PolicyBrief
H.RES. 514
119th CongressJun 12th 2025
Commemorating 9 years since the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2016.
IN COMMITTEE

This resolution commemorates the nine-year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub shooting, honoring the victims, first responders, and the community's resilience while urging continued action on gun safety.

Darren Soto
D

Darren Soto

Representative

FL-9

LEGISLATION

House Resolution Honors Pulse Victims, Reaffirms Commitment to Gun Safety Nine Years Later

This resolution is a formal statement from the House of Representatives recognizing June 12, 2025, as the nine-year anniversary of the devastating shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. It specifically acknowledges that Pulse was a crucial safe space for the local LGBTQ+, Black, and Latino communities. Essentially, this is Congress taking a moment to officially remember the tragedy, honor those lost, and publicly commit to ongoing legislative work.

The Human Cost and Community Support

This resolution does what commemorative legislation is meant to do: it focuses on the human element. It honors the victims by name and sends deep sympathies to their families and friends, acknowledging that the support for those affected by this act of domestic terrorism continues years later. For the Orlando community, especially those who relied on Pulse as a haven, this is a formal recognition of their grief and resilience, affirming that their loss is remembered on a national level.

Praising the Response and Unity

The text also makes a point of praising the coordinated and brave response from local, state, and federal law enforcement, emergency medical responders, and healthcare workers who stepped up during the crisis. It highlights how the city and the nation rallied together afterward, emphasizing that this support cut across lines of race, religion, sexual orientation, and politics. This is a formal nod to the first responders and the community unity that followed, recognizing their efforts to save lives and support survivors.

The Policy Commitment: More Than Just Remembrance

While this resolution is primarily commemorative and doesn't change any law, it does include a forward-looking policy statement. It points out that President Biden has taken action to reduce gun violence, specifically mentioning the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act signed in June 2022. Crucially, the resolution emphasizes that Congress must continue working on legislation related to gun safety and mental health moving forward. For anyone tracking policy, this section serves as a public reaffirmation of the legislative body’s commitment to address the issues underlying such tragedies.