The Public Record
Darren Michael Soto is a U.S. Representative for Florida's 9th congressional district, serving since January 3, 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Soto has focused on issues such as environmental protection, healthcare, and economic development. He has been an advocate for the Latino community and has worked on legislation to improve access to education and job opportunities. Soto has also been involved in discussions around climate change and disaster preparedness, particularly in relation to Florida's unique environmental challenges.
In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Kathy Wandel. Kathy Wandel comes from a career in transportation, which focused on sales, operations, and training. Upon her retirement, she and her husband relocated from Texas to…
In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Kathleen Plinske. Kathleen Plinske serves as campus president of the Osceola, Lake Nona, and Poinciana campuses at Valencia College in Orlando, Florida, and in central Florida. She…
In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Sheri Morton. For over half a century, Sheri Morton has volunteered for progressive causes. From the peace, civil rights, and women's movements in the 1960s to voting, equal rights…
In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Heather Wilkie. Heather Wilkie is the executive director of the Zebra Coalition, a network of community organizations which provide services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender…
In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Gloria Niec. Ms. Niec is the executive director of the Celebration Foundation and has tackled serious issues affecting Osceola County. In 2012, the Celebration Foundation led the…
In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Seretha Tinsley. Seretha Tinsley is a Winter Haven resident, trailblazer, and overachiever. She was the first African-American female to attend and graduate from Wesleyan College, in…
In honor of Women's History Month, I would like to honor Lakecia Gunter. Lakecia Gunter is a Haines City native. She is currently Intel's chief of staff and technical assistant of Intel. Prior to her current role, she was the general…
I just want to express my concern of shifting it further than that, because we have a large shift in population based upon if we have a cold winter.
As you know, there has been a 30 percent decline in the African elephant population from 2007 to 2014.
We just want to make sure it is no longer deemed a subspecies when there is ample scientific basis from some of our local universities.
I do not rise today for another moment of silence for Parkland, Florida, for the semiautomatic weapon and shooter who wielded it already silenced 17 Floridians and injured countless others at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Instead…
In honor of Black History Month, I want to recognize Desmond Meade. Desmond Meade is a formerly homeless returning citizen who overcame many obstacles to eventually be the current executive director of the Florida Rights Restoration…
In honor of Black History Month, I want to recognize Recy Taylor. Recy Taylor was a 24-year-old African American in 1944 when she was kidnapped and raped maliciously by six White men in Abbeville, Alabama. The NAACP sent a young activist…
In honor of Black History Month, I want to recognize Russell Drake. Russell Drake is the president of the Orange County Democratic Black Caucus. He is a Christian man, community activist, engineering professional; and he attended Howard…
In honor of Black History Month, I want to recognize Captain Keva Harris, born in Bartow, Florida, and raised in Haines City, Florida, in a family that stressed community involvement. While in high school, Ms. Harris worked with her…
In honor of Black History Month, I first would like to take a moment to remember a hero of the civil rights movement in central Florida. Harry T. Moore was born on November 18, 1905. He was an African- American educator, a pioneer leader…
In honor of Black History Month, I want to recognize Lawrence Epps. Lawrence Epps moved to Lake Wales with his grandmother when he was 12 years old. As a Boy Scout, he and his troop shoveled out the graves, quickly changed into their…
In honor of Black History Month, I want to recognize the Austin family of Lake Wales, Florida. James P. Austin, Jr., was born in 1919. He served in the United States Army as a staff sergeant during World War II. Mr. Austin served as the…
In honor of Black History Month, I want to recognize Dr. Barbara Jenkins. Dr. Jenkins is the superintendent of Orange County Public Schools. She is a recognized education leader, who has been dedicated to serving the needs of students for…
In honor of Black History Month, I recognize Elizabeth Jones. Mrs. Jones was born in 1942, in Savannah, Georgia. She made her career in military banking from Bank of America and retired with 29 years of experience in managing support for…
In honor of Black History Month, I recognize Mr. Richard Hall. Mr. Hall is one of the original Tuskegee Airmen, the country's first Black military aviators in the U.S. Air Force--back then, the U.S. Army Air Corps. Born in Georgia, Hall…
First, I take a moment to acknowledge that we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act. Signed into law February 5, 1993, FMLA established the right for many workers to take an unpaid leave from work for serious…
I take a moment to reflect on the invaluable contributions of African Americans and what they have done throughout our Nation's history and for our community in central Florida. We are incredibly blessed to stand on the shoulders of so…
Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I would like to talk a little bit about the national debt and what we see going into 2018. It was reported this week that the U.S. Government is set to borrow over $1 trillion in 2018--approximately $955 billion--which…
Politicians like Darren Soto
