[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 12, 2021)]
[House]
[Pages H2219-H2220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL PULSE MEMORIAL

  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 49) to designate the National Pulse Memorial located at 1912 
South Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida, 32806, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 49

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL PULSE MEMORIAL.

       (a) In General.--The Pulse Memorial located at 1912 South 
     Orange Avenue, Orlando, Florida, 32806, is designated as the 
     ``National Pulse Memorial''.
       (b) Effect of Designation.--The national memorial 
     designated by this section is not a unit of the National Park 
     System and the designation of the National Pulse Memorial 
     shall not require or permit Federal funds to be expended for 
     any purpose related to that national memorial.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Soto) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise, along with Representative Demings and 
Representative Murphy from central Florida, in strong support of our 
bill, H.R. 49.
  Nearly 5 years ago, 49 angels lost their lives and 53 others were 
injured when a deranged gunman opened fire at the Pulse nightclub in 
Orlando, Florida.
  You can see here photos of those who we lost, lives cut short.
  This horrific act of hate and terror against our LGBTQ and Latino 
community, African-American community, and Anglo community could have 
divided us, but we came together stronger than ever before.
  Orlando swore as a community to never forget those we lost that 
night. Their stories, their images, their memories, and their spirits 
must live on in our hearts.
  We were all there for vigils in Orlando, where the bell rang 49 times 
for those angels we lost, and I am honored to say, across this Nation 
and all 50 States, and many countries, we saw vigils also recognizing 
it, which is why it is so critical that this is a national memorial, 
because it was truly a national and international tragedy.
  To honor the fallen and survivors of this tragedy, I join my 
colleagues to introduce landmark legislation to designate the Pulse 
nightclub as a federally recognized national memorial site. This 
designation as a nonaffiliated National Park Service national memorial 
would not require Federal funds, but it would honor the 49 lives taken 
on June 12, 2016, as well as the survivors, the first responders who so 
heroically came to the rescue of so many others, and the entire central 
Florida community.
  Together, we will open minds and hearts. We will make the Pulse 
Memorial a national symbol of hope, love, and change.
  I would like to, again, thank my amazing colleagues, Congresswoman 
Val Demings and Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy, for joining me in 
leading this important legislation, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 49, offered by my 
colleague from Florida (Mr. Soto).
  Nearly 5 years ago, on June 12, 2016, a senseless and horrific mass 
shooting was perpetrated by an ISIS-inspired coward at the Pulse 
nightclub in Orlando, Florida. In the attack, 49 innocent people were 
killed and 53 were wounded.
  This bill, and the number H.R. 49, is a thoughtful tribute to the 49 
individuals killed in the attack. In the aftermath of the unspeakable 
tragedy at Pulse, the owner of the club established a nonprofit called 
the onePULSE Foundation to memorialize those who died in the mass 
murder, known as the 49.
  The foundation worked quickly to establish an interim memorial in 
Orlando and has been working to build a permanent Pulse memorial and 
museum, which will be completed in coming years.
  This bill would redesignate the Pulse Memorial in Orlando, Florida, 
as the ``National Pulse Memorial.'' The bill makes clear that this 
memorial will not be a unit of the National Park System and that 
designation as a national memorial does not require any Federal funds 
to be expended.
  The House's action on this bill today complements the United States 
Senate resolution passed on June 11, 2020, honoring the victims of this 
tragedy, as well as the State of Florida's designation of June 12 as 
Pulse Remembrance Day.
  Madam Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member, Mr. Westerman 
from Arkansas, for his bipartisan support.
  Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Demings).
  Mrs. DEMINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to 
join us in supporting H.R. 49 to finally designate the Pulse nightclub 
as a national memorial in honor and remembrance of the 49 people who 
lost their lives on this tragic night 5 years ago.
  ``Orlando Strong'' is more than just a slogan. It is a promise to 
support each other and to never forget those we lost and those who were 
injured on that tragic night. By establishing Pulse as a national 
memorial, we will honor their memories and remind ourselves of that 
promise.
  My bishop once called the Pulse nightclub a place for late-night 
fellowship, a place for fun, laughter, family, and friendship. These 
are such fundamental things. We know this now more than ever. After the 
pandemic, we see just how precious these things truly are.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the House for moving forward with this 
legislation. I thank my constituents. I thank the cosponsors, 
Congresswoman Murphy and Congressman Soto, for their work to make this 
day a reality.

[[Page H2220]]

  As we pass this legislation, I know that the memories of those who 
died will live on in our hearts. They will not be defined by their 
tragic deaths through gun violence but by the lives they lived, the 
people they touched, and the love they gave.
  Paraphrasing Dr. King: So I decided as an individual to stick with 
love because, yes, hate is too great of a burden to bear, and it has 
been on me, my community, my city, and my Nation for too long.
  Madam Speaker, I thank my colleagues for joining us in supporting 
this legislation.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Takano).
  Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Soto) for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 49 to designate 
the Pulse nightclub as a national memorial site and to honor those 
whose lives were taken by a gunman with hate in his heart.

                              {time}  1330

  I thank the gentleman for his leadership and his response with H.R. 
49 along with Congresswoman Murphy. I visited with Mr. Soto in Florida 
near Orlando and actually toured the Pulse nightclub site, and what a 
poignant visitation that was.
  Almost 5 years ago, the Nation awoke to the heartbreaking news of a 
mass shooting that unfolded at a nightclub in Orlando. Forty-nine lives 
were taken, and 53 others were injured. It was another devastating loss 
to the LGBTQ-plus community and our Nation.
  The gunman had targeted Pulse nightclub, a nightclub frequented by 
Orlando's Latino and LGBTQ-plus communities. This was a safe place for 
many of the people who were there that night. The shooter violated a 
safe space where LGBTQ people, and, in this case, LGBTQ-plus people of 
color were able to be themselves and to live and dance freely without 
fear or judgment.
  Our community--that is, the LGBTQ-plus community--is still healing 
from this attack, and families and friends are still mourning the loss 
of their loved ones. I will never forget waking up in my Washington, 
D.C. apartment as I was scrolling through the news, and I was just in 
disbelief that another shooting had occurred. Since then, we have had 
so many other senseless shootings.
  By designating the Pulse nightclub as a national memorial site, we 
can always remember the vibrant lives of those we lost. This memorial 
will serve as a reminder that we cannot stop fighting for equality.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 
49.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California, Chair 
Takano, for taking the pilgrimage to the Pulse Memorial, along with me 
and others and listening and paying respects. So I appreciate that.
  Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline).
  Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. 
Five years ago, 49 people were murdered in a violent, hate-filled, mass 
shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando, the Pulse nightclub. I thank 
Congressman Soto for his leadership and our colleagues, Congresswoman 
Murphy and Congresswoman Demings. I, too, had the opportunity to go to 
the site and to read the beautiful notes written about the young lives 
that were taken that night, and the very special place that Pulse was.
  I was, in fact, in Florida this weekend with Barbara Poma, the owner 
of the Pulse nightclub, who was leading an effort to turn this site 
into not only a sacred place, but a museum. I shared with her what for 
young LGBTQ people nightclubs were and still are, a place of sanctuary, 
a safe place where people can be themselves where they go to dance, to 
be with friends, and to share a sense of community. That was all 
shattered by the brutality of the events of the evening in which this 
occurred.
  This shooting was an act of terror and an act of hate. It left the 
Nation really grasping for answers. In the days that followed, we heard 
stories of incredible courage, bravery, and resolve. But mostly, there 
was unspeakable pain for those who lost someone in this attack.
  Although I pray that the passage of 5 years has brought some measure 
of relief, the truth is that their pain will never fully go away. It is 
critical to designate this memorial today so that our country never 
forgets those who were lost. Congressman Soto will remember we had on 
the steps of the Capitol a beautiful remembrance with full-sized 
photographs of each of these young people who had so much to give and 
so much to offer whose lives were taken that night.
  But in addition to remembering, it is also important that we take 
action to do everything we can to make sure that nothing like this ever 
happens again. Individuals who are convicted of hate crimes should 
never own a gun, and that is why I plan to reintroduce the Disarm Hate 
Act to do just that, because we know if you commit a hate crime, it 
often escalates and those crimes become increasingly violent as time 
goes on. No American family should have to suffer because of the 
loophole that currently exists today. Let's disarm hate once and for 
all.
  Today, we remember the 49 young lives lost at the Pulse nightclub in 
Orlando. Let's be sure that we designate this memorial officially, so 
that everyone will know the story of what happened to these young 
people who were killed because they were in a place of sanctuary, and 
safety, and community, but because they were members of the LGBTQ 
community, our allies.
  Madam Speaker, I thank again the gentleman for yielding and for his 
incredible leadership on this issue, and I urge all my colleagues to 
vote ``yes.''
  Mr. WESTERMAN. I reserve the balance of my time, Madam Speaker.
  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. 
Cicilline) for making the pilgrimage and paying his respects at the 
memorial.
  Madam Speaker, at this time, I have no further requests for time, and 
I would inquire whether my colleague has any remaining speakers on his 
side.
  Mr. WESTERMAN. In closing, Madam Speaker, again, I urge adoption of 
H.R. 49, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking member, the gentleman 
from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and our colleagues across the aisle for 
their bipartisan support of this really important bill for our Nation. 
I thank also Representatives Demings, Murphy, Cicilline, and Takano for 
their support here today.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 49.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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