June 12, 2020 - San Francisco – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement to mark four years since the attack at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which occurred on June 12, 2016:

“As we mark LGBTQ Pride Month and Gun Violence Prevention Month, we honor the 49 beautiful souls murdered and 53 injured in a stunning act of hatred and bloodshed at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando.  Four years later, the pain remains all too real for the Orlando community, the survivors and the loved ones of those who were killed, but our resolve to end the scourge of gun violence remains unwavering.

“Painfully, since that tragic night, the horror we saw in Orlando has been seen in countless other communities across the country.  In too many places, the epidemics of gun violence and hatred have stolen too many innocent people and left too many families suffering unimaginable loss.  It is our responsibility to protect our communities and keep our children safe.  That is why, over 470 days ago, House Democrats passed H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act, and H.R. 1112, the Enhanced Background Checks Act to ensure universal background checks and close the Charleston loophole that enabled the hate crime at Mother Emanuel Church.  And thanks to Democrats, we secured $25 million for gun violence research at the CDC and NIH for the first time in 20 years.

“The men and women murdered at Pulse were there to enjoy an evening of music, dancing and celebration in a place of safety and solidarity; they had the right to live free from the fear of gun violence and hate.  Leader McConnell must listen to the will of the American people, end his partisan obstruction and finally bring H.R. 8 and H.R. 1112 up for a vote.  As we take time to remember those we’ve lost, we must never back away from our mission to safeguard our communities and end the horrors of gun violence once and for all.”
Source: Speaker Nancy Pelosi