Katherine Clark: “3 years ago, tragedy struck Orlando, Florida, at the Pulse nightclub. Over 100 people celebrating life with friends…”

“3 years ago, tragedy struck Orlando, Florida, at the Pulse nightclub. Over 100 people celebrating life with friends, partners, and family were gunned down on a dance floor at a gay club; 49 of them lost their lives. A place of refuge was transformed into a death trap by a hateful and cowardly act, and today we can honor those lives by calling for action. At the time, the Pulse nightclub was the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Tragically, in the 3 years since this shooting, we have witnessed more senseless suffering and death: Parishioners in Texas and South Carolina and worshippers in Pennsylvania; Students in Santa Fe and Parkland; Municipal workers in Virginia Beach; Neighbors on sidewalks and parks; Over 50 people shot in just one weekend in Chicago 2 weeks ago; And then 58 concert goers in Las Vegas lost their lives, taking the grizzly title of the deadliest mass shooting. Days after the Pulse shooting, I joined with my colleague, the iconic Congressman John Lewis, in leading a sit-in right here on this very floor. We could not stand for another day of inaction. We stopped Congress because Congress had stopped working for the American people. Now, 3 years later, within months of taking the majority, we have passed two gun safety bills. And while I am encouraged and proud of the work we have done here in the House, we see the same obstructionist game being played out in the Senate. The two bills are stalled, and Americans continue to die. Mr.…”