Last Thursday, Congressman Darren Soto and Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales visited Florida’s 9th congressional district in Osceola County as part of a bipartisan policy trip, engaging in tours and discussions with a number local leaders, transportation hubs and projects in Poinciana and Kissimmee, education and workforce development programs, Lake Nona’s V. A. Hospital, and students from Valencia College’s Advanced Manufacturing Training Center in Kissimmee.
The congressmen also traveled to NeoCity and met with representatives from Osceola County, SkyWater, BRIDG, imec, and NeoCity Academy who provided insight on the strategy to combine manufacturing, economic development, job creation, education and training.
The Bipartisan ACE program enables members of Congress from opposite parties to visit each other’s districts, have valuable discussions on shared interests, and build the cross-party relationships that are essential for collaborative problem solving in an increasingly polarized Congress and nation.
The program provides a chance for regional and local civic, business, education, and faith leaders to connect with two members of Congress. Most importantly, when the lawmakers return to Washington, their new relationship and shared understanding leads to working more closely together, collaborating on legislation and policy solutions that would not likely have happened otherwise.
