underscoring continued support for protecting and expanding affordable health coverage
Protect and expand affordable health coverage.
Occurrences
To amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to require the establishment of an Exchange in Puerto Rico, and for other purposes.
Congressman Darren Soto and Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández introduced H.R. 6479, the Puerto Rico Affordable Care Act (PRACA) — legislation to establish an Affordable Care Act exchange, also known as an Obamacare exchange, in Puerto Rico and allow the island to receive the same treatment as the 50 states and Washington, D.C.
continued support for protecting and expanding affordable health coverage
introduced H.R. 6479, the Puerto Rico Affordable Care Act (PRACA) — legislation to establish an Affordable Care Act exchange, also known as an Obamacare exchange, in Puerto Rico and allow the island to receive the same treatment as the 50 states and Washington, D.C.
trabaja junto al Congresista Darren Soto en legislación que fijaría y ajustaría anualmente el financiamiento de Medicaid en Puerto Rico, eliminando la dependencia de extensiones temporales
presentó el Medicare Advantage Integrity Act para garantizar que esos fondos lleguen directamente a los pacientes
comprometió su oficina a continuar convocando sesiones de orientación para miembros del Congreso y su personal para mantener el tema de Puerto Rico como prioridad en Washington
To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to ensure equitable payment for, and preserve Medicare beneficiary access to, cancer treatments under the Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system.
Our hope is that this bill will open the door to key reforms and lead to a system in which Puerto Ricans have access to tiered plans, tax premiums, and cost-sharing reductions.
Congress just voted to pass a Continuing Resolution, keeping the government open through December. As negotiations for the FY27 Appropriations process continue, we must include the reinstatement of the ACA EPTCs in the discussion. With Americans facing rising costs in all aspects of daily life, increases in health premiums could amount to a death blow.
Evidence
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Congressman Darren Soto and Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández introduced H.R. 6479, the Puerto Rico Affordable Care Act, to establish an Affordable Care Act exchange in Puerto Rico and allow the island to receive the same treatment as the 50 states and Washington, D.C.
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Soto released a statement on the 16th anniversary of the ACA signing, saying the law made health insurance more affordable and emphasizing its importance to Florida's Ninth District.
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The Resident Commissioner said he is working with Congressman Darren Soto on legislation that would set and annually adjust Medicaid funding for Puerto Rico, reducing reliance on temporary extensions.
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On March 20, 2026, Rep. Dunn introduced H.R. 8032 with Darren Soto as cosponsor; the bill would ensure equitable payment for and preserve Medicare beneficiary access to cancer treatments, and it was referred to committee.
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The press releases page shows recent May 2026 activity and, in the visible items, no enacted health-coverage expansion or finalized coverage-delivery announcement attributable to Soto.
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Congress.gov lists Rep. Darren Soto as sponsor of H.R. 6479, the Puerto Rico Affordable Care Act of 2025. The latest action remains House referral to Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means on December 4, 2025, and the tracker status is Introduced, with no passage or enactment shown.
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The CRS report says P.L. 119-21, enacted July 4, 2025, includes health provisions affecting Medicaid, CHIP, Medicare, private health insurance, and rural providers. It reports CBO estimates that the health coverage provisions will increase the number of people without health insurance by 10.0 million in FY2034 relative to the January 2025 baseline.
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U.S. Reps. Kathy Castor (FL-14) and Darren Soto (FL-09) are demanding a federal investigation and full transparency following new reporting that $10 million in taxpayer funds from a Medicaid-related settlement were misappropriated
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Federal law requires that Medicaid proceeds be used solely for health services authorized by law and for the benefit of those served by Medicaid
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Darren Soto | Florida | FL | 09 | Democratic | 11/12/2025 00:00:00 November 12th, 2025
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Latest Action: Senate - 02/10/2026 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 319.
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On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 230 - 196 (Roll no. 11).
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Latest Action: House - 12/04/2025 Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means
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This week, Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) led a letter with all Democratic Members of the Florida Congressional Delegation urging Speaker of the House Mike Johnson to reinstate the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) Enhanced Premium Tax Credit (EPTC) in any future funding vehicles.
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“We therefore urge you to reinstate the Enhanced Premium Tax Credits and address the American people’s healthcare needs.”
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canceling approximately 315,000 unauthorized enrollments covering more than 760,000 individuals
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Soto | Soto | Democratic | FL | Yea
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Received, Returned to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent
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Maxwell Frost (FL); Maggie Goodlander (NH); Darren Soto (FL); Mike Thompson (CA); Nellie Pou (NJ)
Assessments
The verified commitment was occurrence-specific advocacy: Soto said reinstatement of ACA Enhanced Premium Tax Credits must be included in FY27 appropriations discussions. Verified evidence shows Soto led a Florida Democratic delegation letter urging Speaker Johnson to reinstate the ACA EPTC in future funding vehicles. That materially fulfills the advocacy action, though the evidence does not prove final enactment of the EPTC reinstatement.
Soto made concrete same-term efforts to protect and expand affordable health coverage, including sponsoring H.R. 6479 to establish an ACA exchange in Puerto Rico and cosponsoring H.R. 8032 related to Medicare access to cancer treatments. But the cited measures remained introduced or referred to committee, with no passage or enactment shown. Public statements supporting the ACA are advocacy, not delivery. The major enacted federal health-coverage law cited moved coverage in the opposite direction by increasing the projected uninsured population. Because there was serious legislative effort but no delivered outcome attributable to Soto, the promise is best scored as not fulfilled with an effort badge.
Soto has public advocacy and concrete legislative activity on affordable coverage, including introducing an ACA exchange bill for Puerto Rico and cosponsoring related access legislation, but the evidence shows only introductions, referrals, and statements rather than enacted policy or delivered coverage expansion. That is a serious effort but not fulfillment of the promise.
Soto showed real effort to expand affordable health coverage by introducing or cosponsoring health-coverage legislation, including an ACA exchange proposal for Puerto Rico and related access measures, but the evidence does not show enactment or a finalized policy outcome. The available record shows advocacy and committee referral, not delivery of the promised broader coverage expansion.
The evidence shows Darren Soto has actively worked to protect and expand affordable health coverage through sponsorship and cosponsorship of health-access legislation, including a Puerto Rico ACA exchange bill and a Medicare access bill, plus work on stabilizing Medicaid funding for Puerto Rico. However, the record provided does not show these measures were enacted or that a concrete coverage expansion was completed. His ACA anniversary statement demonstrates continued support but not delivery. Because there is meaningful legislative effort but no documented fulfilled outcome, the promise is best judged as partial rather than delivered.
Soto has publicly supported the ACA and taken concrete legislative steps to protect or expand affordable coverage, including introducing H.R. 6479 to establish an ACA exchange in Puerto Rico and cosponsoring H.R. 8032 related to Medicare beneficiary access to cancer treatments. However, the cited measures were introduced or referred to committee and there is no evidence that the promised outcome was enacted or otherwise delivered. Under the federal campaign and office context, this is a serious legislative effort but not fulfillment of the coverage promise.