[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 98 (Wednesday, June 12, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H4437]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL PULSE MEMORIAL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Soto) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, nearly 3 years ago, on this date, we lost 49 
angels and 53 others were injured. Family and friends grieved for their 
loved ones and our Orlando community mourned. But we came together, 
stronger than ever before, to heal, to comfort each other, to overcome 
this tragedy, and, most importantly, to give back.
  As Orlando Strong, we swore, as a community, to never forget those 
who we lost that night--their stories, their images, their memories, 
and their spirits--which live on in our hearts and our memories. We can 
never forget this tragic act of hate against the LGBTQ and Latinx 
community: our community. We continue to reject these despicable acts 
of hate.
  To honor the fallen and the survivors of this tragedy, I joined with 
my colleagues, Representatives Stephanie Murphy and Val Demings, to 
introduce landmark legislation to designate the Pulse nightclub as a 
federally recognized national memorial site. This designation gives 
these hallowed grounds the national recognition it deserves, while 
serving as a reminder that love overcomes hate.
  Let the Pulse memorial become a symbol of hope, love, and continued 
light for our community. We will always remember the 49 angels:
  Edward Sotomayor, Jr.
  Franky Jimmy DeJesus Velazquez
  Stanley Almodovar, III
  Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado
  Javier Jorge-Reyes
  Shane Evan Tomlinson
  Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo
  Juan Ramon Guerrero
  Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera
  Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz
  Luis S. Vielma
  Kimberly Morris
  Eddie Jamoldroy Justice
  Darryl Roman Burt, II
  Deonka Deidra Drayton
  Anthony Luis Laureano Disla
  Jean Carlos Mendez Perez
  Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon
  Amanda Alvear
  Martin Benitez Torres
  Jerald Arthur Wright
  Cory James Connell
  Brenda Lee Marquez McCool
  Christopher Andrew Leinonen
  Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala
  Luis Daniel Conde
  Leroy Valentin Fernandez
  Jason Benjamin Josaphat
  Frank Hernandez
  Akyra Murray
  Mercedez Marisol Flores
  Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez
  Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez
  Oscar A. Aracena-Montero
  Enrique L. Rios, Jr.
  Miguel Angel Honorato
  Juan P. Rivera Velazquez
  Juan Chevez-Martinez
  Tevin Eugene Crosby
  Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega
  Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz
  Paul Terrell Henry
  Joel Rayon Paniagua
  Jean C. Nieves Rodriguez
  Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan
  Angel L. Candelario-Padro
  Antonio Davon Brown
  Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, and
  Alejandro Barrios Martinez
  Just think about how long it took me to reference all those names. It 
gives you just a glimpse of the carnage and the death that happened 
that day, but we will always remember them.


                           Do-Nothing Senate

  Mr. SOTO. Mr. Speaker, there is something rotten in the city of 
Washington. There is an injustice brewing in this Capitol. And there is 
a sinister plot afoot in this Congress.
  On the one hand, we have the people's House, the House of 
Representatives, where we are working every day and passing major 
legislation--our For the People Agenda--and, on the Senate side, we see 
something very different--inaction, stagnancy. In essence, they are 
doing nothing.
  Our For the People House is passing laws that combat corruption in 
D.C. and strengthen election security. Our For the People House is 
lowering prescription drug prices. Our For the People House is passing 
the Equality Act, Dream Act, universal background checks, and others.

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