WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) released the following statement after President Biden signed H.R. 49, a bill co-led by Padilla designating Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida as a national memorial, into law:

“Today, we honor the lives of the 49 people who were senselessly murdered during the horrific Pulse Nightclub mass shooting by establishing the National Pulse Memorial. This memorial is an important part of their enduring legacy and a testament to the strength and resilience of the LGBTQ+ community. We must always stand in the face of hate – and recognize the impact of gun violence on LGBTQ+ communities, particularly in Black and Latino communities.

“As President Biden signs this legislation into law, we must recommit ourselves to ending the senseless cycle of gun violence that has taken too many innocent lives across the country once and for all.”

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