Five years after 49 were murdered at Pulse, bill to memorialize victims now heads to President’s desk

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of the five-year anniversary of the mass shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando tomorrow, the Senate unanimously passed a bill introduced byU.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), along with Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio (both R-FL), to establish the location of the Pulse Nightclub as a national memorial to honor the lives and memory of the 49 victims. The Pulse Nightclub shooting was our nation’s deadliest mass shooting targeting the LGBTQ+ community and the second deadliest in U.S. history. 

A companion bill was led by Congressman Darren Soto (D-FL), and passed the House by voice vote on May 13. The bill now heads to the President for his signature.

“It is my hope that this memorial will serve as an enduring reminder of the pain and loss felt in Orlando five years ago and as a testament to the resilience and strength of the LGBTQ+ community,” said Senator Padilla. “It is also an important reminder of the need recommit ourselves to end the senseless cycle of gun violence that has touched too many families across the country and taken too many of our loved ones. It’s an epidemic that has claimed far too many LGBTQ+ lives, particularly in Black and Latino communities. We will never let the memory of the victims of the Pulse Nightclub mass shooting fade away– and this memorial is an important part of their enduring legacy.”

“As we approach five years since the Pulse nightclub shooting, the federal designation of the Pulse National Memorial is a deeply meaningful way to honor the lives that were taken that night,” said Congressman Darren Soto. “Though the Orlando community will never stop grieving our 49 angels lost and 54 injured, this memorial will serve as a reminder of our commitment to keep their memories, spirits, and stories alive. It is also our hope that it will be a national and international symbol of our ability to come together and persevere in the face of tragedy. I am humbled by the bipartisan support that my bill with Representatives Stephanie Murphy and Val Demings received in the Senate, and thank Senator Padilla for his contributions to our efforts.”

Bill text can be found here.

###