant to show what this conversion would look like. Coal is stores in piles outside of the Stanton Energy Plant in Orange County. According to previous reports, eight other coal-burning plants in the state have either converted to natural gas, or they are in the middle of transitioning. He said the conversion to natural gas at Stanton has been a long time in coming.
Hereโs how Central Florida lawmakers voted on President Trumpโs impeachment
President Donald Trump became the first president to be impeached twice on Wednesday. Murphy noted 10 republicans voted to impeach Trump in the House vote. Waltz voted to not impeach President Trump. The charge states President Trump endangered the security of the United States and the institutions of Government. It will take a 2/3 majority vote in the Senate to convict President Trump.
โWe were told to pull out our gas masks,โ Florida Congressman describes Capitol breach by Trump supporters
โWhen we started getting messages from our staff that violent protesters motivated by insightful language from Trump had reached the Capitol,โ Soto said. Officials declared the U.S. Capitol complex โsecureโ after heavily armed police moved to end a nearly four-hour violent occupation by supporters of Trump. Republican and Democratic officials are directly blaming the sitting president for the storming of the Capitol by huge, angry crowds of pro-Trump protesters. Trump supporters stormed the barriers around the Capitol building, swarming the steps and breaking windows to into the building, video shows. Grayson agreed with other former and current lawmakers calling on Trump to step down from office.
Rep. Soto urges US House committee to investigate Floridaโs reporting of COVID-19 deaths
California reported more than 50,000 new coronavirus cases and 293 deaths on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, setting new daily records as hospitals struggled to keep up with the surge. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)WASHINGTON โ U.S. Rep Darren Soto, a Democrat who represents Floridaโs Ninth Congressional District, is asking that the House Committee on Energy and Commerce investigate possible inconsistencies in Floridaโs reporting of COVID-19 deaths around the time of the general election. Soto, along with Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, wrote a letter on Friday to Chairman Frank Pallone requesting the investigation. The letter comes as Florida continues to report thousands of new coronavirus cases each day. On Friday, the state reported more than 13,000 cases for the second consecutive day, bringing the stateโs overall total to 1,181,483 cases since March.
Congressman Soto discusses COVID relief package, Puerto Rico statehood on โThe Weeklyโ
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Itโs been eight months since Congress passed the CARES Act but finding common ground for the next COVID relief package remains to be seen. While thereโs broad support among members from both parties, they sharply disagree on the size and scope of it. U.S. Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.) joined News 6 anchor Justin Warmoth on โThe Weekly on ClickOrlando.comโ to discuss the timeline for another relief package and the promising news when it comes to a vaccine. On election day, Puerto Ricans voted โyesโ on statehood, but the vote was non-binding -- meaning it would need Congressional approval before it can move forward. โPuerto Rico needs to become a state,โ Soto said.
Trump wins Florida; voters raise minimum wage to $15
โ District 3: Republican Kat Cammack has won Floridaโs U.S. House seat held by her former boss, retiring Florida Republican Rep. Ted Yoho. He defeated Democrat Donna Deegan, a former television news anchor who has worked to raise money for breast cancer research and to help patients. โ District 15: Republican Scott Franklin has won Florida Rep. Ross Spanoโs seat in the U.S. House. Deutch was first elected in 2010 and represents a firmly Democratic district that includes parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties. A supermajority of Florida voters approved the amendment to the Florida Constitution that will raise Floridaโs minimum wage from the current $8.56 an hour to $15 an hour by 2026.
Meet the candidates: Here are the Republicans running for US House District 9
Four Republican congressional candidates will be on the Florida August primary ballot for the U.S. House District 9. The U.S. House 9th District includes all of Osceola and parts of Orange and Polk counties. [2020 VOTER GUIDE: Everything you need to know ahead of Floridas primary election]In the last three elections, the District has elected Democratic candidates. Meet the Republican primary candidates below:Jose CastilloJose Castillo. He is also an ordained minister and his campaign slogan is faith, family, freedom. According to his campaign website, Ortiz is pro-life and pro-tax reform.
Florida Democrats hope VP pick Kamala Harris will revitalize political party
The presidential election is 11 weeks away and now that Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has chosen his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris, News 6s political analyst weighed in on the vice presidential pick and that means for the weeks ahead. Kamala Harris is gonna be able to hit several boxes. Shes African American and shes Asian.Clark said in 2016 the Democratic party lacked enthusiasm and greater voter turnout by the African American community. Soto and Harris both worked together in issues regarding Puerto Rico and during relief efforts for the island after Hurricane Maria. Kamala Harris extreme positions, from raising taxes to abolishing private health insurance to comparing law enforcement officials to the KKK, show that the left-wing mob is controlling Bidens candidacy, just like they would control him as president.
Florida representatives push to make Pulse nightclub a National Memorial Site
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Democratic Rep. Darren Soto, of Florida, announced Friday that he is submitting legislation to establish the Pulse nightclub as a federally recognized National Memorial Site. The legislation was a combined effort between Soto, along with Florida Representatives Stephanie Murphy and Val Demings. The bill will be brought to the House floor for a vote by the end of June, according to a news release. โI am pleased to announce that Majority Leader Steny Hoyer has committed to bringing our bill to the House Floor for a vote before the end of June. According to a new release, the legislation passed by unanimous consent on March 11 in the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Florida congressman says additional coronavirus financial relief may be needed
โThere is still going to be additional help that may be needed,โ the Democrat told News 6 Monday. Despite a big trading day on Wall Street, Soto was more concerned with the wave of unemployment that has gripped Central Florida. [Financial Fight: News 6 town hall focuses on economy during coronavirus pandemic]โMy main concern is Main Street rather than Wall Street,โ Soto said. โBasically this is day 15 of my process of filing for unemployment.โTosneyโs 9-year old son Christian is attending classes through distance learning. If you have an issue regarding unemployment benefits, your budget or stimulus checks email mholfeld@wkmg.com
Rep. Darren Soto fights for infrastructure funding as Central Florida grows
Soto, who represents Osceola and Orange Counties, is hoping to get some of that money to Central Florida. โI write today to bring your awareness to drinking-water discoloration in portions of St. Cloud,โ Soto wrote in the letter on Friday. Cloud city officials, the one resident with black water was due to a construction issue. Cloud officials said more than two years ago their water polishers broke, sending sediment into the water system. City officials shared pictures with News 6 Thursday showing how they say itโs working.
Lawmakers react to one-year anniversary of Pulse
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Florida and national lawmakers have come out in support of Orlando and the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting, which took place exactly one year ago Monday. Guilty of nothing more than celebrating who they are, 49 Pulse victims lost their lives, and more than 50 others were injured in a horrific act of gun violence." Join me in taking a moment to remember the 49 innocent lives lost one year ago today in the #Orlando terrorist attack. We will NEVER FORGET the victims who lost their lives one year ago today in the horrific #PulseNightClub shooting. #OrlandoUnitedDay pic.twitter.com/OFFUVAFBJM โ Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2017One year later, we honor 49 of our fellow Americans of @pulseorlando and continue to pray for their families.