Rep. Darren Soto

Maddy summaryThe Juice for Healthy Families Act of 2026 amends the Child Nutrition Act to increase the maximum monthly allowance of single-strength juice for participants in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Under this change, families receiving Food Packages IV, V, VI, or VII would be authorized to receive up to 128 fluid ounces of juice per month instead of the current limit. This policy adjustment directly affects WIC participants by expanding their access to juice as part of their nutritional support. The bill does not alter eligibility requirements or the overall structure of the program, focusing solely on the specific quantity of juice permitted.

Maddy summaryThe Juice Access Improvement Act modifies the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to make juice the standard food benefit for specific participant groups, including young children, pregnant women, and breastfeeding mothers. Under this bill, the Secretary of Agriculture must require state agencies to set juice as the default option while still allowing participants to request a cash-value voucher instead if they prefer other food items. The law defines eligible juice based on existing federal nutritional standards and ensures that the value of any cash vouchers used for substitutions is adjusted annually for inflation. This change directly affects families enrolled in WIC food packages designed for children, pregnant women, and postpartum or breastfeeding individuals.

Maddy summaryThe Southeastern Rail Technologies Mapping Act of 2026 directs the Federal Railroad Administration to study how to improve rail performance and integrate new power technologies in the southeastern United States. This study will examine rail segments between Florida and Washington, DC to identify areas suitable for electrification or battery and fuel cell systems while noting any implementation challenges. If certain segments are found unsuitable for these technologies, the report must explain the reasoning and suggest specific infrastructure updates with estimated costs to make them viable. The Administrator is required to submit the findings of this study to Congress within 18 months of the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThe Rail Motive Power Source Integration Act of 2026 directs the Federal Railroad Administration to launch a pilot program exploring how trains can switch between different power sources like batteries, electricity, hydrogen, and diesel. The bill requires the agency to research these technologies, design rail cars that allow for easy power source changes, and test these designs through demonstration projects. Additionally, the Administrator must study locations where trains currently need to change power sources due to limitations and report the findings to Congress within one year of the law's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis resolution expresses support for designating June 5, 2026, as National Gun Violence Awareness Day and June 2026 as National Gun Violence Awareness Month. The bill calls on the public to wear orange on the designated day to honor victims and promote awareness of gun safety. It highlights statistics on gun-related deaths and injuries to underscore the need for community discussions on making neighborhoods safer.

Maddy summaryThe Protect Our Homes Act creates a new loan program to help homeowners associations and similar residential communities repair common areas damaged by natural disasters or implement measures to prevent future damage. This initiative allows these organizations to borrow money from banks to cover costs for fixing water, wind, or fire damage to shared spaces like roofs and hallways, as well as to upgrade properties in areas recently affected by disasters. Loans are capped at $500,000 for most borrowers and up to $2 million for major employers in disaster zones, with interest rates tied to federal debt averages and terms lasting up to thirty years. The program also waives collateral requirements for smaller loans of $14,000 or less and permits borrowers to defer payments if they face financial hardship.

Maddy summaryHR 3831, the Florida Safe Seas Act of 2025, amends an existing federal law to specifically include Florida in a prohibition against feeding sharks within the exclusive economic zone off the Florida coast. The bill modifies Section 317 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to replace "the State" with "the States" and add "and Florida" after Hawaii, ensuring Florida is explicitly covered under the current rule. This is a technical correction to clarify that Florida's waters are included in the existing federal ban on shark feeding, which already applied to Hawaii. The bill does not create new restrictions but formally extends the existing prohibition to Florida's exclusive economic zone. It directly affects activities involving shark feeding by vessels operating in Florida's offshore waters under federal jurisdiction.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3.5 billion to help Florida farmers and growers recover from the severe freeze that occurred in March 2026. The funds are distributed as block grants specifically to cover losses in crops, trees, bushes, and vines caused by the cold weather, including compensation for multi-year crops. Assistance is restricted to counties officially designated as disaster areas by the Secretary of Agriculture on March 4, 2026, and requires a request from a state agriculture department to release the money. The Secretary of Agriculture must also submit quarterly reports to Congress detailing how the funds are being used until the budget is exhausted.

Maddy summaryHR 7086 creates a federal grant program to help states improve charter schools' access to facilities. It provides competitive grants to state education agencies that submit detailed plans showing how they will increase charter schools' access to funding, public buildings, and adequate facilities - particularly in low-income and rural communities. States receiving grants must use federal funds (capped at 60% of costs) to support facility acquisition, leasing, renovation, or financing mechanisms, while ensuring these funds supplement - rather than replace - existing state resources. The bill directly affects charter schools and state education agencies, focusing on closing facility access gaps between charter schools and traditional public schools.

Maddy summaryThe Community Flood Resilience Act allows states and communities to use up to 15 percent of their federal flood mitigation grants for five years to pay for private, community-based flood insurance. This type of insurance automatically provides payouts when specific flood metrics are met, offering faster financial relief without requiring detailed damage assessments. The bill also requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency to promote these policies and mandates that communities educate residents about the differences between this new coverage and traditional flood insurance. Additionally, the law requires regular reports to Congress on how these programs affect insurance enrollment and the speed of claim payments.