Mark Takano: “I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto) for yielding. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 49 to…”

“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.…”