[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 16, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1421-E1422]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNIZING THE LEADERSHIP OF STATE SENATOR DARREN SOTO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 16, 2014

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, in honor of Hispanic Heritage 
Month, to recognize Florida Senator Darren Soto. Born in New York in 
1978, Darren Soto is of both Puerto Rican and Italian descent. He 
earned a bachelor's degree in Economics at Rutgers University and 
attended law school at George Washington University in Washington, DC.
  Darren is a commercial and civil rights attorney proudly practicing 
law in Central Florida. He is an ardent defender of civil rights and is 
committed to rendering legal services pro bono to the community. 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.
  Darren is also a former member of the Civil Service Board for the 
City of Orlando, and held the positions of Treasurer of the Orange 
County Democrats and Vice President of Communications for the Orange 
County Young Democrats (YD). He was also the co-host for YD's Speak 
Easy events, which provide a monthly forum for local and state leaders 
to speak to young voters.
  Darren was elected to represent District 49 in the Florida House of 
Representatives in a special election in 2007, and was subsequently re-
elected in 2008 and 2010. He has passed several important pieces of 
legislation including the Luis Rivera-Ortega Street Racing Act, the 
Firefighter Death Benefit Bill (inspired by the death of Volusia County 
firefighter John C. Curry), and the Bus Driver Notification Bill. He 
has also been a critical voice in defeating attempts to convert Florida 
to non-judicial foreclosures, stopping the split of the Florida Supreme 
Court, and blocking a proposed anti-Hispanic Arizona-style immigration 
law in Florida.
  In 2012, Darren was elected to represent District 14 in the Florida 
Senate. He is currently serving as Vice Chair on the Judiciary 
Committee. Senator Soto also serves on the Appropriations Subcommittee 
on Criminal and Civil Justice, the Appropriations Subcommittee on 
General Government, the Community Affairs Committee, the Environmental 
Preservation and Conservation Committee, and the Ethics and Elections 
Committee.
  In May of 2013, Darren married Amanda Betlow, an Orange County school 
teacher.
  I am honored to recognize Senator Darren Soto, during Hispanic 
Heritage Month, for his leadership and contributions to the Central 
Florida community.

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