The U.S. House of Representatives has just passed the highly-anticipated $1.9 Trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill early Saturday morning, a measure that Democrats have championed and Republicans have criticized as being wasteful spending.
Rep. Darren Soto, a Democrat from Orlando, Florida, voted in favor of the measure that passed along political party lines.
“On day one, President Biden promised that help would soon be on the way,” said Congressman Soto. “Today's vote of the American Rescue Plan puts us on a clear path towards recovery and brings us one step closer to ending this crisis. President Biden’s bold, strategic relief package delivers the long-overdue resources needed to meet the needs of Central Florida’s families. With a robust national vaccine program, plan to reopen schools and direct checks to Floridians, we’re reminded of the hope for a post-pandemic future. I’m proud to join my colleagues to deliver for families across America, and I look forward to the Senate taking quick action. Our constituents cannot wait any longer!”
Rep. Soto presses the narrative that the bill will help families, but according to the text of funding of the bill, only 9% of the funding actually goes to stimulus relief, and the majority of the balance of the funding goes to non-COVID spending.
Soto details how counties in his congressional district benefitted from the COVID measure.
- Osceola County: $73 million
- Orange County: $270 million
- Polk County: $141 million
Rep. Stephanie Murphy (D) has also stated that she was, "proud" to support the relief bill, adding that, "this COVID relief bill that will help Florida families and businesses struggling through no fault of their own. We're now a step closer to delivering direct checks to households, expanding unemployment assistance, and getting the vaccines to every America.”
